Scania powers into recreational boat market

Scania has announced that it will making a big push into the Australian recreational boating market starting with Gold Coast luxury boat manufacturer Maritimo.

Maritimo’s owner Bill Barry-Cotter has chosen a pair of 900hp Scania engines for his own M65 and at a media event this week said that the engines were a real surprise package and well suited to the luxury motorcruiser market: "The Scania engines have got a really good name in the commercial market so it’s easy to get our customers into them," he said.

"Servicing is another factor, these engines have service intervals of 500 hours [or 12 months whichever comes first] and they’re very cheap to service as well," Mr Barry-Cotter told boatsales.com.au.

Along with the 900hp V8 diesels, Scania will also be offering an 1150hp version next year which Maritimo will be looking at for its larger vessels.

Attending the media event on the Gold Coast was Scania Australia’s National Manager for Marine and Industrial Engine Andre Arm (pictured). "Traditionally, Scania has been highly regarded in the work boat market and demand for our engines continues to grow globally," Mr Arm said.

"But for the power boat market we are offering a range of engines from our five-cylinder nine-litre 250hp diesel through to the six-cylinder in-line 13-litre motor for up to 750hp, then the 16- litre V8s to 1150hp.

"Scania engines are very reliable and have low running costs," said Mr Arm. "This fact hasn’t escaped Bill Barry-Cotter who has studied our servicing requirements as much as our power and performance statistics and our fuel efficiency projections."

Mr Arm said that the twin 900hp Scanias were using 235 litres per hour combined at a cruise speed of 21 knots which compared more than favourably to the 270 litres per hour from what he described as "the US brand" [C18 Cats - Ed].

Maritimo’s skipper and former World Champion Offshore Superboat driver, Ross “Rossco” Willaton said the Scanias were a real eye-opener: "We’re able to fit much deeper-pitch props and really use the horsepower of the engines," he said. "This gives them almost the same speed [as the Caterpillar motors] while being really economical and giving bigger range for our offshore cruising market."

Mr Barry-Cotter said that he was more than happy with the Scania motors and could foresee many of his customers opting for the Swedish brand: "I can see up to 50 per cent of our bigger boat customers going for these engines," he said.

Mr Arm agreed saying: "With his commitment to shaft-drive coupled with the hull design, we’re confident his vessels will return excellent fuel consumption figures, providing enhanced cruising distances and reduced running costs [with Scania engines].

"Our modular design, robust construction and proven longevity make Scania engines perfect for the needs of pleasure boat builders just as much as for builders of working boats.

"We’re delighted that an Australian boat builder of the stature of Bill Barry-Cotter has selected our engines to power his personal vessel," Mr Arm concluded.