I'm looking at getting another boat. I found one with a brand new crate engine, 496 custom built 500ish HP. But I don't believe that it's a marine engine. Should I walk away from it? I have an Indmare LS3 in my other boat and I was wondering if that motor has the same internals as the LS3 in the Corvette. From what I'm reading you want a marine engine and not a car engine in a boat. Thanks.

If it's a new engine ask for receipts and that will clear up if its a marine engine or not. They do make marine crate engines.

Just adding because you did not mention what style of boat you are looking at so i will use wake boats as an example because I see you own one. I deal with many wake boats with 90 percent of them have stock power. The MB Sports wake boat nor other wakeboats will not go much faster with big block power at all. It will have more towing power thou.

Actually in most cases wake boats will go slower because you are adding more hull in the water from the increase weight. The same as what ballast systems do in a wake boat. More depth in the water creates more drag and huger wakes from the added weight. If you are looking for bigger wakes ? add ballast and much cheaper than and engine swap out.

Again just an example for wake boats, whats the boat brand and year model you are looking at ??

Hmmmm..........

No receipts = assume the worst. Listen to your gut, it's probably right. Ski boats without stock power will kill the resale value. You can't even buy most of those ski boat motors as a bobtail package to install yourself.