I looked at the GPS on the Viking Yachts’ 46 Billfish Mack 900. The speed showed 41.5 knots as twin 900 hp Scania diesels spun at their rated 2,300 rpm. According to the Scania staff on board, the boat ran like this from day one. These motors represent the first step in the Swedish company’s commitment to the US pleasure-craft sector.
Scania is a household name in Europe, known for building all things on- and off-highway, including buses, trucks and diesel engines. Its marine diesels are most noted for their use in commercial applications, ranging from patrol boats to lobster boats to passenger ferries.
During the pandemic, the company, working with its US distributor Mack Boring, decided it was time to show American yachtsmen what its diesels could do.
To that end, the 46 Billfish I got aboard made an easy cruise speed of 31 knots at just 1,750 rpm and 70 percent engine load with 12 people aboard. This is equivalent to a light jog for the inline six-cylinder engines. Fuel burn was 48 gph. Considering a 10 percent reserve on the vessel’s 709-gallon fuel capacity, Mack 900’s range is 412 nautical miles at this cruise speed. Pick it up to 2,000 rpm, and the speed jumps to 36 knots with a 68 gph burn and 337 nm range. At 41.5 knots, fuel burn is 89 gph and range is 297 nm.
On servicing US clients, Mack Boring has an ever-growing support network. Customers call an 800 number, and within 15 minutes, the issue is assigned and the customer is contacted. The parts are located and a technician is appointed. The company is graded on its response times.
The Mack 900 with the new Scania engines will be on display at boat shows up and down the East Coast this fall.
The Middleweight: Scania 900 HP Diesel
The 900 hp Scania DI13 diesel is an inline, six-cylinder common-rail engine aimed at midsize pleasure-craft applications. The motor is built on a lightweight compacted-graphite-iron engine block. It comes in at 2,832 pounds, sans coolant and oil. The company’s marine-engine range currently runs from 700 to 1,100 horsepower, which also includes a 16-liter diesel model. Scania’s diesel range is also Tier III-compliant.
