Jim Alexander asked: Here we go again! Anyone on the list familiar with the Cummins VT555M diesels? Rated 270 HP. Kurt Volk answers: Jim, We have twin 555's (naturally aspirated) on our 1976 Bertram they have reperformed flawlessly for nearly 25 years. The only problems we've had were self inflicted (ten years ago, a sheet metal screw found it's way into the air intake). We pulled and rebuilt the head, re-sleeved the cyclinder and have had no problems since. It's a well built motor and very similar to the Caterpillar 3208. My best boating buddy, has the turbocharged 270 hp version on his 1977 Egg Harbor. The boat has been up and down the East coast and made trips to the Bahamas -- with no engine problems reported in his 15 years with the boat. The 'triple nickels' didn't catch on with the 'go-fast' sportfish public because the naturally aspirated version only rated around 230 HP. On the turbo version the blower is mounted quite high on the engine, making installation difficult on many popular production boats. Bertram shifted to the Catepillar 3208 in the 35' for this reason -- while using the venerable Cummins 903VTA in the 42' (and a few 38's). GM power went into the 46' model. Somewhere along the way, the 555 "triple nickels" picked up a partly deserved (but thoroughly overblown) negative reputation when problems occurred with turbocharged engines that went into trucks. I believe those shortcomings were resolved. Cummins reps told me that the problems were turbo-related and occurred in installations operating at widely varying RPM ranges. I.E. the stop and go environment of short haul trucks and the up and down speed ranges ("run hard and put away wet") characteristic of many flogged sportfishing boats. There must be 'horror stories' out there for every engine. But, in 20 years of comparing notes with other Cummins 555 owners, I haven't heard about any serious problems, firsthand. Come to think of it, repowering older 35' Bertrams to make them faster (using the newer lightweight Cummins or Cats) has become very popular recently. Even so, a lot of 'cheap-skates' like me hold on to our 555's! I've talked to many Bertram owners who put off repowering for YEARS. They want to go faster, but can't bring themselves to spend $40m on a repower, when the 555's are still running beautifully. The d-mn engines just won't die. Eventually they repower anyway -- selling the 555's to a commercial fisherman or someone looking for parts. Parts and service can be a problem. This I have to admit. Parts are available, but major items are in limited supply and expensive! If something like an exhaust manifold fails, the replacement will cost a small fortune. The same is true of the VT555's big brother the Cummins 903 series. Even so, in my biased opinion, this is a great diesel engine. They were the 'top of the line' choice for installation in a number of magnificent Rybovich sportfishing machines and are currently used in the U.S. Army's "Abrams Tank" -- (Four engines per tank, I believe). The founder of Moroso Autoparts had a pair of VT903's built to his specifications and installed in his 60' custom sportfish. They managed to get ludicrous horsepower out of the engines and the boat acheived better than 50 knots! A great, versatile, engine! The 'triple nickels' are no longer in production and the 903 is only built for the military and for special order. For this reason, some people shy away from boats with early Cummins power. Personally, I would be happy with either engine -- so long as I liked the boat and planned to own it awhile! These engines can be a drawback on resale, but if you're going to keep the boat, it shouldn't make a difference. In fact, there are a few of us left, that will lust after your boat if it has VTA903's! Kurt Volk m/v Serenade Branford, CT