28 ft 2x v8 fix up cabin cruiser? 1200$?

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by parkland, Aug 16, 2012.

  1. Don H
    Joined: Apr 2012
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    Location: Queensland Australia

    Don H Junior Member

    Hi Parkland, not a bad looking boat. But oh so much to do. It really depends on whether your enjoyment is creating something nice from something rough or is it getting out on the water.
    An older boat like that in AUS would be around $1000/ft if it was in reasonable shape on an average trailer.
    If the hull and transom are sound you could do several things. If the motors and sterndrives are not salvageable for a reasonable cost you could take them out, seal the transom and fit a pod with a large outboard. Something like a 200hp Merc would push it along fine, a pair or 140hp would be fine as well.
    I have a boat around the same size on a tri axle trailer. I have a 200 merc on the back and at around 20 knots it drinks about 60 litres /hour. If you put in so much effort getting this boat going it would be a shame not to use it because of 16 thirsty cylinders to satisfy.

    A boat that size is going to weigh somewhere in the 2500 to 3000 kg range with its fuel tanks full. A decent trailer for this boat suitable for travelling distances will be around $14,000 or so in a tandem with brakes on all wheels and breakaway system.
    If it only has to travel from a holding yard to the ramp that cradle that comes with the boat on your flat bed trailer will probably do.
    (If the flatbed you bought is a car carrier it probably isn’t strong enough to handle the boat for long journeys unless you do some work to it. These trailers are often only rated to 2000kg loaded and only have inertia brakes to 1 set of axles.

    If the boat is to be stored in a holding yard then towing to the ramp will not be a huge problem if the yard has a tractor but if you are going out on the highway something like an Fseries, Silverado or Ram will be needed to handle all that weight on the back.

    Good luck
    Don
     
  2. FAST FRED
    Joined: Oct 2002
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    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    There are literally hundreds of $1000 cast off GRP IO boats to be found.

    Why would you chose a 2 engine boat? Because its close?

    If cost is a concern its cheaper top operate with just one engine , tho the top speed will be lower.As will be the fuel burn.

    Half the work, half the fuel burn , half the parts bill.

    HMMMM
     
  3. captndon
    Joined: Sep 2011
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    Location: Thailand

    captndon Junior Member

    Hi Parkland,

    It really is not a bad looking boat. The first impression and the initial price could fool someone new to this addiction. Would this be your first boat? Do you have the means to tow it? Here is what I would do - I'd add up all the potential costs and then go look for a boat in that price range that truly is a good buy. There are many good boats to be had for the total that you'd come up with. What's the nearest big city to you? Look on Craigslist for that city and you could likely find a better option without much trouble. I have to wonder how happy you'd be with this boat after all the pain and expense you would have to go through.

    I had a twin engine 28' sport fisher until a few years back that was straight drive and needed nothing major. No way would I be happy buying fuel for that boat at today's prices. Many do but far many more hardly ever or never take their boats out. If you HAVE to have THIS boat, I bet the seller would take $1,000 or even $800 for it. The season is almost over and I bet he doesn't have buyers lined up fighting over it.
     
  4. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Unless you have a hand full of 10,000 dollar bills, you should walk away from this boat.
     
  5. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Adriatic sea

    CDK retired engineer

    Two reasons:

    To the engine being in a boat feels like going uphill all the time. High engine load means a lot of wear.

    All engines back then and still most of them nowadays are raw water cooled and have 70 C. (158 F) thermostats so they never reach a decent operating temperature.
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2012
  6. rasorinc
    Joined: Nov 2007
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    Location: OREGON

    rasorinc Senior Member

    I mentioned Crusader engines to you when I posted. Crusaders are the best built most durable engines made. Many lasting well over 20 years W/O repairs, some over 40 years. They are all painted a light blue. While you can find many turn key 350s
    in the $5,000 range a new Crusader will cost you $10,000
     
