
Boats Used for Recreational, Commercial, and Charter Fishing That Came Stock With Cummins Engines (Past 30 Years)
For more than three decades, Cummins has been one of the most trusted marine engine providers in the fishing world. From small recreational center consoles to heavy-duty offshore commercial vessels, Cummins engines have powered an enormous range of boats across North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Their reputation for torque-rich power delivery, exceptional fuel efficiency, clean emissions, and long service life has made them a favorite for both private boat owners and full-time commercial captains.
This article provides the most comprehensive breakdown of fishing-purpose boat brands and models that have come factory-equipped with Cummins engines since the mid-1990s. For organization and clarity, the list is separated into three major fishing categories:
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Recreational Fishing Boats
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Commercial Fishing Boats
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Charter and Guide Boats
Each section includes brands, specific models, common Cummins engine pairings, and notes about why Cummins-powered variants became popular.
Recreational Fishing Boats Powered by Cummins Engines
Recreational fishing boats tend to prioritize speed, ride comfort, moderate fuel burn, and ease of maintenance. Cummins engines such as the 6BTA 5.9, QSB 5.9, QSB 6.7, QSC 8.3, and QSM11 have been widely used in these boats over the past several decades.
Below are the major recreational fishing boat brands and specific models that frequently came stock with Cummins options.
Albemarle Boats
Albemarle, known for durable Carolina-style hulls, has offered Cummins engines in many of their models.
Albemarle Models With Cummins Power
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Albemarle 24 Express – Early production runs often paired with Cummins 4BT and 6BTA engines.
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Albemarle 27 Express – Commonly offered with Cummins 6BTA 250/270 and later QSB diesel packages.
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Albemarle 29 Express – One of the most popular Cummins-powered express boats in this size class.
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Albemarle 32 Express – Frequently equipped with QSC or QSB engines.
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Albemarle 36 Express – Large express sportfisher widely sold with twin Cummins QSC 8.3 engines.
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Albemarle 41 Express – Offered with high-horsepower QSM11 options.
Albemarle hulls are known for rough-water capability, making Cummins torque and reliability a strong match.
Blackfin Boats
Before Blackfin’s relaunch as a center console manufacturer, the original Blackfin models (1990s–2000s) often featured Cummins.
Blackfin Models With Cummins Power
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Blackfin 29 Combi – Frequently outfitted with Cummins 6BTA engines.
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Blackfin 33 Combi – A popular offshore fishing platform powered by Cummins diesels.
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Blackfin 36 Convertible – Twin Cummins QSB and QSC packages were common.
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Blackfin 38 Convertible – Known for pairing well with QSM11 engines.
Pursuit Boats (Older Diesel Models)
Although modern Pursuit boats are mostly gasoline outboards, older diesel models often carried Cummins.
Pursuit Models With Cummins Power
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Pursuit 3000 Offshore – Cummins 6BTA was the most popular diesel option.
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Pursuit 3070 Offshore (Diesel Edition) – Limited production run offered Cummins diesels.
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Pursuit 3400 Express – Twin Cummins diesel options available.
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Pursuit 3800 Express – Commonly delivered with Cummins 450C or QSC engines.
Luhrs Boats
Luhrs, one of the best-known mid-range express and convertible fishing boat builders, installed Cummins in many models.
Luhrs Models With Cummins Diesel Options
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Luhrs 28 Open – Often equipped with Cummins 6BTA.
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Luhrs 32 Open – Popular Cummins-powered express model.
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Luhrs 36 Convertible – Frequently sold with QSB or QSC engines.
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Luhrs 38 Open – Many units shipped with Cummins diesel packages.
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Luhrs 41 Convertible – Cummins QSM11 power was common.
Henriques Yachts
Henriques builds rugged deep-water fishing boats used heavily in the Northeast tuna and canyon fisheries.
Henriques Models With Cummins Power
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Henriques 28 Express – Cummins 6BTA and later QSB packages common.
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Henriques 35 Express – QSC and QSB engines widely installed.
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Henriques 42 Express – Frequently Cummins-powered.
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Henriques 42 Convertible – Standard diesel offering included Cummins.
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Henriques 50 Express – Can be found with high-output QSM11 power.
Contender (Diesel Editions – Rare)
Contender built a limited number of inboard diesel editions.
Contender Models With Cummins Power
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Contender 35 Express (Diesel Edition) – Rare variant offered with Cummins QSB engines.
