As the size and cargo capacities of crew boats has increased so has the combined and individual horesepower of the engines. Compared with 1998, the 1999 Cummins Mid-South order book for crew boat engines has shown a decrease in the numbers of six-cylinder KTA19 M4 engines that, with a 700 hp rating, has been the standard in the past. At the same time they have, to date, sold, for crew boat application, a total of 55 of the 12-cylinder KTA38 M2 engines with a Heavy Duty rating of 1350 hp at 1950 rpm. Included in these orders were engines for the following new builds:
McCall
Boat Rentals took delivery of Doreen McCall, its second 183-ft. model from
Gulf Craft early in 1999. This will be followed by a third boat, Hull #424 to the same basic design, in November. Main engines for each of these boats are six KTA38 M2. McCall is also building two 165-ft. crew boats, powered by five KTA38M2 engines each at
Neuville Boatworks in New Iberia . The first of these boats will deliver in November.
Graham has taken delivery of two 155 x 30-ft. crew boats from Breaux Brothers in Loreauville, La. Each is powered by four KTA38 M2. The second boat was sea-trialed in August. A third boat to the same design was recently ordered for early 2000 delivery.
Tidewater built two different classes of crew boat in 1999. Two boats from Swift Ships in Morgan City will each have five 12-cylinder Cummins KTA38 M2 engines. Four of these will turn props with the fifth linked to a jet. Sea trials for the first of these boats was held in late September with the second about one month later. Tidewater also built two 155 x 30-ft. crew boats at Breaux Brothers. The boats will each have four KTA38 M2 main engines. Sea trials on the first of these boats is scheduled for late 1999 with the second in early 2000.