'87 Sutphen with TRS drives
 

Im new to Offshore only site. I am currently looking at a 26' Sutphen rum runner with TRS drives connected to 350's. The boat, engines, and drives are all 1987. I looks to me that the boat spent some time in salt water as it has some corrosion on the out drives and it has bottom paint.

My question to you guys is, are the TRS drives something I want to get into? I know that the parts are scarce but with the 350 powering them they probably were not beat on. Any opnions appreciated.

It's hard to break a TRS drive,even if you try to.

hey mako..
welcome to the sutphen ranks almost?)....is the boat formerly off long island (deputy dawg?)...the only drawback to the trs set-up is that you gain big weight in the stern and lose some cockpit room..be sure to test drive and see if it seems balanced (good cg)....the set up should be pretty bullet-proof, but just remember that older stuff tends to wear out quicker and break more often...i would know! (not me...the boat..) it's also probably going to be on the slower side (low 60's) with out some juice added to the motors...that said, with the extra weight and the hull shape, you'd get a nice little wave crusher...especially for lakes, bays and LIS...
hope this helped...
good luck
c

Christian,

Thanks for your input. Who is deputy dawg? any history or perhaps another boat I can look at?

What trailer are you using? I am looking for a trailer from Venture, VATB-7225. its capible of handeling 7225 lbs. Is that enough? Does the deep Vee present a problem?

Thanks

hey mak...
i had my trailer custom made by Ace in gibsonton, fl....right near sutphen. terry actually went there for measurements...delivered 2 years ago it fit perfectly and cost less than a venture from diamond marine one town over......and i got torsion axles and 4 wheel discs....high quality/good deal/great service...and the new 21's come on Ace trailers...
deputy dawg (?) was a 26 w/350's and trs off LI...don't see too many so i thought it might have been it...blue stripes, and bottom paint.....
where are you out of?...there was a cool red 26 w/ ob's for sale recently...and jeff's 26 is for sale here in ct...also pat m has a sweet 28 velocity for sale near here...
good luck, have fun!
c

C,

I think that might be the same boat. Do you know anything about it? have you seen it running?

Im out of Old Lyme CT. Keep my boat at OLDC.

old lyme!
that's cool...jeff (sut30) in simsbury, brett (sewfast)in east haven and i in branford are all local...that'll make 4 rumrunners right here...awesome..
haven't seen it running...don't know anything else..sorry

I sent you a PM with all I know which isnt much really. Mostly hersay.
I was interested in the boat a long while I ago.

It would be cool to have another rum runner out on the CT waters.
especially out of the OS area

Took the plunge and picked up the boat last weekend. All in all it looks pretty good. Got one of the engines running last night and the other seems like it needs a new starter. Does anyone have any information about the Tempest 300 motors? Is there a certain manual that goes with them?

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/092ac15c.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/7bd8476b.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/e893ef7b.jpg

Sweet..
guy, our rigs back to back would make a cool pic..
good luck with her....
c

btw, no manual but i might have a starter you could try...

Congrats on the Sutphen!! C's 26 was my old boat. You will love the 26! The more Sutphen's the better in CT. We have the 34ft Tsunami Race Boat so im sure well see you out on the water!! We keep the boats in Old Saybrook. Congrats again!

Dan

Nice! Enjoy!

C - I see you've got some crash bars on your trailer...much needed on the CT river...she flows fast!

[QUOTE=olmako20;3002833] Does anyone have any information about the Tempest 300 motors? Is there a certain manual that goes with them?

Congrats on the purchase. The photos look good. I've got the Merc manual at home that covers the 87 Tempest motors. I'll post the manual number later, I think it's No. 9.

Good to hear another one in the state. Nice looking boat hope to see it next year. Does CT have the most Sutphens out of all the other states or should I say Middlesex county.

Nice Rum Runner. The Northeast is definetly Sutphen country.

we gotta have some more sutphen get togethers next season!

CT is sutphen country!!!!!

I know of at least 4 sutphen in my local area we dont see or hear about on this board. Theres gotta be a lot more around too I am sure


raft up some where on the weekends whats that spot down in RI just past the guy who made those stand up segway things house?

has all the wind and solar power?

SANDY SHOAL OR SANDY BEACH OR SOMETHING?

Watch Hill??

Hey C. nice tow rig!!!!

Hey guys i am new to the site. OLmako20 and I are partners in the rum runner thats the topic here. Happy to be part of the sutphen family and cant wait to run around L.I.S. this summer. Right now the boat is in my heated shop and we are in the process of pulling both motors and drives for some upgrades and paint.

