That motor is sold. It will be going into a 22 Donzi classic and should haul ass.

Sounds like you're still keen to upgrade the Four Winns. Couple of last thoughts....

About 30 years ago I owned a Swiftcraft Stiletto 15' (in Australia) with an 85 hp and it ran 45 mph. I wanted more so I traded the 85 for a 150. Masses of power but from 50 up, the chine walking was out of control. After playing with height settings, props and very small tabs I came to the conclusion this hull was never designed to run above 50 and nothing I could do would get her there safely. Eventually traded the 150 back for another 85, sold the rig and bought something bigger.

Currently have a Fountain 34 cc and want a sports boat. Tried like crazy to sell it but the market where I live is not interested. Currently doing a refit to make her a sports/bow riding/runabout. It's a great boat with 280 hours and lived indoors all its life and labour here is about $8-$10 per day so I'm going to lose some money and refresh what I have. Not changing the power but I've removed the T-top, windscreen, radar and stuff, cut down the cabin height so weight will drop by around 200-250 pounds and wind resistance will also be considerably better. I'm not expecting much speed increase but obviously there will be something. I'm doing it because I'm bored with a boat that is actually a great boat, and I want a change. I've got decals organized and hopefully the new look will excite me again. I may start a small picture thread here on oso if members are interested.

If you're bored and want a change, try doing something to your FW. to change the look. Striping, upholstery but changing performance is a huge task. Have you got Captains Call/silent choice exhaust? That's always a nice option and won't damage resale opportunities. A small block can sound sweet.

If you can wait another month, I'll let you know if my boat remodeling has worked and got me excited again or if it's just been a total waste of money!!!

RR

In 1978 I bought a 1977 GLASTRON CARLSON CVX-18. It had a Merc 888 package ( 188 HP / Alpha drive ) The boat on a good day would do 50 on the water pitot spedo. I don't know what actual was. I had this boat for 20 years and just about every year I did more upgrades. The final product was hull was modified ( straightened and strengthened ) The original engine blew up many years earlier. It was sporting a BOSS 302 block and crank, aftermarket EVERYTHING else, Over 500 HP at 7000 RPM, ALPHA SS drive ( 2.5 inches shorter ) transom replaced and transom assembly raised about 3 inches.
When I was finally done the boat topped out at 94 MPH on radar. It was VERY stable but needed hyd. steering. It was a white knuckle ride. This engine manhandled this boat and I loved it. BUT it was not practical and was only good for going fast. ( good thing that is all I wanted to do.)

she has all the goodies the option sheet had on it, other wise I would start with captains calls, as for the look I don't have any thing to change, that's anther reason I don't really want to get a different boat, there is lots of nice ones, but very few bow riders or mcob boats for sale and that drops even more when I get down to the length id be ok with currently

Rak Rau, would love to see the project, sounds like it should be pretty when its done.

Tinkerer, that sounds like a beast of a boat and a lot of work, id love something like that one day.

I do get everyone's point about it pushing the boat well past its intent and what it was designed for along with the added stress. but im know that is with anything that Is being pushed, there is always some kind of wall and the issues it brings up, hell for all I know it could take 60-65 with zero issue, I know the previous model years with the 6.2 would touch mid 50's easy. even with some chop at WOT she sits flat and smooth, can hustle from the bow to the back if you have any balance, just want that extra punch

Have you read the " repowering of a brick" thread?

Why not just add a pro charger and call it a day? It'll probably get you half way to your goal for pennies on the dollar.

Once your done it will be fun to have a fast open bow. I grew up with a 20ft maxum that my dad put a 350 mag into. Boat would run anywhere between 63 and 68, depending on weight and how clean the bottom was. The boat took the high speeds well for a cheap boat. But after 60 you would get a little chine walk. If it was rough or even choppy you were going over 55 for safety reasons. When you hit waves and got some air under the hull the boat would stand up on its transom. You would need to back out of the throttle slowly to bring it down. When you make your boat to fast for the design you need to take it slowly reaching and driving at those speeds. You can't let just anyone drive your boat either. I think you will have a fun boat but it's going to be a pain to make that hull and drive combo do those speeds. Good luck, but you may be better to find a 21 - 22ft cobalt or one like it with a big block

I thought about charging the stock motor, but I know from working on cars, no motor stock motor lasts long under boost and abuse, even if it is limited. so that leads into re build area then cost becomes mute between the two and comes down to what would work best.

id love a cobalt just for there build quality, but they are a heavy boat, I think there hull is the same class as mine where it would be being pushed and then the 20-23 boats that came with a big block seem to be older so then it runs back to the use boat and not knowing its past.

I had skimmed the ' brick' thread but have started going page by page, looks to be lots of info in there

428 SBC race fuel boat engine I could part with

Come on man! I respectfully disagree.

Perfect segue for my post.

Not entirely true. My model 233 is listed at 3800 lbs. I measured the hull at just under 21 ft. without the built in swim platform.
We are more similar than you may know.

LTZCrew - I say go for it. A stout 383, 400 SBC or a fire breathing LS would get you to your goal IMO. However you need to check
or declare a few things before you begin a project. These are:

1.) Bottom paint - If you have it you must remove it.

2.) Boat weight/wood rot/water retention - You must know the true weight then get rid of any rot/water logged foam/hidden water.
Four Winns is not known for perfectly sealed wood structure boats.

3.) Hull straightness - check for hook. This will be the number one speed killer besides a water logged boat.

4.) Bravo 3 - get rid of it. A small boat with a stout engine doesn't need it anyway. A Bravo 1 will increase your top end at the speeds
you are wanting to attain. A shorty LU will help even more. If you want significantly more than 400 HP then beefing up the Bravo 1 is essential.

5.) Remove weight wherever/whenever - Small boats respond favorably to weight reduction more so than large heavy boats.

6.) Don't do speed runs with fat chicks and two coolers full of beer.

My engine project consisted of swapping out a 7.4L MPI for a 502 MPI with Dana Marine exhaust(silent choice). I have done a few small
tweaks here and there and my boat got faster each time. The HP difference is only 105 per Mercury specs. Perhaps I am the exception to
the rule that Griff eluded to but I am now 18 MPH faster.

Good luck and don't let the naysayers dampen your spirit.