Here we go...tomorrow installing engines. Nice and clean dash panel, just two gauges, backup depth finder and volt gauge for accessories battery.
Plenty of room in the engine compartment, extra fuel tanks? generator? a/c?.....
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8737773c5b.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8b76efa799.jpg
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https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2a10d01c72.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...819b784279.jpg

Extra storage, a/c, generator, extra fuel tanks?

Finally installing engines, tomorrow sea trial.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ef5daff5c8.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3160efb7d0.jpg
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Looking forward to how this works out.

I’m ok with the concept and hope you use and enjoy the hell out of the boat, but the look of a bracket and outboards on a boat like this looks like it has been converted to use as a fishing boat a third world county.

Looking forward to the sea trial info. Video maybe? (Hint, hint)

Tomorrow morning sea trial.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...997a21792d.jpg

Good luck! be sure and take some video! can't wait to hear how it goes.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3d01557f80.png
Cant upload video, project/experiment so far working fine, few details to fix to improve speed and fuel consumption.

If that is consumption at 42, it’s very good. These things are gas hogs, prob like 1.3 with 454s.

If that’s wot, you need less pitch. I think they redline at 6600-6800. You could also try raising them

Hogie Roll, this is an experiment and so far is working fine but I know the numbers can improve quite a bit since everybody around is not an engineer but just handy man trying to be knowledgeable. Its amazing the lack of knowledge among the businesses doing repowers and conversions. I think I need to lower the engines several inches inn order to avoid cavitation.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...bc670515d8.jpg

Nice project, and it sure didn’t take long.

Hey hoggie roll, you say raise them, I thought lowering them since I get a bit of cavitation. What do you think? WOT is 54mph at 6000 rpm's.

This is really cool, if you are getting 1.6 mpg at 42 mph that is awesome. My 330 with 496's was at 1 mpg no matter what. you just picked up a ton of range... What is the plan for the engine compartment?

He may have thought the slower figures (42 mph) was WOT, I wasn't too sure but you've cleared that up now. :)
The figure of 54 mph @ 6,000 revs is pretty impressive. There might be more in it if you can get the revs up a little by playing with engine height and maybe props. Depends what you're looking for but I'd say you've done very well for a first run.

RR

Agree with RR. I'm impressed with the numbers you are at. 1.6 at 42 is very good. Great job.

Thats a pretty good WOT number, but the engines can spin faster.

Are the engines cavitating at WOT? Or just when accelerating?

Mine will cavitate if I go WOT from low speed. I just manage it with less throttle. But I still have great acceleration regardless of this. My boat is probably 2k lbs lighter though.

Did you trim them up a lot while testing? Like until it slowed down?

I’m forgetting this is a 280, not a 330. there should be something more speed in there.

im on the west side right now, but possibly heading over there is the next few days. I could stop by and check it out. Are you spinning out or in?

Picture above appears to be spinning out. Also I'd like to bring up that you are running 3 blades. We are rigging the contender out with the same engines in the upcoming weeks. Already have a set of merc revolutions here for them when engines arrive. The 4 blades would really help you on the hole shot.

Zuke props have a big diameter

I know their 4 blades are 15.25 diameter. That is what they are sending with our engines in a 24p. I have no experience with their characteristics but the Revos have absolutely blown away any comparisons on every boat I've put them on. Even down to a flat bottom aluminum boat.

I may be wrong in saying the revolutions would be a better choice than the suzuki 4 blade props. I doubt it, but I have not ran the Suzukis to compare. However, I do know that if you are having cavitation issues the best step in the right direction would be ditching a 3 blade wheels. As long as your engines arent too high that is. I doubt they are or you would be having cavitation on the top end, not while plaining.

I agree, 1.6 mpg is impressive. I'd be curious what the original burn rate was since the 280 was never offered with big blocks.

It happens at any speed, I have tried trimming up and down with minimal result.

If you are in town please stop by, I need advise to fine tune this experiment.

Generally speaking if it is cavitating at most all speeds then yes the engines are too high.

I agree

FYI, filled fuel tank this morning with 80.7 gal. Did 157.1 miles which means 1.95 miles per gallon. I was doing 1.55 with inboards. 21% better fuel economy.

Did you get to try moving them down?

I’m hoping to do it next week

Took boat to 20 hr service yesterday (had 43 already), told service owner about issue ventilation/cavitation and to lower engines. He insisted the issue must be the wrong props so next week sea trial again, will see...

What props is he giving you? The rubex 4 blades?

Not meaning to sound like an Ahole here, but WTF is a rubex 4 blade?

Unlike merc, suzuki doesnt manufacture their own wheels. Solas makes them for Suzuki. The "suzuki watergrip" is just a solas rubex L4 with Suzuki name on it.

On a different subject, does anybody know how to reset the Fuel Used parameter in a Suzuki SMD 9,12, 16? I would like to reset it at every time I fill the tank but can't find a way to do it neither my service dealer and the manual is a joke.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5b2f97992f.png

Did 231 miles with 100.8 gallons, 2.29 miles per gallon which is 32% better fuel economy than previous engines.

Very cool. now slap some outboards on my 292 :) I just spent $8k redoing my 350s... maybe I could have dropped on 2 x 300s...

Here you go,

https://www.rpmgroup.ca/view-details.php?id=847

Thats crazy expensive!!! I paid less than 18k for each 2020 Zuke 300

Ours came out close, right at 39k with controls and suzuki multi function gauges. You beat us. Who did you go through?

My total was just short of 46k including taxes., including rigging, steering, props, suzuki smd9 display. Done by Reliable Marine.