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Conference vicki::boats

Title:Powerboats
Notice:Introductions 2 /Classifieds 3 / '97 Ski Season 1267
Moderator:KWLITY::SUTER
Created:Thu May 12 1988
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1275
Total number of notes:18109

781.0. "HELP! RE-POWERING MY BOAT..." by WMOIS::WESCHE () Thu Jan 17 1991 17:04

    I want to re-power my boat with a new or used merc.  Do any of
    you know of any sources to check with for more details on cost,
    time to exchange/swap motors, what I would get for my old one, 
    etc...
    
    Also, have any of you ever done this and what was your experience?
    
    Here are some details of my boat/current motor:
    
    	Make: 20' Celebrity Cuddy
    	Year: 1990
    	Merc: 5.0 L 200 hp I/O  Alpha one
        Hours: 69 Fresh water only
    
    Am looking to re-power with:
    
    	Merc 5.7 L 260 hp I/O 
    	(Prefer new but will consider used low hour/Fresh water only)
    
    Any help/dealers/experiences/etc. would be appreciated.
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781.1More power?KAHALA::SUTERThu Jan 17 1991 17:3231
    
    RE: Celeb Owner...
    
    	I really only have one question... Why? 
    
    	If my liter-to-CI conversions are correct we are talking about
    going from a 305 to a 350 or Ford 302 to a 351. Correct? And I
    assume the current engine with only 69 hours is very healthy...?
    
    	True that the 305 and 302 are not as powerful as their larger
    brethren, but with a few simple modifications they could be. With
    the price of a new 351 somewhere around 4-6k, I'd personally go
    to the local performance store and pick up an Eldebrock intake,
    a performance cam and a larger MARINE carb. Even with those parts
    in your shopping cart, you'd have plenty of change left(~3500-5500)
    to replace the rather low compression pistons and throw in a 
    crankshaft that can handle it.
    
    	Even if you could get 2k for your current engine you'd still
    have to shell out another 2-4k. All the parts mentioned about
    could be had for less than 1k. Not to mention that you'd never recoup
    these $$$.
    
    	Just another thought.... the boat market is extremely flat right
    now, if you really want a performance boat you could consider buying
    one.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Rick
    
781.2Don't do it.HOTWTR::SASLOW_STSTEVEThu Jan 17 1991 17:5512
    I don't think repowering your boat makes economic sense. The previous
    note outlines cost pretty much, plus there are unseen pitfalls when
    repowering with a different engine. I recently repowered my twin 302
    boat with twin 351. You would think, no problem. Well we had to make
    mods to the engine hatches because of a couple inches increase in
    height, we had to mod the engine mounts, and we had to mod the intake
    manifold spacers to get less than the recommended 12 degrees slant for
    the carburetor, etc. Of course, my 302s were shot, so it made sense.
    
    I'll bet you could trade your 1990 with 69 hours on it to the same
    dealer you bought it from for a left-over 1990 for just a couple grand.
    Try it you might be surprised and you'll get a new warranty.