Suite Madame Blue
Recruit
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
- Messages
- 1
Hey folks, Just looking for some reassurance that my local mechanic is leading me in the right direction. We now own a 1982 Cumberland 57' Steel hull Houseboat (36,000 lbs on her) originally built with a single screw 3.8L OMC V6 that has taken a dive. That's fine 9if expensive) because due to the fact we will be on the Mississippi River (pool 15 upper IL) I planned one day to replace it with a larger engine.
The original design was the Stern Drive OMC with intermediate and Out Drive. Mechanical gear Shifters (not the magnetic) and the tilt is the style that raises and lowers the fore end of the engine. we tlked over modifying mounts and transom to install twin mercruisers or something like that- even outboards- but my mechanic steered me away from such radical ideas.
I am currently having an OMC Ford 302 ('81 or '82 - not sure) rebuilt that was pulled from a junk boat on his lot. The Out Drive was rebuilt a few years ago and it's spent the past 4-5 years in the lot. I THINK this will take my HP up from the V6 3.8L at 190HP to 240HP with this Ford 302 but wonder if you folks agree with what I'm being told. I'll have a 2 year warranty on this rebuild. The logic was that with THIS rebuild I have all the peripheral parts (manifolds, pumps, carb, etc). I was led to believe that a factory rebuild typically comes without all the peripherals including Intermediate Drive and Out Drive so I'd still have needed to locate those components.
We won't take her out much but may run 10 miles up or down stream and lock through for week long trips a couple times per year.
Wondering about fuel economy (actual expectations of GPM) potential speed in knots or MPH, what prop size/pitch you'd put on her and advice about controlling against current and wind since there's no easy way to install bow or stern thrusters and only a single screw. I only plan to move her in the early morning hours at dawn when it's typically dead still and only when the river is not running high (current is reasonable).
I would welcome any thoughts or advice. Note that this is a labor of love trying to bring my wife's life-long dream come true with room for 8-10 sleeping aboard.
The original design was the Stern Drive OMC with intermediate and Out Drive. Mechanical gear Shifters (not the magnetic) and the tilt is the style that raises and lowers the fore end of the engine. we tlked over modifying mounts and transom to install twin mercruisers or something like that- even outboards- but my mechanic steered me away from such radical ideas.
I am currently having an OMC Ford 302 ('81 or '82 - not sure) rebuilt that was pulled from a junk boat on his lot. The Out Drive was rebuilt a few years ago and it's spent the past 4-5 years in the lot. I THINK this will take my HP up from the V6 3.8L at 190HP to 240HP with this Ford 302 but wonder if you folks agree with what I'm being told. I'll have a 2 year warranty on this rebuild. The logic was that with THIS rebuild I have all the peripheral parts (manifolds, pumps, carb, etc). I was led to believe that a factory rebuild typically comes without all the peripherals including Intermediate Drive and Out Drive so I'd still have needed to locate those components.
We won't take her out much but may run 10 miles up or down stream and lock through for week long trips a couple times per year.
Wondering about fuel economy (actual expectations of GPM) potential speed in knots or MPH, what prop size/pitch you'd put on her and advice about controlling against current and wind since there's no easy way to install bow or stern thrusters and only a single screw. I only plan to move her in the early morning hours at dawn when it's typically dead still and only when the river is not running high (current is reasonable).
I would welcome any thoughts or advice. Note that this is a labor of love trying to bring my wife's life-long dream come true with room for 8-10 sleeping aboard.
