Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

kmp if you built another what would you do differently? where are you located?

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

No holding back... Arneson .. plus a long tail :evilb:

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

Located in Orlando Florida.

What would I do differently from what I have now?
Nice paint, better seats and longer tabs(planned after I get the race boat finished).

Other than that I like the way it is.

I have the rounded bottom like the newer hulls instead of the original sharp vee. I extended the inside strakes to 6" from the transom: this this helps 1) less bow lift at takeoff 2) quicker accelleration, 3) better control from chinewalk, 4) handles rough water better at speed but has a slightly less comfy ride. A halfway point might be a better for all-around use.

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

A few years ago, a friend of mine had a 18 2+2 classic with 350 Mag. The boat ran great but would get beat by his neighbor's celebrity. Asked me for a quick and cheap fix.

Nitros baby...Hid the kit( blacked out the solenoids and covered the lines) you couldn't tell it was on with a casual glace. 150 hp at the touch of the button. 75 -77 mph and he never lost to the celeb again.

2 years, about 10 bottles, never a drive or engine problem.
No hole shots on the bottle and changed drive oil 2x a yr.

Something for you to think about.

Mike

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

[QUOTE=Captnmike]
Nitros baby...Hid the kit( blacked out the solenoids and covered the lines) you couldn't tell it was on with a casual glace. 150 hp at the touch of the button.

I don't know, something about a bottle full of nitrous, and a bouncing boat combined with the summer heat scares me. Think I would find another way to get more power. But that is just me.

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

How can you add +150hp without changing prop and overeving??? :eek:

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

Here is my restored 79, 400cid Alpha SS.

I bought it used this way, It needs a better exhaust system, and to be rewired. But it pulls pretty hard. The Faria ( soon to be autometer) speedometer reeds 70ish, I suspect it runs low 60's but I can't be bothered to find out, as it is still boring!.

RT

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

I ran a 383 cubic inch (stroked 350, 450 ft/lb torque) engine in mine with an Alpha SS and a Land & Sea SternJack. I also added the add-on remote drive oil reservoir that runs a line from the top drive vent hole, through the transom, to a reservoir in the engine compartment. I ran mine 5 seasons before I sold it with no problems, and I believe the remote oil reservoir helped with relieving pressure build up when the drive oil (Mercruiser synthetic) heats up. I also ran a drive shower. The SternJack changed the handling from squirrely above 70-75 to perfectly stable at 80 GPS.

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

RT, that boat looks like a "restored" version of an 18 that needed a lot of work that was for sale about 5 years ago in Ottawa.
Looks like a nice resto, where did it come from, where do you boat ?

Re: how much hp will an alpha drive handle pushing a 18ft donzi?
 

fire walker r u interested in selling it?