Power/drives for your next Formula?
 

Just thinking out loud here: If Formula would build whatever you want, what would you want as a "reasonable" package. If you go with Merc, it's a big step from the 525 (575 being cancelled) to the 900SC or 1050SCi, both of which require #6 drives and huge budgets. (Although there are some rumors coming out of Decatur...) Volvo is out of the high end market, so the best thing there is 425 hp 496's...

I'm thinking Sterling 700's (non-blower 572's) with upgraded Arneson ASD6's. Will Arnesons work on the 382's hull, with it's notched transom? Should, I guess - Reggie uses 'em. Wonder how the boat would handle?

Or maybe a single 1350 hp Lycoming turbine with a split gearbox to run two drives - VERY light, but very $$$$....

Anyone else got any ideas (fantasies)?

WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO MAKE A GOOD 700-750 HP SHIFTABLE DRIVE?????? HELLO???

I'd go with the surface piercing drive, reliable and lots of fun.

Turbine drives+surface drives=best of all worlds

<LOL> - Totally unbiased opinion, of course..... ;)

Of course!;)

Troutly, since you're obviously a "PC" kind of guy instead of a "FasTech" kind of guy, I'd recommend 300 Yanmars and shaft drives for you.... :p

Re: Power/drives for your next Formula?
 

It's a shame turbines are so much $$$. That sounds like a nice setup.

I wonder how a Pulse Drive would look hanging off the back with a couple of diesels under the hatch.

You might like this thread Iggy
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=53468

Thanks groove.
Wonder how I missed that one??

Those Sea Teks are huge! Really fills the engine compartment.
Looks like they're six cylinders each and twin turbos(?).

525's with XR's and Stellings boxes. Semi reasonable price and 5 year warranty.Really, we have had no problems with XR's unless the owner gets crazy. It is all in the throttle hand. BTW the 500 efi and 575sci and 900 are still with us for 2004. 1050 is apparently gone but who cares?

i'm with you formulafastech, all I want is a pair of merc 575s with some xr drives and some exhaust on my '90 357sr-1, but then again I'm kinda new to this.

Update
 

Some of you may have read my postings in this forum about my buddies 2002 382 with TCM 800's and TCM Platinum XR's with extension boxes. It seemed appropriate to update you on this thread regarding power.

The Teague engines have been flawless. The drives have held together for about a year and a half.

Then came the 2003 Catalina Ski Race, after making the turn at Catalina the Gimble ring snapped, that in turn caused the u-joint to let go. At the time they were in 3rd place. Now they had a one motor idle back to Long Beach of 3 hours plus.

The diagnosis is - now we have a drive that will handle the horsepower but the rigors of Ski Racing with a boat that heavy are too much on the Gimball Assy which has nothing to do with the upgraded drives. For those that are not aware, when towing a Ski Racer the boat is typically run tight to keep from launching out of the water and to give the skier the smoothest water.

Bob Teague is going to contact Bob Porter and see how the boat rides with number 6's. As you all know the engines will have to be moved up one foot to accomodate the transmission.

The saga continues....... :cool:

Doubt you will have a foot to move up in a 382 engine compartment.Stay with what you have, the gimble failure might have been a fluke,you are looking at way too much work and expense,cannot be worth it,my2 cents

How about the Bravo-to-Arneson kit that Arneson offers? Don't know how the hull would react to shaft drives, but they would probably handle plenty of throttle, and the transmissions fit inside the the extension boxes, so the engines stay put.

How long of a tow rope do you use? Surface drives may not be a good idea with the roost. Even if the roost does not get the skier, it may be hard to hold onto a line that is going through the roost. Do other people in this race run any surface drives? If you run the boat tight, does this increase or decrease roost?

Just thinking out loud...

surface drive roost in the face of a ski racer???

He'll need to wear one of those Rocketeer helmets...

Re: Power/drives for your next Formula?
 

Stay tuned folks - It's coming. Maybe as early as next year. Built-in hydraulic steering, and - get this - electric shifting. It won't be out of Fond du Lac, either, so the price will be reasonable.

Next decision is: 500 hp diesel or 700 hp gas.....?

I like the sounds of that!

With my Kaamas trimmed down, there is hardly any roost at all.