back some 38 years ago at age 21 I bought a new Magnum Missle and I swear it was themost fun I have ever had and some 20 years later because of my claims about this boat my sone just went out and found a mint condition one.

But... it has a basketcase 200HP Merc on it that is torn apart due to a scratched cyliinder. Secondly, the lower unit on it was custom ade to fit this boat and I am skeptical of its abilities and longevity(even though it looks strong)

My old boat had a 135 HP /Shortshaft MERC. and with a 25 pitch prop it did 63 MPH with one person in the boat.

MERC MARINE that covers all of N.E. had the boat as a demo and there use to be a video of it jumping a 4ft high commercial fishing boats wake and they claimed it went 150ft. through the air before it hit the water again..

I can attest to that fact ....becasue I use to run through the Cape Cod Canal at 60+ MPH and hit the freighters wakes and that was the honest to God's truth on the distance.

My 24 ft. Eliminator Daytona 425HP. was nothing but a dinosuar compared to the Magnum.

My question is ...what would be the best motor all round nowadays for this hull. We want it as a fun boat not a race boat and I feel mid to high 70's is a respectable speed if we ever found a need to show off.

All I Know is my old boat did unbelievable U-turns at 50MPH this was not possible at higher speeds. That was the fun of the boat was either pulling a U-turn and trowing the rear passengers out of the boat dispite my warnings.. The other fun thing was doing a complete circle over and over with a person holding onto a ski-rope.... that was a testy situation

Ended up we dropped the ski's and just hunfg onto the rope and swung totally in the air doing full cirlces untill the centrifical force got so strong that you'd just go flying off into the distance. and lastly was the 2'x3' piece of plywood you'd lay on with the ski-rope tied to the plywood then you do a corner and try to stay above the water without the front corner of the plywood biting into the water and catapulting you into what I saw was 14 summersults before slowing down enough that you would break the surface tension of the water and then go under... fun times that you need be you and agile to handle..

so what do you suggest for a motor ?

find a 1500XS.........

I Know Brownie re built one 4-5 years ago with a 2.4 merc, it went 75mph at 1/2 throttle, Don't do that.

I had one of those boats. They were nuts. I also bought mine years ago because of my dad & his buddies raving about them.. Go figure.. lol It had a 150ss Merc on it. The boats were capable of some awesome stuff back in the day. My father & his freinds ran them back in the day quite a bit.. I am more of a Deep V guy personally & prefer a pickle fork to a full tunnel if I must run a cat. But other than that agin they were a cool boat. It would definitley be a neat raft to keep in good shape. Also a 150 should stil lhave that hull screaming if you repower it..

BTW If I remeber correctly there was an arcticle not that long ago that Brownie wrote about running those hulls.. Possibly Hot boat..

Jamie

WE HAVE ONE WITH A MERC 200 HOT SET UP. RUNS MID 90'S ON THE DETROIT RIVER ON A CALM DAY

I had friends that ran them for pleasure boats and raced them back in the day. They can be an incredible fun ride (limited HP) but very unforgiving if they get too much lift and a wake. I have known of many fatalities and serious injuries from overpowered Magnum Missile’s and a heavy foot. The last Missile Magnum I rode in had a 200HP and I will not allow someone else to drive me in another Magnum Missile again. These boats are dangerous in the inexperienced hand. Be careful!

I got a real nice 1984 Merc 90 In-6 if needed, but its a 20" transom.

Go to Scream and Fly and ask for Parker Rabe.....his dad Randy, had the molds from Magnum and made all kinds of Missles.

Parker knows all about them and can give you some good advice....but as been said here before, BE CAREFUL!!!

2nd that info parker will know all they prob strapped so much power to those missles just ask at S&F website

Top Banana knows exactly who to go to i would never doubt what comes from his fingers or his mouth very knowledgeable!!

The Magnum Missile came from a Dieter Schultz designed racing tunnel hull. Schultz was soon eclipsed by Molinari as the best tunnel hull designer but may have (there are various debated versions of the story) been the creator of the concept. That having been said, tunnels were in the earliest stages of development when the Missile was created....and the speed range back then was 70-75 tops for a single engine hull......

So.....

The boats can either stuff or backflip from 70 mph on up.........unless you have them balanced, set up..... and.... know what you're doing behind the wheel and on the trim.... Please-please.....be very careful.

Take it from one who has blown over, barrel rolled, and stuffed an assortment of OPC race hulls..... you can't imagine how fast things go wrong with these things....

T2x