JC (Downeast Boats)
JC is a well-known builder of Downeast hulls used for recreational and charter fishing.
JC Models With Cummins Power
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JC 31 – Often powered by Cummins 6BTA.
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JC 35 – Many came with Cummins QSB or QSC engines.
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JC 42 – QSM11-powered versions common.
Eastern Boats / Seaway Boats (Downeast Style)
Some diesel versions offered factory Cummins options.
Eastern Models With Cummins Options
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Eastern 270
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Eastern 310
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Seaway 29 (under same ownership during certain years)
Other Recreational Fishing Brands With Cummins Options
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Topaz 28, 32, 36, 40 – Widely Cummins-powered through the 1990s–2000s.
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Rampage 31, 33, 36, 45 – Cummins QSB, QSC, and QSM11 engines common.
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Shamrock 270 Mackinaw – Limited Cummins-equipped units.
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Phoenix 29 and 34 – Cummins 6BTA common.
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Wellcraft 330 Coastal (Diesel Edition) – Cummins 6BTA available.
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Carolina Classic 25, 28, 32, 35 – Almost all models offered Cummins options.
Commercial Fishing Boats Powered by Cummins Engines
Commercial fishing demands durability, efficient fuel use, high torque, and long service intervals. Cummins engines such as the QSB 6.7, QSC 8.3, QSL9, QSM11, and the heavier-duty K-Series engines (KTA19, KTA38, KTA50) dominate this sector.
Below is a detailed list of commercial fishing boat builders whose vessels commonly came stock with Cummins engines over the past 30 years.
Jensen Maritime / Seattle-area Commercial Builders
Used in salmon seiners, gillnetters, tenders, and trawlers.
Common Cummins-Powered Models
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Jensen 32 Gillnetter – QSB and QSC common.
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Jensen 40 Seiner – QSL9 and QSM11.
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Jensen 45–50 Seiner/Tender – Often used mid-range Cummins power.
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Custom West Coast Crab Boats – Frequently paired with QSM11 or KTA19.
LeClercq Marine (PNW)
Cummins-Powered Models
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LeClercq 40 Seiner
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LeClercq 47 Seiner
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LeClercq 50–55 Tenders
Delta Marine (Commercial Division)
While best known for yachts, Delta also produced commercial fishing vessels through the 1990s–early 2000s.
Delta Commercial Models
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Delta 32 Gillnetter
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Delta 37 Seiner
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Delta 43 Longliner
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Delta 50–60 Crab Boats
Many came with QSM11 or KTA19 engines.
Rozema Boat Works
A major West Coast builder of crab, salmon, and utility fishing craft.
Common Models With Cummins Power
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Rozema 37 Gillnetter
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Rozema 40 Seiner
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Rozema 43–50 Crab Boats
Frequently found with QSC, QSM11, and KTA19 engines.
Brix Marine (Formerly Armstrong Marine)
Produces aluminum commercial vessels used for fisheries enforcement, crabbing, and tender work.
Cummins-Powered Commercial Models
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Brix 32–36 Commercial Fish Boats
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Brix 38–42 Multi-species Boats
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Brix 45–55 Work Boats
Munson Boats (Aluminum)
Commonly used for commercial guiding and light commercial fishing.
Cummins-Powered Models
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Munson 28 Packcat (Diesel Edition)
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Munson 30–34 Workcat
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Munson 38–42 Heavy Duty Series
North River Commercial (Aluminum)
Their commercial fleet includes Cummins-powered diesel models used for salmon and crab fisheries.
Models
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North River 32–38 Commercial Diesel Series
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North River 40 Seiner/Crabber
Hansens, Wahl, and Other PNW Builders
Many PNW commercial boats—gillnetters, crabbers, trawlers, and seiners—routinely ordered Cummins power from the factory.
Common length classes:
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32 ft
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34 ft
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38 ft
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42 ft
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48–58 ft
Engines seen include:
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QSM11
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QSL9
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KTA19
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KTA38
Charter and Guide Fishing Boats Powered by Cummins Engines
The charter fishing world demands an engine that can run hundreds of hours per month, in all conditions, with minimal downtime. Cummins engines have become the standard choice across many regions including Florida, the Caribbean, Alaska, Australia, and the Mediterranean.
Below are the most common charter-specific boats that carried Cummins power from the factory.
Downeast Charter Fishing Boats (East Coast)
Downeast hulls are the backbone of charter fleets from Maine to Cape Hatteras.
Brands and Models Frequently Cummins-Powered
Duffy Boats
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Duffy 26
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Duffy 31
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Duffy 35 (extremely popular in charter service)
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Duffy 37
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Duffy 42
Cummins 6BTA, QSB, and QSC engines were the most common factory choices.
Northern Bay
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Northern Bay 38
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Northern Bay 36
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Northern Bay 40
Often launched with QSM11 engines for high-output charter applications.
Wesmac
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Wesmac 36
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Wesmac 42
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Wesmac 46
These boats commonly carried QSM11, QSL9, and K-Series engines depending on load and intended use.
BHM (Bristol Harbor Marine)
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BHM 28
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BHM 31
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BHM 36
Cummins-powered versions remain staples in tuna and striped bass charters.
Calvin Beal
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Calvin Beal 34
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Calvin Beal 38
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Calvin Beal 42
Large QSM11 or QSC engines were common.
Florida, Gulf Coast & Caribbean Charter Boats
Many center console and express-style charter boats from the 1990s–2000s used Cummins before the modern shift to outboards.
Brands and Models
Bertram
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Bertram 31 (diesel retrofit models offered through some dealers)
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Bertram 33 Sportfisher
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Bertram 36 Convertible
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Bertram 38 Special
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Bertram 42 Convertible
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Bertram 43 Convertible
Cummins engines have been standard offerings on many Bertram models for decades.
Hatteras (Mid-size models)
While larger models often used CAT or Detroit, mid-sized fishing models frequently used Cummins.
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Hatteras 36 Convertible
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Hatteras 39 Express
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Hatteras 45 Express (Cummins options depending on year)
Tiara Yachts (Diesel Express Models)
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Tiara 2900 Open
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Tiara 3100 Open
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Tiara 3500 Open
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Tiara 3800 Open
Cummins 6BTA, QSB, and QSC engines appeared widely.
Pacific Northwest and Alaska Charter Boats
Many aluminum charter boats came stock with Cummins.
Brands and Models
North River Charter Series
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31 Seahawk OS Diesel
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33–35 Offshore Diesel Series
Almar / Duckworth Commercial Series
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Almar 28–32 Diesel Charter Boats
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Duckworth Offshore Diesel Editions
Koffler Aluminum Boats
Custom charter boats equipped with QSB 5.9 or QSB 6.7.
Boulton Powerboats (Commercial Charter Series)
Diesel inboard versions commonly built around Cummins power.
Additional Boat Builders & Models Using Cummins in Fishing Applications
These brands are also known to have offered Cummins engines in select fishing or sportfishing models over the past 30 years:
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Cape Horn (Diesel Inboard Limited Editions)
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Henley Boats Commercial Aluminum
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Radon Boats (California commercial diving/fishing)
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Farallon Boats (West Coast offshore fishing)
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Farallon 2800
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Farallon 2900
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Farallon 3200
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Parker (Diesel Inboard Versions – older generations)
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Parker 2520 Diesel Edition
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Steiger Craft Diesel Editions (Limited)
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Alaska-built longliners and trollers (various custom builders)
Cummins engines have been used in a wider variety of semi-custom and commercial small-shipyard vessels than any other brand in this size range.
Why Cummins Engines Became the Standard for Fishing Boats
Across all three fishing categories—recreational, commercial, and charter—Cummins became the preferred power option for several reasons:
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High torque at low RPM, perfect for pushing heavy hulls or climbing onto plane.
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Excellent fuel efficiency, essential for long fishing days and extended commercial trips.
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Straightforward mechanical designs (in earlier engines such as 6BTA).
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Modern electronic performance and monitoring (QSB, QSC, QSM11).
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Worldwide parts availability, vital for charter operators traveling internationally.
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Long service intervals, reducing downtime.
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Compatibility with a wide range of propulsion systems, including inboards, V-drives, and jet drives.
For fishing captains who depend on reliability, Cummins consistently provided the blend of power, simplicity, and endurance required.
Summary
Over the past 30 years, Cummins engines have been installed in a vast range of fishing-oriented boats across recreational, commercial, and charter sectors. From express sportfishing boats to Downeast hulls to commercial crabbers and seiners, Cummins has powered many of the most respected fishing vessels in the industry.
This article outlines the most complete list available of boat brands and specific models commonly delivered with factory Cummins power—demonstrating just how expansive Cummins’ influence has been across fishing markets worldwide.



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