Engines · Caterpillar

Caterpillar C12.9

The Caterpillar C12.9 is a 12.9-liter inline-six marine diesel, turbocharged and supercharged, rated 850 or 1,000 mhp.1

Hulls on record
2
Builders
2
Built between
2019–2020

On the recordHulls by decade built

  1. 12010sScarborough
  2. 12020sWinter
First on record
PursuitScarborough HIN RAV54001I920 · 2019
Latest on record
UptightWinter hull W-27 · 2020

What it is

The C12.9 is an in-line six, four-stroke-cycle diesel. Bore is 135 mm, stroke 150 mm, and displacement 12.9 liters.1

Caterpillar announced it in Fort Lauderdale and showed it at the 2015 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Before launch it logged more than 13,000 endurance hours over four years, in test cells and high-performance boats.3

How it runs

Air comes through series turbochargers and a supercharger, for torque at low engine speed and quick acceleration across the range. Fuel goes through a common rail system.1,3

The engine is electronically controlled. Both ratings, 850 and 1,000 mhp, sit at 2,300 rpm and meet EPA Tier 3 and IMO II. Cat lists both as E ratings.1,2

What it's good for

Cat aimed it at yachts, fishing vessels, and military and government boats. Caterpillar pitched it for patrol boats and sport-fishing boats alike.1,3

In testing it drew marks for low noise, fast transient response and available power.3

Trade-offs

The E rating is a high-performance rating. It allows rated load and rated speed up to 8 percent of the time, at up to a 30 percent load factor, and assumes 250 to 1,000 hours a year.4

BuildersOn record with Caterpillar C12.9

Hulls with Caterpillar C12.9

2 hulls · All engines

  1. PursuitScarborough HIN RAV54001I920 · 54201954 ft
  2. UptightWinter hull W-27 · 46 Express202046.1 ft

Sources

  1. 1Cat C12.9 High Performance Propulsion EngineCaterpillar
  2. 2Pleasure Craft Products Guide, August 2015Caterpillar
  3. 3Video: New CAT 850 hp C12.9 Engine UnveiledInTheBite
  4. 4Marine Engine Selection GuideCaterpillar

Each hull’s original power is shown on her page as her source wrote it. Know of one we’ve missed? Send us what you have.