Viking 50C: MAN V10 1100CRM or CAT C18 1150 MHP

I really like the Cat C18's and they're pretty much bullet proof. Also I would think CAT has a larger dealer network in Aus than MAN. Maintanence is cheaper on the CAT's than the mans and the CAT's have more torque. However the MANS will be a little quieter, about the same speed, and have less fuel burn.

Hi,

Instinctively I would say go with the CATS, the service support will be much better in Australia and the oarts when needed will be a lot cheaper and more readily available.

The only thing I would look at with a view to going MAN would be the continuous rating of the engines and where in the power range you will need to operate the boat the most.

If you run the CATS above the time limits in the upper power range the service life will be shortened markedly. The 1150 HP is an E Rated engine.

"Instinctively I would say go with the CATS, the service support will be much better in Australia and the oarts when needed will be a lot cheaper and more readily available."

It is generally recognized that oarts are considerably less costly than parts.

Consider this, the price of maintanence parts, the fuel burn 72-73 gph at 80% load with the MANS and 81gph at 80% load with the CATS (both engines), how many hours a year you're going to put on them because MANs maintanence intervals for large/expensive items is on a time basis to stay in warranty(such as clean heat exchangers/aftercoolers etc every 2 years) and future resale.

The MAN's are quieter at cruise, no doubt. However they lack torque in a sportfish in rough seas, so for example if you have the rpm's set at 2000 rpms, you'll see them drop to 1960 rpms climbing a wave, accelerate to 2020 coming down the wave, and your speed drop accordingly which may be a good thing for ride. If you have the CATS set at 2000 rpms, rpms will only vary +/- 5 rpms in the same conditions. The Cats troll better all day and IMO raise fish a lot better. The MANS have a stinky smell after trolling for a while, not nearly as bad as the pre-common rails but you notice it a little bit.

If 30+ knots is not a factor is it possible to order the boat with the CAT C18 1015 MHP's for the same price as the MANs? Have you also considered the 52' Cabo SF, it's a nice boat with C18's and cruises at 28 knots with 1015 mhp?

Having just written up a quote for the rebuild of a pair of V8 MANs, the price of the parts alone made my jaw drop like a supertanker anchor!
As a main dealer for Volvo, Cat and MAN parts I see the price structures on a daily basis but some days I even shock myself.

Your $70,000 premium for the C18s, over the years, may seem like a bargain.

I agree, I've had the 1000 hour service done on a set of C18's (including all heat exchangers etc, required by the book, adjusting valves etc) the total bill on a pair came in just under $8,000 and all parts were factory CAT done by Cat certified mechanics. Plus you can pretty much have CAT's warrantied almost indefinately if you're willing to pay for the extended warranties.

On a set of 1100 MAN's it runs around $18,000 for both engines. Give or take........I remember I bought the stupid coolant recovery tank sensor (which looks like a spark plug, but instead has a 2" long copper probe out of it) that mounts on the top of the expansion tank on a 12v183mtu and it was $383. Man parts are no cheaper, especially with their messy cartridge oil filters with the o-rings and crush washers and expensive secondaries.

Hi Liberty,
PM me and I can put you in touch with the skipper of a Viking operating out of Bayview Harbour. Not sure what engines but the skipper is a nice guy and will do all he can to help.
BTW, we were fishing off the shelf during the week, just inside of the passing container ships. A MASSIVE marlin had been tagged a few days before plus many large Mahi and yellowfin, so my son and I decided to chase similar in my old 53 Hatteras.

We saw the Viking out there. At the time conditions were so-so and we hooked 3 good Mahi and a large yellowfin. Then seas got up and as I tend to average 12 to 15 homeward in the bigger stuff we turned back at 15:00, leaving the Viking trolling.
About an hour later the Viking comes past us at about 25 kn and in spite of the seas, she was travelling as if on a lake!!!
What a good looking boat.
I am happy with my old girl, there is no “crashing” into the waves etc, but I reckon the guys on the Viking were sipping their beers without a drop being spilled.
ENJOY the new boat whatever you chose.
We are in for a good season I believe.

Yes, but.

Just using the figures supplied in this thread, it looks like over that 1000 hour period the MANs would have burned abut 30,300 liters (8,000 US gal) less fuel than the CATs.

If diesel in Oz is selling for around AUS$ 1.50 a liter that equates to almost
US$ 46,000 more in fuel costs to run the CATs. That looks like after paying for the service the MANs leave US$ 28,000 in the owner's pocket in the first 1,000 hours.

After 3,000 hours the "upcharge" and 3 X 1,000 hour service calls has been paid for and still leaves US$14,000 to cover incidental expenses.

This assumes that fuel prices won't go down over those 3,000 hours.

Just sent a PM

The routine servicing costs are considerably more on the MAN's as well. You must use that Mobil Delvac synthetic oil in them exclusively which is pretty pricey. Also all filters and wear parts are about 2x what the CAT ones are. The MAN's are lighter if that means anything.