looks like a good idea

this mariner 31 would have normally had twin v8 shaft drives but it has pods with twin 40 mercs, looks like a great idea to me . it cruises at 8 knots and is very easy ro maintain and economical.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mariner-.../110782354272?pt=AU_Boats&hash=item19cb249360

 

Looks like a lot of fiberglass to push up and over the waves with the eggbeaters to me
Sorry, couldn't help it! I like v8s.
If you have the hull, and obs, no complaints.
Before I'm sold, I want to see the mariner with 40s running alongside a lower power hull designed to run 8 knots. More slender.

 

I reckon something like that but with a couple of four stroke outboards mounted to a boarding platform that is also a "pod" that interfaces with the transom & shaped to help with water "flow" at displacement speeds & that can carry fuel/water to counter its buoyancy would transform plenty of flogged out sterndrive & inboard cruisers due for repower etc into some relatively low cost to set up & run, quiet & spacious weekender/holiday boats. They may be less that ideal as a purpose designed cruiser of lower power but would represent value boating & a more versatile vessel than a box or pontoon style house boat. Regards from Jeff.

 

i think it has been built by mariner that way as a hire cruiser from what i read. he also states that he carrys 1000 liters of water which would replace the inboard weight. i understand it would not be good for coastal cruising but on the hawkesbury river where it is it should be good. i am almost finished converting my twin shaft drive to single stern drive and now i have a huge storage area where the twins used to sit. i love twin v8's to imp but the fuel usage is to high, for me anyway. we are paying $1.46 au a litre at the moment.