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Marine Engines Their Specs, Applications & Comparisons To Other Marine Engines (Detroit Diesel, Cummins, Caterpillar)

September 20, 2024

Detroit Diesel Marine Engines: Their Specs, Applications & Comparisons To Other Marine Engines

Engine Model

Comparable Engines

Weight (lbs)

HP Range

Dimensions (L x W x H)

Reliability Compared

Maintenance Costs Compared

Marine Application

Used as Generator?
Detroit Diesel 3-53 Cummins 4BTA, CAT 3116 1,150 85 – 140 38 x 24 x 34 in Comparable, slightly more durable Lower Workboats, Fishing Boats, Yachts Yes
Detroit Diesel 6V53 Cummins 6BTA, CAT 3126 1,830 190 – 300 51 x 29 x 42 in High reliability, better than most alternatives Similar Tugs, Fishing Boats, Workboats Yes
Detroit Diesel 8V53 Cummins QSB, CAT 3176 2,200 280 – 350 59 x 34 x 46 in Slightly less reliable compared to CAT, similar to Cummins Higher Large Fishing Vessels, Tugboats Yes
Detroit Diesel 6-71 Cummins 6CTA, CAT 3304 2,100 215 – 335 56 x 30 x 43 in Comparable reliability but less efficient Lower Trawlers, Fishing Boats, Ferries Yes
Detroit Diesel 8V71 Cummins QSC, CAT 3406 2,700 300 – 400 65 x 36 x 48 in More reliable than Cummins, similar to CAT Higher Tugs, Offshore Support, Fishing Boats Yes
Detroit Diesel 6V92 Cummins NT855, CAT 3306 2,320 270 – 450 60 x 34 x 45 in High reliability compared to alternatives Higher Fishing Boats, Pilot Boats, Workboats Yes
Detroit Diesel 8V92 Cummins KTA19, CAT 3408 3,230 350 – 500 70 x 40 x 52 in Comparable to CAT, slightly less reliable than Cummins Similar Offshore Vessels, Large Fishing Boats Yes
Detroit Diesel 12V71 Cummins ISM, CAT 3412 3,900 450 – 600 84 x 44 x 55 in High reliability, superior to Cummins Similar Large Trawlers, Offshore Vessels Yes
Detroit Diesel 16V71 Cummins QSM, CAT 3508 4,800 600 – 800 95 x 48 x 60 in Comparable to CAT, slightly better than Cummins Higher Tugs, Heavy Workboats Yes
Detroit Diesel 12V92 Cummins KTA38, CAT 3512 4,200 600 – 950 90 x 46 x 58 in Reliable but with higher maintenance compared to CAT Higher Large Offshore Vessels, Trawlers Yes
Detroit Diesel 16V92 Cummins KTA50, CAT 3516 5,800 700 – 1,100 100 x 54 x 64 in Highly reliable, similar to Cummins, better than CAT Higher Heavy Duty Tugs, Offshore Support Yes
Detroit Diesel 8V149 Cummins QSK19, CAT 3516 4,800 600 – 1,000 88 x 50 x 62 in Slightly less reliable than CAT, similar to Cummins Higher Heavy Tugs, Workboats, Offshore Vessels Yes

Cummins Marine Engines Their Specs, Applications & Comparisons To Other Marine Engines

Engine Model

Comparable Engines

Weight (lbs)

HP Range

Dimensions (L x W x H)

