I ll take a transom full of Yahmaha 250 four strokes.

Reliable sterndrive is a Oxymoron.

Some good reliable 400 horse gas motors are tough to beat in a non performance boat under 40 that can't handle the 4000 pounds that twin Real commercial duty Slower turning diesels would weigh.

The problem with the lightweight diesels that are of comparable weight of a big block gas motor is they all are limited to around 300 horse.

And most of them are around only 250 cubic inches.

Would you put 2 small block gas engines in a 15000 pound boat and expect them to survive for a 1000 hours.

And they are all wound pretty tight and turning 4000 rpms. Also because they are just that little bit short of power they get ran firewalled all the time or near it.

But the big factor is because they are a little underpowered, the boats are propped for max speed dry.

Start adding weight and drag and the EGT start to go up and slowly create excessive wear.

Been thru the light weightdiesel period in the commercial water sports business over 30 years.

Started with the old marinized 7.3 Navstars, next the KD series of Volvos, .

Volvo Penta drove more watersports and fishing companies to near bankruptcy with the Kds . To this day I can't look at Green.

Next looked hard at the Styers but they were only 250 horse,

Settled for the 300 Yanmar . Spent $20, ooo in parts the first year, motor worn out at a 1000 hours just like the old KD series Volvos.

Common area is the motors just got ran to hard because they simply just were short of power.

And the whole diesels sip fuel thing is not entirely accurate. They still burn 70 percent of the fuel a gas motor will.

Now once you get into a boat that is big enough to handle the wight of the bigger Real commercial diesels you have some pretty reliable options out there with Yanmar, Cat , and Cummins

Just my 2 cents about my experiences.

my wife an I have been going rounds on the same topic. We don't want to loose the go fast cruise speed but yet we would like some more head room and amenities. It has been getting tight for the 3 of us on a 38 fountain fever overnighting every weekend in the summer. I agree with many on keeping it in a slip. I try to pull ours a time or two to keep the hull clean. It makes it so much more enjoyable just going to the boat.
We have been looking at the 370ss, 38 ecs, black thunders, 47 lightnings, 43 nortechs as our next. What we have come up with is 38ec or 47 lightning.

The 370ss seems a lot larger/heavier than the 38ec. Another thing we like about the ec is some have a door between the cabin and v berth, little more "night time privacy" from the kid. Plus you don't have to always convert the v berth at night.
I don't know if you've been on a 47 lightning yet, but I can stand upright down below, I'm 5'8. The side couches are long, fully enclosed head, most have ac, microwaves, generators etc. Still have bad ass go fast. I've been on a few black thunders awesome cabins, my wife typically does not care for their upholstery. Nortechs are out of our price range.
Good luck its a hard decision.

Halfassed, Yup we`re in the same situation... except I haven`t been in any of the aforementioned boats. Was not aware about the 47 lightning, they looks tight in the cuddy and cockpit. You think 6' of head room maybe?

I once had my 402 formula flatdeck, up against a 47 Lightning. The lightning made the formula seem tiny

Halfassed, I just sold my 47 Lightning after having it 4 summers. It is a fun boat with amenities but for a 47' boat there isn't a lot of extra room. Cockpit is cramped and if you are a true 5'8" your head will rub the top. Private bathroom is very tight. We travel to lake Ozark a few times a year and it is great at the lake. There is myself, wife & 6yr old and we were out of room for overnight stay. As I said I loved my 47' but times have changed & we needed more room. We bought a 400SS and the room in that boat is awesome. If you are not ready for a "crossover" boat I would go with the Black Thunder.

shogren has a nice 47 fountain with 850,s,just pull the trigger dan.

Not even close to 6'.
I am 5'8" and my head rub the top.

This might be tame by OSO standards but a 47' boat that does high 70's with simple black motors is not a bad way to get around. The fuel might be a bit more but the maintenance and longevity would offset the total running cost. Resale...? Mmm...

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...os-o67907.html

RR