Pon Power News
The online magazine of Pon Power, the Caterpillar dealer for diesel and gas engines and generators.
In this magazine we keep you up to date on the latest projects, new products & services and technical innovations.
FACTS & FIGURES
SHIP
LT60 “Wilhelmina”
CONSTRUCTION
1991
PROPULSION
Cat 3608
OWNER
Vof. R. J. & J. De Boer, Urk
PROJECT
Complete overhaul
TYPE
Fishing cutter
GROSS TONNAGE
428 ton
DIMENSIONS
40 x 8,5 m, draught 4,7 m
OVERHAUL OF CAT ENGINE IN LT60 CUTTER STRENGTHENS THE BOND BETWEEN PON POWER AND DE BOER BROTHERS
“MORE THAN 65,000 RUNNING HOURS WITHOUT A HITCH”
ASK A QUESTION
FACTS & FIGURES
DIMENSIONS
OWNER
GROSS TONNAGE
PROPULSION
TYPE
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT
SHIP
40 x 8,5 m, draught 4,7 m
R. J. & J. De Boer, Urk
428 ton
Cat 3608
Fishing cutter
1991
Complete overhaul
LT60 “Wilhelmina”
Harry de Vries
Accountmanager Service,
Pon Power
“We always kept a
close watch on this
engine. It just
kept going.”
FACTS & FIGURES
TOTAL REVISION
In early May the LT60 finally set sail towards the harbor of Harlingen where the team of Pon Power’s Den Helder service branch stood ready. All told, the reconditioning included pistons, cylinder heads, linings and turbo charger. Disassembling the engine very quickly was important as the parts were to be shipped to Pon Power in Papendrecht for reconditioning. Completion was scheduled in 10 days, which afforded little time to rest with two public holidays in between. Unfortunately it was established in Papendrecht that the piston cleaner slots exceeded specified tolerances, requiring replacement. Even so, the work was finished within the agreed period, thanks to concerted, last minute action. The test ride was extended in the direction of the fishing waters, where the service team were dropped off near Terschelling and taken back to Harlingen by a smaller boat, after which the De Boer brothers could confidently go back to work. Rense de Boer: “All done. The engine’s running perfectly and we’re looking to the future, hopeful she’ll be closed up for another 30,000 hours, at least!”
Rense de Boer
of the firm of R. J. & J. De Boer
“An open, equal
relationship has always
worked best for us.”
manager Service at Pon Power: “The engine that propels the LT60 of the De Boer brothers seldom operates under maximum load, mostly running at 70% capacity. Therefore, we had anticipated we could probably ignore the 40,000 hour service limit for a while, provided we’d keep a close finger on the pulse. And yet the endoscopic tests and regular oil samples kept telling us the engine was in perfect condition. At the end of the day, this 3608 was able to clock 66,000 hours with no problems of any significance until due for reconditioning - at over one and a half times the advised service limit. That’s a fantastic result.”
RELIABLE WORKHORSE
“You can take a hard line, and pitch suppliers against one another for your trade. But we don’t believe in that style of doing business. We’re convinced that a warm relationship, transparency and teamwork will win the day.” We’re listening to Rense, the senior of the two brothers De Boer. “That’s why we work closely with Pon Power, especially for the monitoring of our 3608. It’s a trust that is now paying back handsomely.” The Cat 3608 that powers the brother’s fishing cutter is known in the industry as a reliable workhorse. As per Caterpillar’s instructions, the 3608 is due for an engine overhaul after some 40,000 running hours. Harry de Vries, Account
PON POWER AND DE BOER BROTHERS
STRENGTHENS THE BOND BETWEEN
OVERHAUL OF CAT ENGINE IN LT60 CUTTER
WITHOUT A HITCH”
RUNNING HOURS
“MORE THAN 65,000
When, in 1993, Urker fisherman Meindert de Boer had his cutter UK195 “Aaltje Jan” built, he placed an order with Geveke for a Cat 3606. It was the start of a close relationship that has endured for almost 25 years to date. Meindert’s business has since been taken over by his sons Rense and Johannes, and Geveke has changed to Pon Power, but the ties between the two businesses are stronger than ever. The latest feat being the overhaul of a Cat 3608 which, in the care of Rense and Johannes, comfortably exceeded the factory-advised overhaul timeline by a factor 1.5. Pon Power News went to Harlingen to check out this remarkable LT60.
