We Tracked Perkins, Ford Lehman & Gardner Diesels Past 15,000 Hours - A Clear Winner

Three legendary marine diesels, one honest question: which one actually carries a retiree past fifteen thousand hours without turning his boat into a parts-hunting hobby? A retired surveyor puts the Perkins, the Ford Lehman, and the Gardner side by side and scores each one the way he would before a client signs. Is she built loose enough to reach fifteen thousand hours? Can you still buy the parts, and how far away do they live? Is there a mechanic near your slip who knows her? And what does it cost to be the man who keeps her running that long?