Boat info needed

Hi guys

Im new to the forum,and would like to pick your brains a bit
I bought this boat called a ALFA 24 PS with a Berkeley jet drive,im planning on installing a 351 V8,and restoring the rest of the boat
Will the 351 have enough power?
The boat has a alliminium hull and weighs 1,6 tons

Thank you

 

Taking a look at a couple of pics and ads for it on the web, it should be more than enough power. The fuel bill could kill you though !

 

Some photos

Here is some photos

 

Mr efficiency
Whats the smallest V8 i can use? 302?

 

I believe that it use to be a very popular boat

 

Check the model number of your jet drive against it's published specs re hp, rpm etc. If the boat would run with a 110 hp Volvo sterndrive, a 302/jet should do the job power wise, assuming it matches well with whatever the jet drive can gainfully accomodate.

 

Were there many with jet drive ?

 

I was told that i need 250hp minimum,so i might use a 302 rather,otherwise my fuel bill will kill me

 

I cant get much info on the web,did you see anything on the web?
The ones i saw didnt have jet drive...

 

Shallow vee boat should not need 250hp, even allowing for the power hungry nature of jet propulsion. Your boat looks best suited to cruise at 20 knots or thereabouts, so I doubt you need that much. Be guided by what hp you see installed in sterndrive boats, and add maybe 25-30% to that. Jets tend to be more efficient at higher speeds than your boat would be happy at.

 

The motor MUST match the Jet drive. Get ahold of the manufacture of the Jet drive.

 

How about an outboard... or perhaps two ?

 

Fanie...finances....finances lol
I want to keep it as original as possible

 

It's all about power verses weight. What does this puppy weigh, full up, with full tank(s) crew, cooler full of beer, etc.? With this, you can work up rudimentary power requirements.

As I mentioned in your other thread, that jet is designed for modest loads, so best performance will come with 10 - 12 pounds (4.5 - 5.5 kg) per HP, though you'll still get reasonable performance from a 25 pound per HP loading. Assuming you have a 4,000 pound boat (I'm guessing) a 250 HP 302 will offer a 16 pounds per HP ratio, which is going to offer pretty darn good performance. I'd be more comfortable with a 250 HP 351 or a "punched and stroked" 302 (347), so the engine doesn't have to work as hard. Reciprocating mass is a big deal in durability, so asking a 5 liter pump 250 horses is harder than asking a nearly 6 liter to do the same. When you look up Ford 302 marine engines, you'll find most are 190 to 200 HP, yet 351's are 230 to 250 HP and this reciprocating mass thing is the reason. Okay, you can get much more out of these two engines, but from a practical view, the 351 is the better choice and usually cheaper too. Personally, I'd want to save more money and I'd install a Chevy instead, with a 305 producing 200 - 230 HP and a 350 developing on average 230 to 260 HP. If going Chevy, get the LT block (one piece rear main seal) as it's tougher and less likely to leak.

 

It weighs around 1300kg and its got a 200 liter water tank,150 liter fuel tank,crew wil be four people at the most
And then a cooler box with alot beer!!