Another cool project from Marker 17 Marine
 

48 Ft Express Cruiser

why? I am sure it was a bunch of work and looks great. but why convert to outboards when you can have a pair of diesels?

We had two Cummins. Outboards are so much easier, quieter and just work better where we boat. The boat runs better, lighter and is easier to drive. I think Intrepid says it best:

The advantages of an outboard: more spacious, more efficient, more range.
The 475 offers nearly twice as much topside and interior space as comparable sized inboards.

In addition to all the stowage, recreational and living space afforded by the outboard configuration, engine noise and vibration are dramatically reduced. There’s less smoke and fuel odor. The roar and shudder of inboard acceleration simply never happens. In all, outboards add the finishing touch of luxury, with fuel-efficiency and range increased by up to 50 percent.
The surefooted handling and precise response inspire total confidence. The hushed chorus of multiple outboards combines with aerodynamically neutral topside surfaces to reduce noise to “conversation level” even at speeds up to 55 mph. The hull form builds the trim in automatically. Bow rise is minimized, pitching and heeling are reduced, and the shallower draft means quiet seclusion in the shallower coves and anchorages an inboard vessel can’t reach.

Interesting & I like it.

What are the speed differences with the outboards?

Wait I thought you still had the diesels? Is this where you shed some pounds? What did it weigh before?
Any pics of the cockpit?

not in any way more efficient than a pair of diesels with surface drives that is a stupid statement.

What size are the outboards? I heard Mercury going to build 400 plus hp .

very interesting, would love to hear some numbers

Can't wait to see it in person on Friday. Looks great.

What did you do to the space where the motors used to be?

Interesting to say the least. The fuel burn of the (4) gas burning O/Bs vs. the (2) Cummins diesels will tell the story.... No doubt access to maintain is easier. Wonder how it effected the boat's CG?

I'm gonna go ahead and guess 300s...what with the big decals that say "300" on the back of each of them...

What he said

I believe all the boats were three engine packages.

No some were available as twin cummins.

Is it as fast as this one? :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX7tc3A57xc

[ATTACH=CONFIG]525186[/ATTACH]I have never seen a twin but anything is possible.

Even if the fuel burn is higher on the gas OB's the overall cost should be less considering the long warranty on the OB's, the ease of service (everybody can and will work on Merc OB's).

BTW great idea......plenty of those 48's are getting to be 8-10 years old and will have tired power (gas 525's or the diesels) so you basically built yourself a Cig Huntress for about 1/5 the cost!

4 300 Verados wide open more or less 100GPH
2 550 Cummins wide open 60 GPH

I don't understand why everybody says outboards are easier to maintain, diesels don't break down. They both require the same maintenance but the diesel intervals are longer.

The Cummins aren't as bulletproof as the OB's. Diesels don't break down? Bobthebuilder blew one up in his 50 Nortech after 500 hours, my buddy has them in a diesel flybridge cruiser and they have been fair at best with reliability. Also keep in mind the diesels are more way more complex than an old Detroit Diesel from 25 years ago and they don't love high rpms, throttles nailed to the dash for long stretches.

In my opinion, if you want trouble free boating, go OB whenever possible.

love that rooster

Storage! Lot's of it. :)

Not quite. 58 mph so far on first run. I never saw more than 57 mph with diesels.

about 2,000 lbs. lighter?

Cockpit same for now. That is next winters project.

I don't think it is either. That is off Intrepid Boats website. However, if you factor in that diesel fuel is almost $1.00 more per gallon.........

They only made a few twin 480's that topped out at 51 mph per Boating Mag Cover March 2008 ("Fastest, most efficient cruiser ever!" Boat test 2481). Mine had twin Cummins 600 hp with ASD 10's that would push 60 mph that was also rigged by Marker 17 Marine, Brian Forehand.

Mc,
Do you take that bad boy down New River? I spent 11 months at New River MCAS back in 2010 working for Lockheed, and loved boating on New River, ONCE I figured out where to go and NOT to go... :)

Looks sweet, where are you going to be running that thing?

I love it.....I have ridden in a 48 a few times and really like the room and the performance of the boat but the engine noise was too loud for a cruiser....Brian and I had often talked about the answer would be to rig one with outboards.....Congrats to Mat and also to Brian Forehand at Marker 17 for putting together one badazz cruiser

They also talk about shafts, and yes in that case complete waste of a diesel engine, but that is just boatbuilders being lazy.

That is not true at marinas here in Miami and in the Bahamas, gasoline is $1.00 more per gallon, I'm pretty sure you aren't taking that beast on a trailer to the local gas station. Running costs in $/mile is double with outboards vs diesels. Not saying wasn't a cool idea what you did, just a lot of misinformation being thrown around here.

Sorry I disagree 100% you can run a diesel at 90% throttle forever, and the commercial rated ones are for continuous 100% throttle, try that with an outboard. I have 600+ hrs on my Yanmars and I have not had one single problem with them, not one, in 4 years. The total maintenance I have done, one valve adjustment, oil changes every 150 hrs, one coolant replacement, one set of zincs and impellers, outdrive gear lube every 50 hrs. Everybody I know with a verado boat has had multiple issues, the Yamahas don't seem to be as bad. My boat runs a best of 58 mph and gets 2 mpg going 50 mph. I have run them throttles pinned to the dash for 30 minutes many times, no issues.

Outboards have also increased in complexity, no way they are more reliable than a diesel. So two people you know have had issues with diesel engines nobody you know has had any problems with an outboard??

Now if you are talking about trouble free because you can get a 7 year warranty and worst case just slap a new one on yes that is easier, and more people can work on them.

.


Sure, why not!

LOL ok wow!

I understand your experience but I relayed two that I knew of. Part of that "trouble free" equation is definitely the 7 year warranty and the ease finding a service center. Nobody wants to work on I/O's! :D

We ran the boat this weekend in Norfolk for Power Boating For a Cure! I could not be happier with the performance! It ran 55 mph with 18 people and ten coolers on board. Jumped up on plane (not sure it would have planed with diesels and all those people) was quiet and it sits about a foot higher out of the water with the less weight and buoyancy from bracket. That was another issue, I could only get it off the lift at high tide. With half a tank of fuel and three people, it ran over 60 mph. I didn't even look once to see if oil was being pumped out of the bilge into the marina.

All statements above are correct, the boat is a stellar package now that makes one heck of a great place to party. Looks and runs great, congrats on a very successful conversion. I would add that the design/engineering stress test went very well as no motors were left behind as the boat hammered the less than perfect water conditions Saturday.

So who was putting down that sheen in the marina ? LOL

After riding on the 48 this weekend I have not stopped thinking about taking the in-boards out of my 38 Sport Cruiser & going with outboards. Flawless, stealthy, sporty, and performed great in rough water. Could not hear the engines running. I watched the screens in the rough and the RPM's were the same across both screens. Other than the sound of big blocks I wouldn't miss a thing about inboards. Great job to all involved in that change over.

Congrats on the balls to make such a big conversion. You really went outside the box on this one....sounds like you achieved all your goals. The fact you can use it with tide out is huge.

100% agree...not sure who was putting down the sheen but I am pretty sure I saw some folks putting down a little shine :grinser010:

If you were looking to lose weight and get 1200 hp of outboards why didn't you go with two Seven Marine 557 hp outboards?