repowering my boat. Any thoughts on motor preferences.. or should I look at custom motor builders that I see advertised....looking for reliable performance. Give me your thoughts and if there is one or two motors to def. to stay away from let me know.

Shouldnt we know what kind of boat?

This is a 3 pontoon boat w lifting strakes. The last one I built I used a 6.2 w/ thru hull exhaust. Love the motor but look for something more on this next one.

A custom built pontoon that you are looking for power then? I think twin O/B is the ultimate toon power

I agree, I just cant get away from the rumble of a V8. I know Im shallow and i need to look past it...Its just not in me. Im much shallower than u think

THe guys w/ the OBs run faster on less fuel, less maint. trouble free.

I just cant get away from an I/O.... I will remember this when its 106 degrees and my hatch is up w/ my butt stuck up to the sun swapping out an impeller in a water pump. ha ha

Back to my original question, 496, 500, 525, 600, custom built? Any success stories or horror stories I need to stay away from..

Yeah, I could tell you a few of my own....so could several others I know of. Nothing wrong with tooting their own horn, but just because a marine engine shop advertises on here does NOT mean they really know what it takes to properly build a marine hi-perf engine....and it also does not mean they will deal with you fairly and many will run you around in circles once they have your money with all kinds of excuses---but one thing you can be sure of is that they will sure take your money! Just do your home work.

Initially, I would try to find a good local machine shop that has a good reputation with marine hi-perf engines in your area if you can. Do not get roped into a shop that does great car engines only. Ask around....ask a lot of people in the area about the reliability of a particular shop's product and how they were treated once the "honeymoon" was over with if problems have surfaced.

It's not a perfect world, but having your engine(s) rebuilt/upgraded, etc, should be a good and interesting experience that you can even have a little fun with.

There is a video here of toon with a 600sci merc....think it might have been a south bay trifecta. Looked good, and ran strong. I do like the twin 300's hangin off the back better.

Ive seen that video.....I think Warren Buffett owns that company now.....I like the way he thinks....


Plan on this rebuild to be shot and posted on my web site....paddlemyboat.com I'll be highly dissapointed if you guys dont give me some grief....ex. Why did he do that,, that looks like crap, etc.

Lets see, full rebuild on a BBC, ballpark figure around 3500. Full rebuild on a pair of OB's with 200+ HP? Don't know but I bet it is an anchor locker full of money more than that.

If you are talking stock Merc power, you are in a world of different money from the 496 to the 500/525, and then another huge jump to the 600SC.

You will get as much power for a lot less money going aftermarket than buying a black/blue motor.