Fine here, just working on the holiday Honey Do list.

Will give you a call, need to know if you are going to the 400R's. Might need to factor some items from Whipple into the winter perk'em up program.

I want to see someone do a 353 Fastech conversion to OB....I would but too buried in my own.....:eekdrop:

42 Lightening Conversion
 

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b0dd52c88e.png
I

I really wish I didn't like that so much!

^^^^^^^^^^ x2

Nice looking rig with a lot of plus sides

Like what? ..................… Fuel economy? Ease of service? Lower maintence costs? Quiet operation?

This sport is not for sissies, it's all about real men, money is no object, skinned knuckles and blood are badges of honor,
hell the louder the better!

Well said...

I have no plans on getting rid of my Zrc anytime soon, but if I could buy another boat, it would be an outboard converted go fast cruiser like the 48' Fountain. To me that is the perfect long haul cruiser that will get you there quickly and still be a wave crusher. I would love to Island hop and and have the reliability of outboards and the redundancy of quads.

I think it's crazy to hear everyone say "the reliability of outboards"

I've only owned outboards and all of them have blown up. 2.4 carb, 2.5xs opti, 300x, and 2.5 efi.

My next boat I wanted to go sterndrive (Single big block 24-29-ish)

Are sterndrives just as prone to problems? Seems all my sterndrive friends just go boating, where as all the outboard guys are in continual rebuild cycles.

It all matters in the output. I have asked how well the lower units hold up on 350-400 OB's that "FLY' the boat. Not a CC that doesn't leave the water. At the same token the 550HP LS based motors seem to be running to 3000 hours. Granted they do need upper ends every 1300-1500 hours.

I do think the new OB's are more reliable but they are newer designs, it has more to do with that then where the powerhead is mounted.

I have 1998 and 1999 225 hp Mercury Promaxes on my Talon. If they are properly assembled they will run for a decade or longer with no maintenance other than the lower units. I ran my Promaxes for 5 years without even changing the plugs. The Sportmaster gear cases, with Mercury's poorly manufactured gear sets, will need to be replaced within 3 to 5 years if you are surfacing the drives. I run 80mph everywhere at 6000 rpm with a lot of time spent in the air. I can't speak for anything Mercury has created recently as they are out of my price range.

Doubt I ever buy another boat with non-stock motors. If I want to go faster I'll find another hull that will run faster with stock power.

For sale: (2) 1100 Zuls (2) Wet sump #6 drives with Transom Assemblies
WTB: (4) Low Time 400Rs

^^^^^^^^^^^Just Kidding.......:grinser010:

Please post some more pics of this.

Erik

Good stuff in this thread!

All I asked for was an OB Tech section a few years ago, some agreed, but a lot of haters too. Go to speekwake, weed wackers, fish boat motors they said, LOL! 😎 https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...technical.html

Joetool, How many hours do you have on that setup? Any issues with the lowers? Also noticed the Maine trailer tag. Any hassles with that? i was thinking of going that route.

I have all my trailers registered in maine ,super easy , you can get 5-10-15 year registrations, in ny its every year. 1 trailer was cheaper for 5 years then 1 year in ny

Boom!
Love it.

Funny, was thinking about this thread.
Being a life long O/B guy, there are two hurdles for all the hard core guys and I totally get both.

One is sound.
The sound of a 2 stroke V-6 @ 7K+ is magical but........., we docked our cruiser near a 50' cat w/quad 1150's and I will tell you, every time he started it I stopped what I was doing and listen.
Let alone I got to hear him start 4 of them :)
We' were also close to a busy gas dock and any time something nasty came in, I went on the fly bridge to watch/listen.

The new O/B's are whisper quiet. Something to be said for being able to carry on a conversation under way or listen to some Bob Marley though.

The second thing is motor bling. On an O/B, even if you figure out how to do it (its hard) you have to remove the cowling for anyone to see it. And the new cowlings (full of sound insulation) are HEAVY!
Vs, tie to dock, hit a button for the sun lounge and reveal two shinning jewels! I can stare at some of those motors for hrs.

Those things are gone w/the new O/B's.
W/a center console though, the first ride, no one will care.

I have about 10 hrs. on it now. no problem with lowers just plugged up all the water inlets on the sides for now. waiting on some 400's to come in. I"ve been registering my trailers in Maine for years with no problems. it is totally legal.

Great build! You took this thread to a whole other level!

So if that was a 42 Fountain, is it now a 45 Fountain? :D

Saw this yesterday and thought of this thread(scroll pic to the left)......put link in next post, it transferred weird


The "beak" actually is resting on a Scarab. Being a non-step bottom (meaning 25+ years old) I suspect that boat is way too far gone

Yep, good buy engine bling and hello generator, AC, holding tanks, maybe some storage for scuba gear, etc.

I am going to have to guess that the good side is the side you see from the street...

Chris

Good tread and more interest then I thought
 

Go for it man, I might buy it from you. What's that old resin bucket weight after the conversion?