Anyone ever dealt with owning or operating MTUs?

Carpediem44DB

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2015
3,230
Sanfransico Bay area
Boat Info
2000 Carver 506
2006 44 DB Sedan Bridge
Engines
Volvo TAMD 74 P
So I'm pretty sure SeaRay did not use MTUs much if at all, I don't really know much about the boats over 50 feet. I'm half way considering looking at a 57 Tolley Craft but it has 680 HP MTUs. What I understand from dock talk (from no one that has ever owned MTUs) is that they are rare, expensive and hard to find anyone to work on them. I would be pleasantly surprised if that was not the case. Just wondering if there are any Old Salts on here that have first hand experience with them that can offer counsel on the subject?
Thanks
Carpe Diem
 
So I'm pretty sure SeaRay did not use MTUs much if at all, I don't really know much about the boats over 50 feet. I'm half way considering looking at a 57 Tolley Craft but it has 680 HP MTUs. What I understand from dock talk (from no one that has ever owned MTUs) is that they are rare, expensive and hard to find anyone to work on them. I would be pleasantly surprised if that was not the case. Just wondering if there are any Old Salts on here that have first hand experience with them that can offer counsel on the subject?
Thanks
Carpe Diem
They did - early 90's the 630SSS could be ordered with Detroit 12V92 or optioned with the MTU 12V-183
Most were straight drives but several were ordered with Arneson Surface Drives at the end of the 12V92 production with most of the surface drives powered with the big Cat's 1995 and on.
I also understand several of the MTU powered 630SSS had the Kamewa jet drives but I've never seen one.
 
I didn't know much about MTU's until I started researching our current boat which has MTU Series 60.

Large percentage of "working" boats have MTU, very common marine application for commercial use.

Haven't had any problems finding service in Florida or along east coast, definitely would not consider them rare, actually very common.

I have had them for a couple of years. Extremely pleased. My experience has been repair costs not substantially higher than other engines.

Performance (especially fuel burn) very favorable.
 
So I'm pretty sure SeaRay did not use MTUs much if at all, I don't really know much about the boats over 50 feet. I'm half way considering looking at a 57 Tolley Craft but it has 680 HP MTUs. What I understand from dock talk (from no one that has ever owned MTUs) is that they are rare, expensive and hard to find anyone to work on them. I would be pleasantly surprised if that was not the case. Just wondering if there are any Old Salts on here that have first hand experience with them that can offer counsel on the subject?
Thanks
Carpe Diem
About 15-18 years ago I looked at a 57 Tolly in the Bay Area with the MTU engines you describe. The boat was mechanically sound but at the time it needed a complete inside refit. It was reported to us at that time that the boat was previously owned by Ross Perot. We passed due to the expense that was going to be involved in re-doing the inside. I was told that the MTUs were a rare engine package for Tollycraft.

The 57 Tollys are an awesome boat, built like a tank and very spacious. There were a couple in northern Cal and one in particular would come into Oxbow Marina for service by Leith at Nordic Marine. I loved the boat.
Shawn
 
I have a 57 Tolley as a dock neighbor and agree with @NorCal Boater very spacious. They are about to take it on the great loop. They are in the UP right now for a couple months
 

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