3208's

[Starman]

I was speaking with a man today who said he knows of a hatt that runs good, but needs some work. He said it has some 3208's with about 2900-3000 hours on them.

He and another person said this is low hours for 3208's and that rebuilds usually start around 6-7000 hours.

Is this true ?

 

[Bertramp]

what size Hatt .... and how "tweeked" are the 3208s ?
3208s went from 210hp (naturals) to I think around 425 maxed out.
I would think that the boat they were pushing and the hp they were asked to deliver would play a large part in their longevity, not to mention maintenance.

 

[Starman]

on a 36 hatt, 1969 I believe

man wants out and is selling.

good price I am told, will see it in next day or so.

 

[SeaEric]

They're probably 3160's rated at 210 HP. They will cough sputter smoke and be running still when we're all in old age homes.

 

[Boatsb]

I know of a 36 with 3208 210 HP for sale in nice shape for about 120K. beautiful boat and low hours on the engines.

 

[Starman]

I think this one is going to be much less than half of that price....it does need some work from what I understand. Will get info and pic in the next day or so. Thanx for the info on the engines

 

[rtrafford]

that's not low hours for the 425 hp version. but at the lower levels that engine will run for decades. it may smoke a bit and spit a little diesel when cold, but...

 

[jim rosenthal]

3160s, which were the direct ancestor of the 3208, are low-power, low-stress natural versions of that engine. They will run a very long time indeed. There are quite a few 36Cs from the early seventies which are running around with those engines in them; some of their owners are forum members.

The top of the curve on 3208 reliability, I was told by CAT techs who have rebuilt many of them, is the 355 hp version. After that, the ratio of juice to squeeze gets less favorable, and they don't last nearly as long. The 3160s were rated at 180hp, the 3208Ns at 210, and then up from there. In a 36C, I think you can get up to the 325 or 355 hp version before the engine gets so tall that the hatches won't close.

Incidentally, there is a piece of conventional wisdom that states that parent-bore engines like the 3208 cannot be rebuilt. I don't think this is true, though-they can be bored and honed within reason just like any other parent-bore (non-sleeved) engine, as far as I know. 3208s have for years been one of the more popular engines for Chesapeake Bay watermens' boats, who beat the daylights out of their vessels.

 

[SeaEric]

Incidentally, there is a piece of conventional wisdom that states that parent-bore engines like the 3208 cannot be rebuilt. I don't think this is true, though-they can be bored and honed within reason just like any other parent-bore (non-sleeved) engine, as far as I know.

Jim, The downside is that they have to come out of the boat for this to be done. I also believe they can be bored and then sleeved.

 

[whaler23]

My 74 36C has the 3160's at 210HP. As all have said, lots of smoke on cold start up but you can't kill em. I have only done oil changes and filter changes for two years now with no problems at all. Great torque just not real fast about 14-15 knot honest cruise at 2350 rpm.