- Mar 25, 2008
- 5,524
- Boat Info
- 2006 Sea Ray 58 DB
- Engines
- MAN CRM V8-900s, Twin Disc Drives; Onan 21.5 Generator
Todd,
Now I have to upgrade my *** powered boat...
Now I have to upgrade my *** powered boat...
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That's just on the other site I belong to isn't it? I'm pretty sure I have a *** engine in my boat and that *** is allowed here.
The marine based CAT 3126TA motor, that the diesel SR 410DAs left the factory with, was manufactured in three different HP ratings: 350HP, 385HP and 420HP. The 420HP version has different injectors, turbo, governor and rack settings. The ONLY difference between the 350HP and 385 HP version is the governor settings and rack settings...no iron changes. So, to answer the OP question, yes, there is some 'power' left on the table by CAT in the base 350HP motor in the 410DA....in fact, the 385HP version was a special order option in the 410DA but only a few came through the factory doors with that option. The 350HP motor can re-tuned to 385HP. Now, don't go expecting any blistering changes in performance if you choose that option. BUt, you would be doing the upgrade with all the CAT engineering behind you.
The factory props on the 410DA with 350HP CATs were 22 X 23. Load up the 410DA and those props won't allow the CATs to spin up to rated WOT RPM. I had my factory props re-tuned three times till I finally got them where they perform the best. Currently, they are 22 X 22 with a custom cup. They are the factory Hy Torq props.
The OP mentions EGTs and Boost. I installed a set of these guages on my motors. They are an easy 'cool mod' and provide a host of useful information. All new electronically controlled diesel motos have this info readily available to the end users in the Electronic Computer Displays.
Your RPM numbers are WAY OFF!!!! I am going to assume that you have the factory analog tachs. If so...they are garbage. If you don't already own one, buy a laser tach and check the RPMs at the harmonic balancer. Then, while you are installing your 'cool mods' include a pair of Aetna Digital tachs. If you have a few extra boat dollars, fuel monitoring guages...Flo Scans.... and some exhaust temps sensors....Borrell......., would complete the gambit of usefull guages....IMHO.
You should be turning 2800rpms at WOT. I cruise at around 2300 at 22-23kts. If your tachs are accurate then you're overloading your engines big time. You're probably leaving a lot of soot on your transom which is unburnt fuel. Once you get everything spec'd out, you should see about 1.1-1.2mpg.
One of the most important things for a diesel is to be able to turn up recommended WOT RPMs with a full load.Years ago, a certain boat company put the 4cyl Cummins in a 28' fishing boat, overpropped them bigtime to get impressive performance numbers and within 200hrs of running like this the engines experienced significant failures.
If your fully loaded boat is turning 150-200rpms less than recommended WOT, you should have some pitch, cup or both removed from the props asap.
When I redid my boat (www.seanile31.com) I had the engines turn 200 over recommended WOT RPM to adjust for a dirty bottom, coolers full of fish, 6 adults, etc.
First of all: Cats handle juicing up with very little effort or aftermath. The marine 3100 rotating assembly for a 350 is just as robust as a higher rating. The lubrication and cooling systems are identical. So it simply comes down to fuel and timing. Boost, aftercooling and oil capacity improvements are going to help with the upper rpms and continuous duty rpm rating.
My thoughts on what your trying to accomplish are simple but... It seems the simple things can become complicated.
If I had your money and my Cat experience here’s what I’d do: <Find the cruising sweet spot of your hull, where it likes to run up on plane with not too much effort. <Then record rpms and fuel rate in a rough attempt to calculate HP needed to move the hull at target cruising speed.
With the above data; Look into prop and governor tuning.
FWIW: If you had Cummins power this project would be impossible…. just sayin
Well, with respect to CATS, the 3208 was a bulletproof engine until they squeezed too much HP out of the block. I won't touch a 3208 at 435hp. Just because you can get the HP from the engine doesn't mean you should.
You can do it with Cummins as well, the 6B series is easy to change HP settings.
To the original point, even getting 50hp from your engines won't make much of a performance difference. If you want to see the different fuel burn specs at specific RPMS and HP ratings just google the fuel burn, it's consistent and all depends on the RPMs.
They're just screwing around.
Gas, gas, GAS, GaS, GAs, gAS, gAs... gasoline