Congrats! I have a lot of catching up to do as soon as I get power and cable back at home.. Maybe one day you will bring her down to TX or maybe even the TF200... The first 12 pack, or bottle is on me:ernaehrung004:

Thanks. Glad that you are ok down there.
Hope that power is back soon.

I found stock 496's for $10K each from govictorymarine. $15K each straight from Merc. Most reliable 600Hp motors I priced were $20-30K each. If I buy straight from Merc, which is the way I'm leaning, it will cost upwards of $30K+ to repower with stock 425HP motors.......about what i paid for the boat back in December.

Congrats to both you guys, Very happy to see it worked out for everyone. --------I just wish it was me:rolleyes:

That sounds about right.

wHY NOY JUST REBUILD WHAT YOU HAVE? Are they too far gone?

I was going to go that route, but the heads are alluminum and are too corroded, per my mechanic they need to be replaced. The intake manifolds are pretty corroded as well. I can't justify putting that kind of money into that old set up because I'll never get any of it back. I could rebuild, maybe get another 1-200hrs out of them (no gaurantee) and then 2-5 years later I'd be right back in the same "boat." Effectively merely delaying the purchase of new engines. Doesn't take much research on OSO to read about so many other rebuilds that go bad after 20-30 hours. Hell, they've already been rebuilt once. On the other hand I could buy new 496's with a solid warranty, should last 1000hrs the way I drive. As little as I drive that setup would last me 20-30 years and be a very attractive resale down the road. If there's anything worth doing its worth doing right.

Good luck with your Apache Andy, hope it works out for you so you can use your boat this comming summer, I would go with the new motors with a warrenty, it is the safest, smartest way to go!! That is why I decided to sell I just could not justify spending another 20-30k on this boat, after all that I have already spent. Good luck

Andy... you are headed in the right direction.
Does merc have a credit card program? 0% and no payments for 12months w/ purchase of new engines? :D
Wish you the best... my you have a good Xmas bonus.

If the economy keeps going the way it is they will be giving them away.

Bankruptcy work pays really well:drink:

That is the last thing this country needs Andy is more bankruptcy!!!!:mad:, We need to get the economy moving again, not more negativity

I don't throw companies into bankrutpcy; I just help them through it.

Will you be changing your screen name now that the boat is gone?:party-smiley-004:

Yes I might change it now!!!, back to my old screen name WMF, that way it is not attached to any boat type!!!!

:eek: DOH!

Whats DOH! supposed to mean???

I believe that it means "oh crap."

I dont think Andy said anything rude??

how about boatless Bill the cowboy?:evilb:

Sounds great Rob!!!, or I will just call myself WildBill, I dont think that is taken.

When post number 666 is calling yourself "Wild Bill" it was meant to be. :D

:eek::eek:WHOLY CHIT, thats it:evilb:

Well the Apache is gone, John ( FundRazor ) picked it up today with the help of Chris Sunkin, Thanks again Chris for your help, and good luck John with the boat:ernaehrung004:

We almost brought it back to you. We stopped for fuel & a burger and misread a sign- and had one of those Groundhog Day experiences.

But, we made it out & back in one day- thanks for your help in making that happen.

No Problem Chris, how did the trailer do? Hey John are you happy? and John dont let Chris take it completly apart:drink:

Trailer worked good- just not nearly enough brakes. One axle drum brakes isn't enough for much over 35. Good thing I have monster brakes on the truck.

Thanks Bill.

All the way home Chris theoretically spent my theoretical money thinking of things to do to it.

Nooo... this one is MY project. Although his insight and knowledge is the best that I know.... and I value and appreciate it... this one is mine.

Glad to have him in my corner though!!!

And thanks again for the help, Chris. Your generosity of time, talent, and equipment is unmatched.

And we got those monster brakes smoking in the PA mountains, too. :D

Chris can't drive 55.

Hey, I got places to be, people to see, checks to cash...
;)

Give it a few minutes Chris and all the safety police will be out in full force for you admitting you had bad trailer breaks. Suppose you pulled it with a F150 too????? :eek::party-smiley-004: j/k. :evilb:

Hey, I'm usually the safety police.

And the brakes ween't bad- it's just astonishing that a trailer manufacturer would build a trailer and rate it for 10,500 lbs and only have brakes on one axle.

Fortunately I had my Excursion- it's got every braking & towing mod known to man on it. But we did get a whiff of pad on a couple of thise exit ramps.

What's scary is that most people wouldn't even think to look- and maybe set off in just barely enough truck (or less) thinking that "they wouldn't have built something if it wasn't OK"

Thier its done, I changed my screen name!!!!, I will never name myself after a boat again!! I used my initials and it is also my business's name:ernaehrung004:

Easy there Safety Chief...just yanking your chain cause, well, I can! :ernaehrung004:

Did you catch the part about Chris being behind the wheel? :D

Plus... some of those hills had really steep downhill grades. The truck did great. Made me interested in a similar one. Liked the way the diesel pulled. I had always towed with gas engines. What a difference. Plus... the mileage was better than expected. Great truck.

Not once did I press more than halfway on the pedal either. I could have run 85 up any of those hills but I really don't need to buy ANOTHER transmission this month.

(3 in shop trucks in Sept)

Come on Chris that Apache does not weight that much!!!!!!:rolleyes:

Like hell. Ways about what a 35 Fountain does- or more.

As it was yesterday, my guess, judging by the tug-on-the-hitch-o-meter, it weight a tad over 8K.

I belive you are right chris, just had to mess with you:ernaehrung004:

Hey... let's start a thread about how much a 28 weighs.

:D :D