[LA BUC]

Hey guys and girls,
New to the site and am interested in the Viking or Cabo in 47-48....Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I am particularly looking into the similarities and differences in the operating costs.

Tight Lines!

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by LA BUC

Hey guys and girls,
New to the site and am interested in the Viking or Cabo in 47-48....Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I am particularly looking into the similarities and differences in the operating costs.

Tight Lines!

Operating costs should be very very similar. They're both quality boats and built well. The only difference is that the CATS tend to be cheaper to maintain then the MAN's. I would go with a 48' Cabo over a 47' if possible because the hull has been updated and it has a larger fuel capacity. Buy whatever fits your needs.

[VikHatBer]

This is a good thread. They both have the same 1,100 hp MANs, which makes me shudder... 10 years ago, a 48 foot boat with 1,100 hp would have been classified a "Cigarette". Mega power on a mid-size boat. The Viking weighs almost 10,000 lbs ore, but has relatively the same cruising speed...

I am a Viking lover but in this case I say go Cabo! Chase after dem big dawgs! Cabo builds a fine boat.

[LA BUC]

WE are now throwing in the option of going a little larger....maybe 52-55. Bertram is now in on the radar. Obviously, with the possibilities out there, with good deals to be found, we are expanding our length for the same price range. Not disregarding a 48 or even 47 by no means.....

What say you guys? Like 52-55 viking, 54 Bert. I am particular to CATS vikhatber, but think i could live with the MANS.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by LA BUC

WE are now throwing in the option of going a little larger....maybe 52-55. Bertram is now in on the radar. Obviously, with the possibilities out there, with good deals to be found, we are expanding our length for the same price range. Not disregarding a 48 or even 47 by no means.....

What say you guys? Like 52-55 viking, 54 Bert. I am particular to CATS vikhatber, but think i could live with the MANS.

Not personally familiar with the 54 Bert (which I've heard is a good boat), but my experience with newer 51's and 46's says go with the Viking. I think I'd also go with the Mans over the Cats.

[lwrandall]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

I think I'd also go with the Mans over the Cats.

Why MANs over CAT? What I understand is that the maintenance costs and parts availability are considerable higher and more difficult to obtain for the MANs. Not that familiar with the OP location of Lafayette, LA, but CAT service people may be easier to come by. Especially if out in the Louisianna Gulf and the OP may have to limp into a shrimping port for help.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by lwrandall

Why MANs over CAT? What I understand is that the maintenance costs and parts availability are considerable higher and more difficult to obtain for the MANs. Not that familiar with the OP location of Lafayette, LA, but CAT service people may be easier to come by. Especially if out in the Louisianna Gulf and the OP may have to limp into a shrimping port for help.

You're right about the location. Hadn't considered that. I do like Cats, especially their Johnny-on-the-spot service, but they're also known for pushing motors out unready to fulfill contracts (of which they have many). In other words I think they're stretched a little thin. Some of the Cats I've worked with burned a fair amount of oil (up to 2 or 3 qts. in an 8 hour day) and I've had 2 clients who's motors siezed because of defects known to the company, but they had to fulfill the contracts. Granted they were fast at swapping out the motors, but I haven't seen these problems with Mans. Service is a problem with Mans though, but where I live so is any diesel service.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

You're right about the location. Hadn't considered that. I do like Cats, especially their Johnny-on-the-spot service, but they're also known for pushing motors out unready to fulfill contracts (of which they have many). In other words I think they're stretched a little thin. Some of the Cats I've worked with burned a fair amount of oil (up to 2 or 3 qts. in an 8 hour day) and I've had 2 clients who's motors siezed because of defects known to the company, but they had to fulfill the contracts. Granted they were fast at swapping out the motors, but I haven't seen these problems with Mans. Service is a problem with Mans though, but where I live so is any diesel service.

