Oh, Coast guard, say n' more! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> It sounded like you were saying all DD's were Junk and that just ain't so. Since you mentioned your Dad then said Our boats I figured you meant his boats. I' guilty of reading in between the lines, so to speak. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> The problem with the engine you speak of is the fact that they rum them at high speed to force a good engine to work twice as hard as it was originally designed to. the Coast guard bought them because of the good HP to weight ratio vs cost. They would not be my first choice for a boat of any kind but the fact is over all they have an excellent reputation world wide and are, in general very reliable. They are not as efficient as 4 stroke diesels and don't go as long between overhauls but can be overhauled at half the cost of a Caterpillar or Cummins so it works out.