the pleasure motors and race motors. The pleasure motors weren't engineered or sorted very well before being released to the public.
Timing was wrong as well. A 550 lb O/B in the early/mid '80's was a pig by most standards. Few boats designed for them and the ones that could handle one either weren't as fast as everyone expected or were heavy turds and ran good but not what the public expected. That weight is also now common in the 4 stroke market.
Add to that, dealers that had no clue how to work on them and often made them worse. The early ones were 3.6 liter and the laters were 4.0 and the 3.6's would run away and hide from a 4.0.
Monty is building 400+ HP motors that are bullet proof and run on pump fuel. He is building three right now for a customers center console to go after Fountains unofficial record of I think 83.

A twin pinion gear case means that the main drive shaft splits and drives two drive/input shafts in the gear case so you have two shafts/pinions driving the prop shaft instead of one as in a traditional unit. Only way for one to live w/high HP.
Speedmaster I/O units are this way.

Here is a friends race version of the 8. 390 - 400 HP's at about 350 lbs on carburetors. The later version were EFI and stronger yet. One of the very few race motors OMC did right. Started w/a clean sheet of paper and everything was specific to these motors.
The boat this motor is on ran 141 on radar 20 yrs ago when most O/B's needed nitrous to get into the 120's.
I've ridden in it (on the gas tank) and it is evil!

There was a guy w/a twin V-8 32' Skater w/a pair of them. From what I read he had no luck w/them and replacement parts didn't exist.
I run VRO's on all my junk except the full race motors. I had a 225 on a STV that I turned 73-7700 every time out w/the VRO intact.
I've rebuilt/sold probably 20 V-6's in the last few yrs and had twice that many apart. I buy all the blown up units I can find. I have yet to see one that came apart due to a faulty VRO.

I agree. There was a 32' Skater on Lake Winnipesaukee with Second Efforts and twin pinions, owned by hotel giant. I can not remember the chain though.

Aqua Banshee. If you ended up with the boat from Bill its me you spoke to this summer. I can tell you everything you want to know.

Good luck with the project. Made the boat light. Can share ideas I had on rigging. Boat should be fast. I'd love to see it when its done.

Scott 608 347 0027

Shaun, I remember that boat too. Used to be on a lift near Halls. It had a radar arch and he idled by the village, usually with a handful of girls leaning on the arch. I might have a pic somewhere. Doubt I could find it right now.

Marriott.
Some times I amaze myself at the amount of useless information I retain. Now, what I had for dinner last night.....

Yes. That's it.

Great, Yeah got it home and unloaded. I am glade Bill talked me into the trailer. I wanted to go cheap out of pocket, but the trailer is top notch. It Will be a while before I get on it. I have 2 car projects, and another boat to finish up first.

Mark

I remember seeing a boat like this when we lived up there. Wondering if it was yours. I think we were at Castle Harbor just outside of Kent Narrows... Been a long time and a bunch of Miller Lites since then so memory might be a little shaky. It would have been in the early to mid 90's.

Can't wait to see pics.