3196 Cat questions

Who was the "Caterpillar factory trained and certified technician"? You should be able to get the seller to provide historical engine history as well as database history from Cat via serial numbers, as you found on the web. You'll need to thoughtfully invest in a quality engine survey using someone very knowledgeable about the historical issues with the coolers. If the cooler issue has been properly managed, I don't see this engine as being a problem motor, in general. But invest in that engine survey and research, and pay extra attention with visual inspections and heat guns during sea trial, oil samples taken after that sea trial.

If I read one of your other posts correctly, this boat is in South Florida? If so, Google Smith & Wick North Palm Beach. Charlie is the best Cat guy I've come across and will give you an honest opinion and a true survey.

Whatever you do.. don’t use Pantropics!

I ve been using southshore diesel for 15 years (well not anymore now that I run MTUs). Marcello the owner is a very good surveyor too.

Agreed. Pantropic is poison. The post quoting your sources of input reads a little over the top, perhaps, with a bad singular opinion. These engines aren't time bombs, no more so than any wound-up diesel. But they're getting over 1k horsepower our of that basic block design, so if the systems have good integrity, a solid surveyor can lead you in the right direction.

I don't think that was typed out loud enough. So it is worth re-typing slower and taller for the reading impaired;
Whatever you do.. don’t use Pantropics!

It's going to be the history of the engine that helps you. Here is where the oil lab reports from the last several oil changes come in.
The owner may not have them but the better labs usually keep them on file. Our Cat SOS lab does.

Don’t forget to consider resell challenges when time comes for you to sell the boat. You will have many perspective buyers either completely turned off by the 3196 reputation or at minimum expect price consideration. You need to be able to buy the boat right so you can sell it accordingly.

I can't think of any marine engines which were ever stretched to a thousand ponies with a 12 liters displacement.
Well, aside from Seatek, who is very close (950 hp) with a 10 liters engine, but they are in another league, sort of.
Among "normal" pleasure rated engines, the smaller blocks I can think of which are capable of a thousand hp are the Cat 12.9 (which is actually FPT built) and the VP D13.
IIRC, the 3196 used to be capable of up to 660 hp, and also in its latest C12 evolution, it was good for "only" 715 hp, before eventually being phased out.

Not that this affects all other considerations made so far - just saying.

Agreed, but again, these engines aren't "time bombs" with unobtainable parts or tech talent. Key here is the history of the cooler issues being caught and properly remedied prior to the introduction of salt water issues escaping those original coolers. Point made by CR was a good one, access to historical oil testing as well as to understand the hour loads and timelines of the recall repairs. If all was handled timely and proper, I wouldn't be afraid of these engines, and they're still a good brand that has a depth of tech talent to keep them in good order.

Just don't call Pantropic. I think that was covered.

Not really my point. These blocks are no more of a problem than the 3406 blocks that made up the C15-18. If you add salt water to any of them, you'll have issues. If you maintain them well and use the lubricating coolant they'll serve you for a long time. If the cooler replacement was timely, there shouldn't be any more risk here than with any other inline 6 subject to the care of the historical maintenance.

In 1974 Huckins Yacht built a near one-off. Rowinco ran Chicago - Miami for countless years.
Rare Cat powered & around 550 shaft HP, today these engines have not been touched. They air start and run well.
Goes back to my original thoughts, Cat measures engine life by fuel consumed better than hours. Never kick a sleeping dawg and don't string out a fair engine.
Like the 3116/3126 POSs, I believe the 3196 in fair HP tune and use, is a very good engine.
The oil labs will prove my points.
If you like the boat and all surveys well, she should be considered.

Rowinco seemed to always be in sight. Crossed paths often.

Lived on the Huckins dock for near 10 years before retiring (again) and coming up here. Before there, lived on the old Ortega River Boat Yard fixed wood docks then rebuilt to the Ortega Landings floating docks, on & off.
I moved Rowinco to the end of the Cedar River dock. There it sat for a few more years before the owner of Lambs purchased her (and the dock).
She is currently under a Lambs newly built covered slip.

We were in the Huckins slings for a couple of hours during an out of water survey near the end of October.

JoSea has AIS, so when you find us, Please stop us and lets exchange hellos and some rum.

Fine folks like yourself have been crossing my paths from Thunderbolt, Tip-O-Tilloo, Biscayne Bay, Boynton Inlet, Lettuce Lake, Mayport, Clifton, Ortega and Satsuma (past home sites).
Lots of coffee or other refreshments usually get exchanged when you find us.

Absolutely will coordinate.

Huckins has always been a favorite, and spent quite a bit of time with the Purcell's at FLIBS over the years talking shop. Gave them a lot of thought before I embarked on this project. Glad I went this direction, but I'm not 100% certain that I'm done, and if not, they'll be on my mind again. Rowinco has a lot to do with that.

Used to do the paintwork on the Rowing - both of them - Fine boats and great captain!

ROWINCO. (Blasted spell-check)