535 January 2009
Cummins QSK38: Fitting Them In
Lifting from the shipping skids.
All photos by Alan Haig-Brown courtesy of Cummins Maritime.
The engines represent the single most expensive component of a new boat and their installation is one of the most crucial days in the build process. It takes several months to build a typical inland river pushboat but lifting the engines into the hull is a short intense job.
Lowering to the boat.
Joey Portier (right) directs crane operator.
Coming through the deck.
Joey Portier at Intacoastal Iron Works in Bourg Louisiana has done the job countless times and was very familiar with the dimensions of the Cummins KTA38 engines. While Cummins Marine markets a Tier 2 mechanical KTA38, they also offer a Tier 2 electronic QSK38. Last December a client for one of Intracoastal Ironworks’ standard 72x30-foot pushboats specified the QSK38 for a boat under construction. The new tier 2 compliant engines have the same block dimensions but some of the accessories have increased the exterior dimensions and the over all weight.
 Slack off on the come-along. |
 Joey Portier contemplating. |
The increase in the dimensions of the new engines raised the bar for the installation, but Portier approached the job with his usual aplomb. Within three or four hours the engines had been lifted from the shipping skids and lowered through two decks to their engine beds in the new hull. To fit through the main deck they had to be tilted with the forward end down as Portier directed his crew to move the several chain-driven come-alongs from position to position to manage the job with ease.
More crane directions.
Once the engines were in place a pair of heavy steel beams were laid over the hole through which they were lowered so that the installers could easily move then around to line-up with the Twin Disc gears that were already in place.
DIMENSIONS KTA38
LENGTH 2152 mm 84 in KC
WIDTH 1462 mm 58 in
HEIGHT 2083 mm 82 in
WEIGHT 4218 kg 9300 lb
Dimensions and weight may vary based on selected engine configuration
Raymond Viguerie checks the progress.
DIMENSIONS QSK38
LENGTH 2688 mm 106 in KC
WIDTH 1642 mm 65 in
HEIGHT 2108 mm 83 in
WEIGHT 4640 kg 10230 lb
Dimensions and weight may vary based on selected engine configuration
 Threading the needle. |
 Port engine in place. |
 Readying the second engine. |
 Lowering the starboard engine. |
The port engine in place with lifting bars while starboard engine is lowered.
Download full specifications here.
For further information:
Raymond Viguerie
President
Intracoastal Iron Works, Inc.
149 Bourg-Larose Hwy.
Bourg, LA 70343
Phone: 985 594 9678
Fax: 985 594 3005
E-mail: joeyou47@aol.com
Joe Gregory
Territory Sales Manager
Cummins Mid-South
110 E.Airline Highway
Kenner, LA 70062
Phone: 504 468 3535
Moblie: 504 343 8369
Fax: 504 465 3408
Toll Free:1 800 359 4830
Email: joe.gregory@cummins
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