I am hoping to get the boat painted when I finish the glass work anyone know a reasonable painter in mass.

Banana outboard stats:

Monkey Bizness - 1988 24' Banana - Single OB Estimated 360hp - Barely made 70mph before the engine blew itself to pieces.

Spoiled Banana - 1992 24' Banana - Single OB 400+hp - Hit 74mph 1st day, 71mph everyday after.

Spoiled Banana - As of yesterday - Twin 2000 Mercury 200hp stock outboards spinning 26p choppers with no nose cones or low water pick-ups sitting on manual jack plates- 70mph.

As for the SB or BB decision, I was trying to make that decision last year with my Cig 20.

I located a 383 stroker, but decided to go with a 502. The stroker had lightweight everything and Cig 20's can bow steer unless you have enough weight in the stern.

A super boat is narrower than a Banana so I would tend to think the small block would do better in that hull.

Here is a picture of Spoiled Banana with a single OMC 400+hp Jeb Brown Monster Motor and it's current rebuilt state with twin 200 Mercs.

charlie recomended the sb said it was a better setup in the banana balance and weight wise.

BANANA resto
 

jefro0690, Yes it does!! Long time ago I told oldschoolfan it was your grandfathers and showed pics of Larry and myself running side by side coming out of the Back River. HIGH LIFE

BANANA repower
 

oldschoolfan, When I built mine I put a 280 TRS in it , raised the X-dimention 4" boat run very good. HIGH LINE

I am leaning toward the 388 stroker

you cant beat cubic inches, my choice would be stock 502 and plans to upgrade after your sick of going 72-75 than upgrade. reliability is a key factor. altough it seems like your choice is made, up I am very curious how the small block would run. they recently rigged a 27 activator with a blown small block and that boat runs in the low to mid 80's

If you're looking to go 75mph you're going to need 500HP.
500HP is going to be tough to do with a marine 383 without a supercharger. And will likely cost the same as a 500HP 502.
A bigblock with aluminum heads and aluminum exhaust will weigh in nearly the same as an iron head small block.

I agree with Patrick on this one.

Charlie also told me once that he likes cranked out small blocks, but keep in mind he is a racer and is fine with regular rebuilding.

A big block with give you torque and reliability.

Then again, I have been running outboards all my life so I am no expert stern drives.

:cool-smiley-011: