Winter Dreamin'
01-04-2012 | 12:43 PM
#1
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Winter Dreamin'
i know the oso forum is mostly about go fast boats but thought i might see if someone had any input on my not so fast Formula 34PC. she's powered by Merc 502's (bluewater series) and v-drives so although she'll do well with most boats in her size/weight range she ain't exactly a "go fast". my thoughts are about re-powering when the time comes. i'm wondering if a switch to 454's that are upgraded a bit would be a better choice than sticking with the 502's. they are carbed and i wouldn't want to sink a ton of money into it so i'd prefer not to go to fuel injection unless there is an economical way to do it. i can remove and install everything myself so i'd be looking to outsource the build/rebuild. what would some good options be to add some performance but still maintain reliability? this is one of the things i think about while winter is passing thru. 
01-04-2012 | 03:05 PM
#2
21 and 42 footers
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,207
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From: Richmond VA
The 502's are a much better platform........and your crazy if you think your going to get much speed out of her. The V-drives are the biggest problem......followed by 15,000 lbs.
There was a guy that had a 31 and Bravos that installed 500hp 502's and got the boat to 60. For comparison of what the V-drives are giving up, I once had a 330 Sundancer with V-drives that ran 40. Another guy had the same boat/engines with Bravos and ran 49.
There was a guy that had a 31 and Bravos that installed 500hp 502's and got the boat to 60. For comparison of what the V-drives are giving up, I once had a 330 Sundancer with V-drives that ran 40. Another guy had the same boat/engines with Bravos and ran 49.
01-04-2012 | 09:16 PM
#3
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From: Ocala, Fl
As long as you are dreaming...ponder this one. Simple physics ...weight and power.
A retired engineer with bunches of $$$ here in West Palm took an '89 Sea Ray 34 Express Cruiser with straight Hurth Drives and tired 454's on as a project. Out came the big blocks and in went a pair of fresh water cooled LSA GM Marine Supercharged engines that weigh 550 lbs each and put out 550 horsepower and 550 ft lbs of torque. boat cruises 50 and tops at 60+.
That's a 14K lb 12' beam boat with inboards!! It still has a 6kw generator, A/C and all of the electronics have been updated.
A 34' Sea Ray EC with big blocks will cruise at about 25 MPH and hits the wall at about 34~35.
He cut out a 1/2 ton, added 300 ft lbs of torque and 500 horsepower.
Rumor has it that he spent about $65K including the boat....the man had a dream.
Think about the possibilities with a Formula with a better hull.
That's a lot of bang for the buck sir.
A retired engineer with bunches of $$$ here in West Palm took an '89 Sea Ray 34 Express Cruiser with straight Hurth Drives and tired 454's on as a project. Out came the big blocks and in went a pair of fresh water cooled LSA GM Marine Supercharged engines that weigh 550 lbs each and put out 550 horsepower and 550 ft lbs of torque. boat cruises 50 and tops at 60+.
That's a 14K lb 12' beam boat with inboards!! It still has a 6kw generator, A/C and all of the electronics have been updated.
A 34' Sea Ray EC with big blocks will cruise at about 25 MPH and hits the wall at about 34~35.
He cut out a 1/2 ton, added 300 ft lbs of torque and 500 horsepower.
Rumor has it that he spent about $65K including the boat....the man had a dream.
Think about the possibilities with a Formula with a better hull.
That's a lot of bang for the buck sir.
01-04-2012 | 09:24 PM
#4
21 and 42 footers
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,207
Likes: 146
From: Richmond VA
As long as you are dreaming...ponder this one. Simple physics ...weight and power.
A retired engineer with bunches of $$$ here in West Palm took an '89 Sea Ray 34 Express Cruiser with straight Hurth Drives and tired 454's on as a project. Out came the big blocks and in went a pair of fresh water cooled LSA GM Marine Supercharged engines that weigh 550 lbs each and put out 550 horsepower and 550 ft lbs of torque. boat cruises 50 and tops at 60+.
That's a 14K lb 12' beam boat with inboards!! It still has a 6kw generator, A/C and all of the electronics have been updated.
A 34' Sea Ray EC with big blocks will cruise at about 25 MPH and hits the wall at about 34~35.
He cut out a 1/2 ton, added 300 ft lbs of torque and 500 horsepower.
Rumor has it that he spent about $65K including the boat....the man had a dream.
Think about the possibilities with a Formula with a better hull.
That's a lot of bang for the buck sir.
A retired engineer with bunches of $$$ here in West Palm took an '89 Sea Ray 34 Express Cruiser with straight Hurth Drives and tired 454's on as a project. Out came the big blocks and in went a pair of fresh water cooled LSA GM Marine Supercharged engines that weigh 550 lbs each and put out 550 horsepower and 550 ft lbs of torque. boat cruises 50 and tops at 60+.
That's a 14K lb 12' beam boat with inboards!! It still has a 6kw generator, A/C and all of the electronics have been updated.
A 34' Sea Ray EC with big blocks will cruise at about 25 MPH and hits the wall at about 34~35.
He cut out a 1/2 ton, added 300 ft lbs of torque and 500 horsepower.
Rumor has it that he spent about $65K including the boat....the man had a dream.
Think about the possibilities with a Formula with a better hull.
That's a lot of bang for the buck sir.
The Formula 34PC and the Searay 34 EC are very similar boats..........and that engineer is an idiot.
Selling the 34, adding the $65K could have bought alot more boat IMO.
01-05-2012 | 11:15 AM
#5
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Posts: 3,066
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From: Ocala, Fl
We had a Powerball winner come down here a few years ago and blew the whole wad on crack and whores...we're talking $20M!!!
You should see some of the money I see these rich biatch wives spend every year redecorating ocean front condos for the SEASON!!! Hundreds of thousands on crap that gets thrown out the next year....great for the local economy though...
I guess it's all relative.
01-05-2012 | 02:53 PM
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i have no intentions of tryin ta build'er into something she ain't so i don't think i'm crazy
if i wanted to go fast i'd definitely start with a different platform than a 16000 lb cruiser
im just tryin ta see what some good options MIGHT be when the time comes to re-power. just lookin for a little more torque/power to move'er along a little easier while still keepin good reliability. just don't know if a stock rebuilt or mildy upgraded 502 would be the best choice. i say i don't know cause i don't know. so what would be some good options for me to consider? i figured all the go fast people on here would have loads of info on this kinda stuff so give it up
if i wanted to go fast i'd definitely start with a different platform than a 16000 lb cruiser im just tryin ta see what some good options MIGHT be when the time comes to re-power. just lookin for a little more torque/power to move'er along a little easier while still keepin good reliability. just don't know if a stock rebuilt or mildy upgraded 502 would be the best choice. i say i don't know cause i don't know. so what would be some good options for me to consider? i figured all the go fast people on here would have loads of info on this kinda stuff so give it up
01-05-2012 | 05:50 PM
#8
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From: IAD/FLL
Lab the props. 
Seriously, when's the last time the props, shafts and rudders were inspected and serviced? Have the shafts balanced, rudders trued and send the props to someone that can improve on what you've got.
After that, consider cam/intake/carb kit plus exhaust. Is there enough room to swap cams without pulling the engines? If compression is good, no need to remove the short block. If you're really serious you can have the heads worked or buy new.
You best money spent up front is prop work.
Seriously, when's the last time the props, shafts and rudders were inspected and serviced? Have the shafts balanced, rudders trued and send the props to someone that can improve on what you've got.
After that, consider cam/intake/carb kit plus exhaust. Is there enough room to swap cams without pulling the engines? If compression is good, no need to remove the short block. If you're really serious you can have the heads worked or buy new.
You best money spent up front is prop work.
01-05-2012 | 09:53 PM
#9
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Posts: 3,066
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From: Ocala, Fl
Lab the props.
Seriously, when's the last time the props, shafts and rudders were inspected and serviced? Have the shafts balanced, rudders trued and send the props to someone that can improve on what you've got.
After that, consider cam/intake/carb kit plus exhaust. Is there enough room to swap cams without pulling the engines? If compression is good, no need to remove the short block. If you're really serious you can have the heads worked or buy new.
You best money spent up front is prop work.
Seriously, when's the last time the props, shafts and rudders were inspected and serviced? Have the shafts balanced, rudders trued and send the props to someone that can improve on what you've got.
After that, consider cam/intake/carb kit plus exhaust. Is there enough room to swap cams without pulling the engines? If compression is good, no need to remove the short block. If you're really serious you can have the heads worked or buy new.
You best money spent up front is prop work.
When I had my 40' Sea Ray EC I remember a HUGE performance factor with it was how clean the bottom was.