Thats my black F250 in the pic. Looks like the tow vehicle of choice for the rum runners!

I tow with a DODGE.
Just like AL Bundi.LOL

watch hill area but there are a couple of beaches down there.
Tha names escape me right now.

One is napa tree and the other is sandy something?

Awesome boat. I noticed you guys are pulling the engines. Can you get me the casting numbers off those 300 tempests for a research project im doin? Some pics would be great too. Those tempests have some parts never used in any other smallblock mercruiser. Thanks Paul

Still trying to pin down exactly what we got here for 350s... Former owner says they are merc tempest. According to Sutphen's records on the H.I.N. it was originaly rigged with Hardin marine engines and Arneson drives! Ritchie told us this hull has quite a history, as it used to do 79mph with the original set up. Along the way someone 86ed the Arnesons and converted to TRS drives. Anyway hoping be able to see more i.d. Disconected everything off the port motor and pulling it soon.

Casting # will be on the bellhousing area left or right. casting on the heads will be under the valvecover. Casting dates will be there too. According to mercruiser parts catalogs it had intakes that were only used on this engine same with the valvecovers. Last year I picked up a set of valvecovers NOS chrome Mercruiser logo embossed into them i have never seen another set. Thought they might be Tempest covers. The intakes are supposed to be a marine version of the edelbrock performer. If ya need a xtra hand im not far from ya. Be glad to help. goodluck Paul.

the tempest engines are 300 hp have 4 bolt mains forged crank, pistons and a different cam

dan/ken....
ha ha...are you saying i need a bigger sutphen and a topkick to pull her with....:drink:
c

Dont know....but.....I know who has a nice Top Kick and bigger Sutphen for sale!!:D:D:D

Andyt thanks for the info,another member provided us with the build sheets for tempests with merc part numbers which are all long discontinued I know its and all forged motor but im trying to findout what casting was used for the block and heads. Gm built some engine blocks with a high nickel content that resist corrosion. As we know these are the foundation for any good rebuild. The Intake manifold is aluminum and Tempest only part #43268 . I currently have one with brass cooling jackets cast in an aluminum highrise intake im trying to identify.Thanks for the input

I think I have the smallest Sutphen here:picard1:

Hey mako & swordfish
Great lookin new rig. Good luck with your project.

Hey Christian, Jeff, Dan, and all the rest of you Sutphen guys.

Happy Holidays

don't worry paul..
most guys with little sutphens perform better than guys with big bajas..:eek:

oh ok i feel better now:D

hey...
you guys see njppc's run for us smaller guys?
i've kicked around a blackjack kind of idea for years....maybe we could do a LIS/RI/MA thing with the sutphen crew?
where would make for a few good stops with some smaller, more sheltered runs in between..you know a short trialgle/trapezoid....30-40 miles max....is that even possible other than on a river?
c

You lost me C?
Are you talking all by boat or trailers involved?

Did some work last night and got the drives off the back. They look like they are in decent shape, the cosmetics are horrible. It really kills these dives, or any drive for that matter, if you leave them in salt water. I drained all the lower units, one came drained clean and the other had some water in it. Looks like its going to need a rebuild.

The engine stand is coming in the mail this week and the motor is going to be pulled on Saturday. I'll post some pics once we get the motor out.


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/f63591e7.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/7005fd59.jpg

If you need any TRS parts or someone to rebuild the drive, Ocean Performance in Old Saybrook will get the job done right!

hey jeff...
hard to explain....where can we draw a triangle that allows for some fun running in a sheltered area, for us smaller guys.
like old saybrook (ramp)to greenport to montauk and back?
i don't know buzzards bay or naragansett bay...but a couple 15 mile legs in a "not-too-rough" place...start and end in the same place/mid-point for lunch...w/ a good ending place to just hang...
c
if i could draw a picture for you you'd understand...can't seem to put the words together...

Im jealous I wish I had a heated garage to work in. My boats are freezin their sterns off right now. good luck cant wait to see the engine pics.

The drive w/water in oil is probably prop shaft seals or water in u-joint bellows area. Either way you should reseal the drives ans install new u-joint bellows. While your at it,if the trim cylinder cases are OK, you might want put orings/seal kits in them too. www.noppermarine.com

at least theres no moisture to worry about. Its all FROZEN.:party-smiley-004:

Mine is outside freezing its ass off too so dont feel bad. All wrapped up good though.

C We could go over to sag harbor and pay $2000 for a slip for the night.LOL
Yes thats an exageration but not a big one.

napa tree is pretty cool.
Green port is good.

I used to jet ski outside narraganset bay and it was pretty rough alot of the time.