Bertram33 User Forum

There is a guy in my yard who just recently bought a 33sf with 3208 260's. Does anyone know what is her most probable cruising speed and at what fuel burn? Thanks.

Yannis, If those engines were fresh that boat should cruise at around 20 or so knots with a fuel burn of around 20 -24 gph. However as the years have gone by the turbo housings erode on the exhaust side, reducing the boost pressure and they lose a bit of power, not to mention a little compression may be lost also, so it's not uncommon to find some of the original cat powered boats cruising a bit slower. How much slower would obviously depend on the overall condition of the engines and of course other non engine related things.

Thank you Frank, I will tell him about all that!

i have a bertram specification chart of all the boats and it says 33 sf with cats cruise speed 27/28 at 2500 rpm 22.08 GPH like frank said depends on condition of engines

The chart may read 27/28 at 2500 but I can tell you; I don’t come near that. I cruise at 22 at 2400 rpms WOT 2850 - 2875 I’m at 27/28.

Those original cats only made 260 HP. No way it will go that fast. Even if you use miles per hour it wont't cruise that fast.

Oh and by the way my 3116’s are 350HP

I have an 82 with "270" 3208 CATS just under 2000 hrs. I cruise anywhere from 17-20Kts at 2400 and at 2850 I saw 25.9 Kts one time usually 22-24 Kts. My boat has a hardtop and a marlin tower with a hardtop. I wish that I could cruise at 25-27 because at that speed she flattens out and its like you hit the Nitrous button!

IM LOOKING INTO REPOWERING WITH 3208 TA REMANS.I HAVE THE ORIGINAL 3208T W/2800HRS ANY SUGGESTIONS.

PleasureBay wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:38 am I have an 82 with "270" 3208 CATS just under 2000 hrs. I cruise anywhere from 17-20Kts at 2400 and at 2850 I saw 25.9 Kts one time usually 22-24 Kts. My boat has a hardtop and a marlin tower with a hardtop. I wish that I could cruise at 25-27 because at that speed she flattens out and its like you hit the Nitrous button!

No shit! 17/18 cruise and 21/22 WOT here. 340 HP Mercs. Very beefy Marlin Tower though too, so plenty of weight to push.

HETINGLE wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 10:53 am IM LOOKING INTO REPOWERING WITH 3208 TA REMANS.I HAVE THE ORIGINAL 3208T W/2800HRS ANY SUGGESTIONS.

My suggestion would be to not waste your money. By the time you waste the time to get the information to find out it's a waste of time, you've spend too much trying to make that setup work when there is one or maybe two much better options out there. Cummins .
Inline engines just fit so nice and work so nice, cheap to maintain and easy to work on. There is a hundred reasons why it's the preferred repower choice theses days.

I AGREE THAT REPLACING 2 1700 LB 260HP ENGINES WITH 2 700 LB 330 AND UP ENGINES {6BTA, TAMD41, CAT 7.1)SOUNDS GREAT IF NOT A LITTLE SCARY. I JUST THOUGHT REPLACING WITH REMAN CATS WOULD BE CHEAPER AND EASIER{TECHNICALLY) AND DO THE JOB OF GETTING THE BOAT UP AND LEVALED OUT BETTER. I DON'T KNOW AND THATS WHY IM ASKING. OFFSHORE USE 200 MILE TRIPS WHERE I'M AT IN JERSY.

The problem with the logic is the expense of doing the Cats. That and the low -ish power output. The Cats are great engines but no real aftermarket support which would help drive down rebuild prices, so those obsolete parts become hard to find and expensive, The mechanic is more expensive. You'd still need a decent set of gears, may as well put those behind engines that will really add value and fun.