Perkins’ New 175hp-245hp Diesels
Meeting all the latest emissions standards and with an eye to the future, the new range of marine diesels from UK-based Perkins pack plenty of options.
Following a sneak ‘concept’ preview at Seawork this year, the new ‘M245’ range of engines from Perkins have been officially launched at Metstrade. Perkins believes that there will be a market for dependable diesels with flexible installation options for many years to come, so have developed the new range accordingly. The aim is to meet the varying needs of boatbuilders and refitters over a variety of commercial and leisure projects.
The Perkins M175C, M200C and M245C are described as 6-cylinder propulsion engines that offer customers’ 173 hp (129 bkW), 200 hp (149 bkW) and 249 hp (186 bkW) power ratings at 2400 rpm. Based on the proven Perkins 1206 common rail, fuel injected core engine, the ‘next generation’ 7-litre engine has been developed for durability and reliability.
“We understand that it’s rare to find two boats that are identical and with corresponding requirements, said Dave Wood, senior product service engineer. “One objective was to design and build an engine that can be configured as a simple streamlined engine or scaled up to a fully equipped MCS certified build. Providing options and repower are part of the nature of the business, so Perkins has taken into consideration the future needs whilst keeping elements of familiarity in place for existing users. The ability to fully configure the engine is key to the success of this range.”
Depending on the applications, customers can choose from a range of options, such as a mechanical throttle converter, duplex or simplex filters, or single or double skin fuel lines. There is a selection of gearboxes, and the engine can be configured to meet specific requirements of marine society builds and certifications. There are also three cooling options; heat exchanger, keel cooler, or a separate circuit – or combinations of each. This should provide compatibility across a wide range of vessels and types of operation.
Aware of ever-tightening emissions regulations, Perkins has ensured the M175C, 200C and M245C meet all the current standards. “This offers customers a future-proof solution that supports long-term investment and compliance with evolving environmental regulations,” Wood explained. “The engines are emission compliant to RCD 2, EPA Tier 3, IMO2, and EU V (M175C) and customers can expect a 500-hour service interval, a self-priming fuel system and self-tensioning belts, with a 1500-hour period between changes. The new models also have gear-driven water pumps and automatic (hydraulic) valve adjustment.”
Looking over the engines, IBI could see that the service items were easy to access, and the engine can also come with flexible feet. There is a choice of either basic sensors or an advanced alarm and shutdown option. From a base model in each horsepower, the customer can have a factory-configured engine ready for installation and built to a budget, Perkins’ response to the growing competitiveness of the propulsion sector.
The engines will be available through the Perkins marine distributor network with production scheduled to begin in 2026 and the order board opening in Q4 2025.