paulr

Hello,
I am looking for a project and was thinking about buying a boat and repowering it or even better, finding a hull without engines and powering it.
I am looking for something 30-34 feet (Really can't go any longer than that, would need new lift / trailer) that would handle well in the 80-90-100-(110?) range - any suggestions one what I should look for ? I want a deep-V so I can have lots of cabin, so a cat probabily wouldn't work.

had a 30' scarab that did 85 but after 5 engines my wife made me sell it... got a 26' scorpion but it's too slow and too hard to control in open water. would another scarab be able to handle the speed that I want ?

on a similar note - what would be a good powerplant to consider ? with the scarab I had 454's but the compression was way too high, and had aluminum pistons. I was thinking about that 572cid chevy with some sort of blower on it at 3-5 boost, but I want to make sure I can sustain 80 or more for some length of time (and not go through five engines like my previous boat)

Thanks for any information,
Paul

cougarman

Paulr,

What are you looking to spend?
May have just the project for you.

Kevlar hull too, I'll split it up if you want just a hull.

Cougar

Run mid eighty's

Cougarman

Biggus

If you are looking for fairly low dollar, deep v that will run @100 possibly 110, I`d look for a 32 Hustler. That boat works very well on relatively mild power.

...just my opinion

Kurt

klaw

Got to go with Biggus on this one
Hustler

totalmp

Check out the 30' Phantom listed in boats for sale. This boat will do 100+ easy w/ about 750HP. At 110+ my girlfriend could drive the boat. It is available complete w/ fresh power 110+MPH, or w/o power.

Give me a call if interested.

Steve

Al Oakley

have a 34 scarab III just got it repaiered ,rbuilt the port motor and port drive turn key boat. gil exaust,msd ing, k plans, sm IV drives, good insterments trippel axel trailer. all 6the goodies. the motors are 610 cubic inc.modified 454s carbed 720 hp each.ready to rock and roll 80k call me if interested .al's boatworks 360 588 0202 . you can reach me between 8 to 5
cheaper than buying the parts to make a boat

paulr

Thanks for the replies.
I am looking to spend $7-13k for an empty hull (unless it's a real killer), I need to spend as little as possible. Origionally figured getting shortblocks & rebuilt drives I could pull the project off for ±25k (paid 22k for the scarab with drives,engines), but might need to go as high as 40-50k depending on drives, engines, etc. Interested in bare hull unless there is a price perk. Need to have room to sleep 3, and for AC. Want to be comfortable overnight in it when i'm done. need enough HP to go 80-95 with full tank and 4-5 people without burying throttle, and enough gas (could put in new tank / expand) for a whole day. Want 2 engines; friend had a single, blew it (killed electronics) and drifted for 22 hrs until costguard came. The 30' phantoms I found were singles - I don't want to re-fiberglass to add 2 engines. Plan on doing over time, get boat running first and then deal with cosmetics, etc. Wife says I pay cash, and I agree, so I have to keep costs low. This needs to work the first time, and not blow any engines, even if it takes 6 months, even that will upset my wife. Would rather pay $15000 per engine and rebuild every 3000 hours then $3000 and rebuild every 300

^Note - I haven't built up from a shortblock since highschool so I might need some advice when I come there (the get-it-right-the-first-time thing), It's only been longblocks since highschool (40's now)

Thanks for all the information,
Paul Rohrbaugh

Dave M

Hey Paulr,

Good luck on finding a boat for your project. I will say that if it was easy to be safely running 100 MPH for under 50K, everybody would be doing it. You know the saying "Speed Costs". Most 100 MPH, 30+ foot boats are not exactly maintenance free. The people I know who have boats capable of those speeds are no strangers to rebuilding motors, drives and spending $$. My .02

Dave M.

PatriYacht

I would reccommend an older Fountain 10 Meter. May be out of your price range but it seems to fill the rest of your needs. There's a lot of them around and some come with a lot of good hi po rigging. Stable and safe at high speed.

paulr

maintaince isn't a problem, but I don't want to be dealing with pulling engines every 4 months while working 50 Hours a week (all while trying to have a family, etc) and buying new blocks every year. I can't store the boat on my property on a trailer for long periods of time, deeds of restriction, etc - so I have to do most work at a nearby marina where they let me park it for $50 a month (Keep boat on lift at home). Local fellow has 502's doing 1000+ HP, had to pull heads every 15 hours for new gaskets - that's too much maintaince to be fun. I would rather have a bigger, more conservative setup then a smaller, cheaper one producing as much HP. In terms of the money, I will probabily spend more, but by "shooting low", you sometimes find better deals. I generally find I spend more then I plan to, so if I plan with less than what I have to spend, maby I will spend what I have and no more . I really can't go over $50k in the next year though, son leaving for college in two years and wife not currently working.
Are the mounts for a Bravo 1 are the same as the mounts for a XR or XZ ? and how different are they #6 ? I could put more into the hull and engines and get better drives later - correct me if I'm wrong - but you won't damage a drive with extra torque / horsepower unless you gear it or prop it more agressively ?
Thanks, Paul