Can anyone help?

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redadaire

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Hello,

I'm a newbie to this forum and hoping I can get some advice.
I'm looking to buy either a Princess 410 or 380 the majority of which seem to be fitted with Caterpillar engines. I've seen some horror stories about the Cat 3116TA 355hp engines but there seem to be a lot about, many brokers details state "fitted with the preferred caterpillar engines" but found no evidence to substantiate the claim. Are they any good? I would also like some indication from peoples experience of potential fuel consumption accepting there are many variables here, a ball park idea would be good. I have the Cat data but nothing like real experience!

Any comments on the choice of boat would also be welcome

Thank you in anticipation of some useful replies
 
A very warm welcome to the forum. You will find this place a mine of information, and the odd laugh too. I have just bought a boat with Cat 3126 engines. These had some block porosity issues in their early days, but Cat after service is really good, and any suspect engines were changed under warranty. I do not have any knowledge of the 3116, but Latestarter1 is the forum expert on most Diesel engines, and if he sees your post, will have a view. Finnings are the aftermarket service group, and they appear first class in my limited experience, always happy to take queries, and talk you through.
 
Whats wrong with the Volvo engine boats ? .
Have a look at the 410 with jaykay marine , probably the best of the bunch I would think :)
 
redadaire said:
Hello,

I'm a newbie to this forum and hoping I can get some advice.
I'm looking to buy either a Princess 410 or 380 the majority of which seem to be fitted with Caterpillar engines. I've seen some horror stories about the Cat 3116TA 355hp engines but there seem to be a lot about, many brokers details state "fitted with the preferred caterpillar engines" but found no evidence to substantiate the claim. Are they any good? I would also like some indication from peoples experience of potential fuel consumption accepting there are many variables here, a ball park idea would be good. I have the Cat data but nothing like real experience!

Any comments on the choice of boat would also be welcome

Thank you in anticipation of some useful replies
Click to expand...

If you really want a princess 410 mine is for sale , you must have seen it on yachtworld, it has volvos engines though which may not interest you. As you will find all marine engines all have there bad points. I'm going to stay neutral on this one as many forum members have both Volvo and cat engines. I am an independent marine engineer specialising in volvopenta but work on all makes including caterpillar, I have also owned cat engined boats and had similar problems with both makes, more age related than defects relating to manufacturing, if your interested its on at £89950 , you can pm me via the forum if your interested, she is lying at swanwick marina.

I can give you fuel figures for my boat based on 5 years of ownership, cruising at 2300 rpm which gives 20 knots, its a ball park 1.25 mpg. The last fill up I covered 214 miles and used just under 150 gallons. My boat is probably the best specked one on the uk market. I can give you as much info as you like.
 
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