First Boat Need help

[youngbayliner]

I have purchased a 1989 bayliner Capri 19ft runabout it has a omc 2.3 shoc cobra lower unit an i was wondering if it is possiable to get more power to pull a tuber. i was thinking maybe a bigger motor. i have a old foxbody mustang with a 5.0 is it possiable to bolt it to the lower unit. need a little bit of help dont wanna get over my head to quick

 

[gcboat]

Re: First Boat Need help

First off installing a car motor in a boat just won't cut it. They have different internal parts - do a Google search for particulars.
The lower unit may take the additional horsepower but then again it may not.
And then there is the old installation issues. Gonna' have to move pretty much everything back there and there's still no guarantee it will fit.
I'd be tempted to do a super-duty tune up on what you have and see if that doesn't help.
Then there's the ole' USCG capacity regs. Check your plate for that info.
Hopefully someone will come along who can give you some better info.
Keep us tuned into your progress.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: First Boat Need help

there is an old saying in boating, "If you want a faster boat, buy a faster boat."

The short answer is yes you can do a repower. But is it worth all the work and cost? Maybe.
It you really want to repower it, fine a doner boat with all the parts and the motor you are looking for. then you will have almost everything you need for the swap. Otherwise you are are talking 1000's of dollars and months of work.

Just an FYI
In my boat with 170 HP on paper it will go 42MPH. to get to 51 MPH id need to get the HP up to almost 300.

 

[NYBo]

Re: First Boat Need help

Welcome to iboats!

I think that boat was available with a V-8, but it would have been a GM-based motor. The drive ratio would be different than what's in your current drive. As noted, there are significant differences between an automotive and a properly-marinized engine; they have very different performance requirements. I think repowering would be a lot more money and trouble than makes sense in such an old boat.

IMO, your best bet is to make sure the engine you have is producing full power (compression and vacuum tests are good for roughly determining overall engine condition; tune-up and/or carb rebuild may also be in order). Once that is taken care of, it's time to figure out the correct prop for what you want to do.