They don't call them MAN GRENADES for nothing. I've seen many MAN's blow up, including several common rails less then a year old, you just don't hear about them. Cat has had their share of problems, but they go out of their way to cover ANYTHING that has blown up and give a nice extended warranty. MAN will try to find a reason why it is not covered under warranty. Like the high pressure fuel line that would blow on 1050's and 1300's and they're just out of warranty........"however we have an "upgraded part" to replace them. Have had LOTS of them blow. Use 1 quart of non-delvac oil in a MAN and it's warranty is void....have 1 quart too much oil in it and the warranty is void.........regardless if the boat is in the Bahamas or whatever. CAT service is worldwide as are parts, and warranty coverage is next to none. I've seen CAT air freight heavy parts to cover warranty repairs to third world countries.......fly tech's all over the world to cover warranty repairs...... The only time I've had CAT's ever use oil was if they didn't recieve their first oil change at 50 hours like it says in the manual. CAT uses a lighter break-in oil, and many people miss where it says to change at 50hrs and they wait until 250hrs.

I've also seen several MAN/Rex Roth controls go bad, they're not very waterproof. If installed in an exposed, flybridge installation, they'll eventually short out. I've never seen a set of CAT/Sturdy controls go bad.......

I personally would NEVER buy a Sportfish with pre-common rail MANS in it if you do much trolling. At trolling speeds, especially the motors that cut out cylinders, they are SOOOOOO fumy/smelly that you will DIE if you spend an hour in the cockpit...combined with the black smoke when you get on plane.......uuuuuuggghhh.. 800's, 1050's, and 1300's......The harmonics of them also DO NOT raise fish......I trolled a 57' Bertram for 7 days straight with 1300's and that boat would NOT raise fish......Same for a 45' Cabo with 800 MAN's. I have run a 45 CABO with C18's and that combo, I had Marlin eating the teasers......even if they were a foot out of the water.......

[Mark I]

No direct experience but I seem to remember a guy who hired a plane with a banner to fly over the FL boat show last year.

As I recall, the sign did not say nice things about Viking and Mans. I would think you would have to be pretty unhappy to do such a thing.

[LA BUC]

Really glad to hear all these different points of view....CATS are preferred due to our location in LA. We keep the boat in Venice and Grand Isle as well. I have good mechanics that can work on anything, but they are CAT approved mechanics and parts are easier to come by, etc.

I also realize that there are CAT engines on boats that are crap, and I steer clear of those as well.

Engines are the reason I'm throwing in the older 54 Bertram into the equation as well as a great ride. I am having difficulty in finding Vikings and Cabos with CAT engines, although there are a few, these are usually newer boats in the 48 size range.

Keep this going please, I am getting great insight.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by LA BUC

Really glad to hear all these different points of view....CATS are preferred due to our location in LA. We keep the boat in Venice and Grand Isle as well. I have good mechanics that can work on anything, but they are CAT approved mechanics and parts are easier to come by, etc.

I also realize that there are CAT engines on boats that are crap, and I steer clear of those as well.

Engines are the reason I'm throwing in the older 54 Bertram into the equation as well as a great ride. I am having difficulty in finding Vikings and Cabos with CAT engines, although there are a few, these are usually newer boats in the 48 size range.

Keep this going please, I am getting great insight.

Another avenue is to find an older 54' Bertram SF (or similar) with tired Detroits, and have a new set of CAT's installed and ride out with full warranties and engines that will probably last you the life of the boat. I wouldn't be afraid of something with Detroits either as long as they're the 71 series. A set of C18 cats in a 54' Bertram SF, the boat would fly. I ran one with 12v71's TI's (hardtop) with 4600 hours without rebuilding them and the boat ran 30 knots at 1950 rpms........Cat's would probably cruise the same boat around 36 knots.......maybe more.

As for the Cabo's and Vikings not having CAT's they both heavily installed the pre-common rail MAN's from 98-2002. MAN was offering great incentives to manufacturers, the HP to weight ratio was higher then the CAT's then and fuel consumption a little less and a little more speed. But, you'll still see some CAT boats if you look......That was until they started seeing a LOT of problems with the MANs, also a lot of complaints about the rough running at trolling speeds, maintenance costing 3x the CAT's, black soot, and fumes. There was then a MASS exodus towards CAT's when the C series came out and you'll see most all of the Vikings and Cabo's from 2002-2005 have primarily CAT's.......until the common rail Man's came out and that's sort of leveled the playing field.........

