Originally Posted by Swamplizard

Found that some downturn PVC pipe cuts noise in half at idle and up to about 1200 rpm ... good for slow cruising down ICWW.
And ... we ran her up on plane last night for a few miles .... water temps never climbed above 175, held a good 30mph cruise at 3200 rpm ... not bad for a big Pig of a girl. Still need to do some retightening of everything in the engine room before we do an ocean rip. Need to pick up a second Vesselview Mobile dongle so I can all the stats on both motors in real time.

Originally Posted by Swamplizard

Found that some downturn PVC pipe cuts noise in half at idle and up to about 1200 rpm ... good for slow cruising down ICWW.
And ... we ran her up on plane last night for a few miles .... water temps never climbed above 175, held a good 30mph cruise at 3200 rpm ... not bad for a big Pig of a girl. Still need to do some retightening of everything in the engine room before we do an ocean rip. Need to pick up a second Vesselview Mobile dongle so I can all the stats on both motors in real time.

Originally Posted by Mbam

Congrats

You don't need a second VVM, you need to add some wiring. Also make sure one engine is set to port.

Originally Posted by Swamplizard

I am a working slob - not some trust fund kid - and have always tried to keep boating in my life by doing things myself. I am not a mechanic or electrician by trade but for the last 30 years I have always managed to keep a boat running and usable for family fun, scuba diving, and just trolling around South Florida waters.

Recently after an A/C hose broke and old 454s got wet I decided to repower my 1988 40-footer with arneson drives. She is old school, cosmetically about a C+, but good hull and normally floats. Perfect for overnights and cruising the Keys.

Post Covid I am finding some challenges:
1) Marinas are closing to become condos and those staying open are geared for rich dudes who dint mind paying $8k to get their props painted (WTF)
2) Do it yourself marinas are extremely rare and require $200k of insurance and "proof" you will not abandon your boat
3) ALL rates have quadrupled since pre-Covid. Got a quote for a bottom paint (2 coats and some light scraping) $4,200 or more than $100/foot (Wow)
4) Mechanics willing to work on older boats with inboards are charging $200/hour and you wait weeks for em to get started if they ever show up. I had one younger guy show up and he had never seen a counter-rotating motor before - ???

Sorry to ramble but things have changed significantly in S Florida and I now understand why everyone is going outboards. At least those can be pulled and worked on elsewhere but at $50k a piece - the convenience is at a cost I cant swing. Do it yourself boating is dead.

Might be my last repower then the old Kayak will have to enough

;-)

Originally Posted by DrFeelgood

Straight shaft inboard with a keel, so the running gear is protected and I can beach it without worry. Draft is about 18".

Originally Posted by LakeHuronPower

I don't think it's dead, you just have to lower your expectations. If you have something with less than 550 hp and can be trailered and kept in your backyard it's pretty affordable, no marina costs at all, work on it in your driveway, no crazy expensive driveline repairs.
I run a 24x7 nearly every summer weekend on LSC and Huron and my biggest yearly cost is gasoline and Coors.