  7. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: Coastal Georgia

    SamSam Senior Member

    Sounds about like what I had. Constantly required work just to keep the engines running, much less even use the boat. Some sort of 4 barrel carbs with a spaghetti pile of extremely intricate hair sized internal passages that would clog all the time. A huge fuel tank between the stringers, with a huge deck hatch over it that was 2" shorter and narrower than the tank itself. Had it out, painting the bottom, and just happened to squeeze the perfectly fine looking wet exhaust hose and put my thumb through it, it had been run dry, overheated and was a mass of large, brittle rubber bubbles on the inside. Lucky that was for me, the last boat that had sunk at the dock, called by the Coast Guard, Sea Tow had shown up, strung out 50' of oil absorbent buoy line and left. They didn't have the nerve to give the guy the bill then and there so they mailed it. $5,500. I don't know how much it cost to actually get the boat out and into pieces small enough for the dumpster.
    As a guess, I'd say 90% of boats sit at the dock 99% of the time. Around here that's at about $7 a foot per month, 20 foot minimum. Electricity is extra, a spigot supplying mystery water is free.
    Use it or lose it is especially applicable to boats, if you don't use them regularly, they get funky and mechanical things go wrong.
     
  8. Pjitty
    Joined: Mar 2006
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    Location: Havastraw,NY

    Pjitty Junior Member

    correct me if I'm wrong, but are'nt crusaders marinized GM/Chevy engines. I don't think crusader builds their engines, they just marinize GM/Chevy engines. This sounds like a fun project, keep us posted...

    Joe D.
     
  9. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Crusader is just like everyone else and purchases blocks from the manufactures. Crusader isn't any better than the others. Personally, I think Indmar builds a better product than Crusader.
     
  10. rasorinc
    Joined: Nov 2007
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    Location: OREGON

    rasorinc Senior Member

    Par, this is what I went on regarding Crusaders plus ove 40 rears of following boats for sale and if the engines run and how many hours etc. Not an expert by any means but I do respect Pascoe. http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasEngines.htm
     
  11. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    The two 454's compared isn't a fair comparison. The Mercruiser has a 4 bolt main 454 available too, but comparing a plain Jane 2 bolt main, to a heavy duty 4 bolt engine, just isn't reasonable. I've found they all suck if not maintained and that well maintained, they all can exceed their expected life span. Interestingly enough, all the same parts that he praises on the Crusader, are available on the heavy duty version of the Mercruiser 454. So, had the test been a heavy duty 454 Crusader, compared to a heavy duty 454 Mercruiser, I'll bet things would have been similar.
     
  12. viking north
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Location: Newfoundland & Nova Scotia

    viking north VINLAND

    Big V8 gas engines combined with inboard outboard drives best be super serviced otherwise you gonna pay big time regardless. Buddy of mine here in the village who looks after his sevicing like clockwork, just spent the whole boating season thus far pissin around with a 429 thats been nothing but a headache since he's owned the boat. He finally pulled it and installed a re built unit. I bet dollars to donuts in a couple of years an instant replay. If I owned one of these big power boats i'd pull the V8's and install two 292 chevy 6 cylinders using shaft drives. The fishermen have been using them here for years along with the lobster yacht boys. Lobster Yachts now there's a power boat I have the greatest respect for.
     
  13. PAR
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    There are blocks and there are usually better versions. Most don't know the difference, but the rebuilders do and if asked, they'll use the better stuff, for a price. The 4.8 L6 is a strong engine, but can't hold a candle to the displacement of engines 60% larger (like a 454). Those sixes do lay down impressive torque numbers, especially if you alter the firing sequence, but only racers do this.

    When looking at the small block Chevy (the most abundant engine in use) there are lots of variants, from generation 1 and it's off shoots to the LT and LS and their variants. Some are better then others and this doesn't include the aftermarket blocks, which in many cases are far superior.

    For example, the gen 1 engines had a major redesign from the large journal, circular crank flange model to the small journal, counter weighted flange. These blocks are easily identified over the earlier gen 1 blocks and are much preferred, with taller deck heights, thicker gussets, beefier front walls, better oiling and cooling passageways, etc. Unless building a nostalgic hot rod, where you just have to have a 283, no one in their right mind would favor an early gen 1 over the later.

    My point is, you can get some serious duty hardware, if you know what you're buying. The problem is most just don't and assume a 350 is a 350, when in fact there are huge difference between them. Bring along a real gear head if buying a motor, used or new.
     
  14. parkland
    Joined: Jul 2012
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    Location: canada

    parkland Senior Member



    How and why would you alter the firing sequence?
     

  15. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    The firing sequence on most engines is designed to smooth out vibrations and torque pulses. It makes the engine run smoother and helps prevent it from jumping out of it's mounts. This of course also doesn't produce the most torque, so if you want more output (torque) you can play with the firing order, but you'll need some parts (and serious thought), which is usually way out of the realm of the DIY'er.
     
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