[LA BUC]

Originally Posted by Capt J

Another avenue is to find an older 54' Bertram SF (or similar) with tired Detroits, and have a new set of CAT's installed and ride out with full warranties and engines that will probably last you the life of the boat. I wouldn't be afraid of something with Detroits either as long as they're the 71 series. A set of C18 cats in a 54' Bertram SF, the boat would fly. I ran one with 12v71's TI's (hardtop) with 4600 hours without rebuilding them and the boat ran 30 knots at 1950 rpms........Cat's would probably cruise the same boat around 36 knots.......maybe more.

As for the Cabo's and Vikings not having CAT's they both heavily installed the pre-common rail MAN's from 98-2002. MAN was offering great incentives to manufacturers, the HP to weight ratio was higher then the CAT's then and fuel consumption a little less and a little more speed. But, you'll still see some CAT boats if you look......That was until they started seeing a LOT of problems with the MANs, also a lot of complaints about the rough running at trolling speeds, maintenance costing 3x the CAT's, black soot, and fumes. There was then a MASS exodus towards CAT's when the C series came out and you'll see most all of the Vikings and Cabo's from 2002-2005 have primarily CAT's.......until the common rail Man's came out and that's sort of leveled the playing field.........

Looking at 54 Bertram with Cat 3412. would like your input regarding that engine. It appears a lot of Bertrams were repowered with this option. Also, any idea of fuel burn with this power? I realize the difference may be minimal, but what do you think of these vs. a C series motor? Thanks in advance.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by LA BUC

Looking at 54 Bertram with Cat 3412. would like your input regarding that engine. It appears a lot of Bertrams were repowered with this option. Also, any idea of fuel burn with this power? I realize the difference may be minimal, but what do you think of these vs. a C series motor? Thanks in advance.

3412's are good motors. Cat has been using that block since 1978. The 3412's usually make 1350hp I believe, and they are what was turned into the C30 with a little larger turbo and fuel injectors and this'es and that's. But my CAT guys say the 3412 is a pretty bullet proof motor. I've run them, they run clean, idle nicely, are dependable and have no oil leaks. They essentially run exactly like a C30 with a little less HP, but have lots of low end torque.

[K1W1]

The only time I've had CAT's ever use oil was if they didn't recieve their first oil change at 50 hours like it says in the manual. CAT uses a lighter break-in oil, and many people miss where it says to change at 50hrs and they wait until 250hrs.

Hi,

Where do you get some of this stuff that you post from?

In my experience the Oil used at the 50 Hr service is the same oil used second and third service and so on.

If you were so knowledgeable about CATS you would also know that not all the engine family have an oil change at 250 Hrs- some have extended intervals and all have fuel burnt and time limits regardless of hours run.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

Where do you get some of this stuff that you post from?

In my experience the Oil used at the 50 Hr service is the same oil used second and third service and so on.

If you were so knowledgeable about CATS you would also know that not all the engine family have an oil change at 250 Hrs- some have extended intervals and all have fuel burnt and time limits regardless of hours run.

The oil CAT uses at 0 hours is a lighter "break-in" oil. When you change it at 50 hours, you use the standard 15w-40w CAT oil to change it. Yes, some cats go 500 hours or rarely 1000 hours for a normal oil change if they're equipped with the optional larger oil pan which most yachts are rarely equipped with. You still have to do S.O.S. at 250 hrs and that determines how often it should be changed with the larger pan. CAT also does recommend it being changed according to fuel burn, instead of hours but many CAT's equipped in yachts don't have a fuel burn recording on the display. Until you get into 2003 or newer with the lcd displays. Even some newer yachts like Searay and Azimut to name a few rarely install the cat displays.....Mainly because they have such limited dash space. so the only way you'd know the fuel burn would be for a CAT mechanic to plug his computer in. Again, most yachts would end up changing it due to the time schedule instead of fuel burn or engine hours.