Reliability Compared

Maintenance Costs Compared

Marine Application

Used as Generator?
Cummins 4BTA Detroit Diesel 3-53, CAT 3116 1,100 105 – 170 34 x 24 x 30 in Reliable, slightly better than Detroit Lower Fishing Boats, Small Workboats, Riverboats No
Cummins 6BTA Detroit Diesel 6V53, CAT 3126 1,300 210 – 315 46 x 28 x 34 in High reliability, superior to alternatives Lower Dive Boats, Fishing Vessels, Charter Boats No
Cummins QSB Detroit Diesel 8V53, CAT 3176 1,700 230 – 480 52 x 32 x 38 in Comparable to CAT, slightly more reliable than Detroit Similar Pleasure Crafts, Tour Boats, Workboats No
Cummins 6CTA Detroit Diesel 6-71, CAT 3304 2,100 240 – 420 56 x 34 x 42 in Very reliable, slightly better than CAT Similar Medium Fishing Boats, Workboats, Ferries No
Cummins QSC Detroit Diesel 8V71, CAT 3406 2,400 305 – 600 65 x 38 x 44 in Reliable, comparable to CAT, superior to Detroit Similar Patrol Boats, Workboats, Small Ferries No
Cummins NT855 Detroit Diesel 6V92, CAT 3306 3,400 270 – 450 72 x 39 x 50 in High reliability, similar to Detroit and CAT Lower Tugs, Fishing Vessels, Small Cargo Ships No
Cummins KTA19 Detroit Diesel 8V92, CAT 3408 4,300 450 – 700 82 x 44 x 55 in Comparable to CAT, more reliable than Detroit Similar Large Tugs, Offshore Support Vessels No
Cummins KTA38 Detroit Diesel 12V92, CAT 3512 7,600 680 – 1,250 90 x 50 x 60 in Highly reliable, better than Detroit, comparable to CAT Lower Dredgers, Large Tugs, Offshore Supply Vessels No
Cummins KTA50 Detroit Diesel 16V92, CAT 3516 10,500 1,000 – 1,800 100 x 58 x 66 in High reliability, comparable to CAT, superior to Detroit Similar Heavy Offshore Vessels, Large Tugboats No
Cummins QSK19 Detroit Diesel 8V149, CAT 3516 5,000 600 – 1,000 85 x 48 x 60 in Reliable, comparable to CAT and Detroit Similar Fishing Vessels, Small Cargo Ships No

Caterpillar Marine Engines Their Specs, Applications & Comparisons To Other Marine Engines

Engine Model

Comparable Engines

Weight (lbs)

HP Range

Dimensions (L x W x H)

Reliability Compared

Maintenance Costs Compared

Marine Application

Used as Generator?
CAT 3116 Detroit Diesel 3-53, Cummins 4BTA 1,100 150 – 205 38 x 25 x 33 in Very reliable, superior to Detroit Higher Small Fishing Boats, Workboats, Yachts No
CAT 3126 Detroit Diesel 6V53, Cummins 6BTA 1,350 200 – 300 44 x 28 x 36 in Highly reliable, better than alternatives Similar Workboats, Fishing Vessels, Dive Boats No
CAT 3176 Detroit Diesel 8V53, Cummins QSB 1,850 300 – 425 50 x 32 x 40 in Comparable to Cummins, superior to Detroit Higher Fishing Boats, Pilot Boats, Support Craft No
CAT 3304 Detroit Diesel 6-71, Cummins 6CTA 2,100 230 – 350 58 x 34 x 42 in Highly reliable, better than Detroit Higher Trawlers, Workboats, Small Ferries Yes
CAT 3306 Detroit Diesel 6V92, Cummins NT855 3,300 270 – 400 64 x 38 x 48 in Very reliable, comparable to Cummins Similar Fishing Vessels, Tugs, Workboats Yes
CAT 3406 Detroit Diesel 8V71, Cummins QSC 3,900 300 – 540 72 x 42 x 52 in Highly reliable, better than Detroit Similar Offshore Supply Vessels, Towboats, Fishing Boats Yes
CAT 3408 Detroit Diesel 8V92, Cummins KTA19 5,800 400 – 700 80 x 48 x 58 in More reliable than Detroit, comparable to Cummins Higher Towboats, Offshore Vessels, Fishing Boats Yes
CAT 3412 Detroit Diesel 12V71, Cummins ISM 6,800 500 – 1,000 88 x 52 x 62 in Highly reliable, superior to alternatives Higher Large Workboats, Offshore Supply, Fishing Vessels Yes
CAT 3508 Detroit Diesel 16V71, Cummins QSM 7,800 600 – 1,200 94 x 56 x 64 in Comparable to Cummins, better than Detroit Higher Large Tugboats, Offshore Platforms Yes
CAT 3512 Detroit Diesel 12V92, Cummins KTA38 9,200 850 – 1,450 100 x 60 x 68 in Superior reliability, lower maintenance costs than Detroit Lower Large Offshore Support, Trawlers Yes
CAT 3516 Detroit Diesel 16V92, Cummins KTA50, QSK19 10,500 1,200 – 2,000 110 x 66 x 74 in Highly reliable, comparable to Cummins Similar Offshore Platforms, Heavy Tugs, Workboats Yes

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