Thanks for the report Danny. I did some online research on the Steyr 256 yesterday. Have to say the motor looks impressive and mated to a Bravo III...Sweet. I talked it over with my father and he has still decided to stick with the Cummins 6BTA5.9 315 hp. As a Finance/Econ major turned construction worker I pointed out to my father that with the Euro holding an advantage over the US Dollar and having to be imported (Trade tarriffs, currency exchange, import taxes, etc.) that down the road the Cummins will most likely be the most cost effective powerplant. Also it feels good to support our own country's economy. Buy America!
As mentioned before the Cummins sales rep told us the B platform has been around next to forever and being used in construction equipment, US Government applications and I am pretty sure its the same motor in the Dodge diesel p/u parts availability, cores and rebuilt motor supply shouldn't be a problem. I talked to a friend of mine who put me in contact with another friend of his that has the same hull (23' seacraft stretched to 26') that I am helping my father rebuild. Hopefully we will get a chance to look at his boat and get photos/measurements as he had the 210 Cummins set up with a V-drive and upgraded to the 315. I will post pics if we get them so you can take a look. Most fishermen here use the 210 in their 23' Seacrafts/ 24' Yellowfins. Talk to you later, Greg