Diesel V20, oh it's true, its very true

and I am going to have the first...HA HA HA HA

just kidding, I have been looking at the Mercruiser/Cummins combo packs and it sure looks sweet, I will try to put some numbers down here in an understandable format. Popular Mechanics took 3 identical boats, a 21 Trophy I think, put a 135hp Optimax on one, a 3.0 liter mercruiser I/O on the second and a MERCRUISER/CUMMINS120 hp on the 3rd

here are the basic results

1. (optimax) range 261 miles, top speed 42.5mph, price with bracket, $12,415.00

2. (3.0 liter I/O) range 274 miles, top speed 34.7mph, price $6,899.00

3. (diesel) range 515 miles :o, top speed 34.7mph, price $11, 500.00

needles to say this article has me total re-considering any sort of outoard bracket combo, ;DMJ :-X
as soon as everything else on this boat is done I am serioulsy considering this

I paraphrased the article here is a link

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outd...page=1&c=y

[macojoe]

All good stuff!! And if I had 12 grand to repower I would be buying a bigger boat and doing it to that!!

But if someone here liked there V20 and had the cash, thatas the way to go!! And diesel will run under water! ;D

[reelapeelin]

Weight?

The engine and outdrive wiegh 653 lbs total the 135 optimax wieght is 431 lbs, plus a bracket, 100 lbs maybe, I don't know, so 531 approx for optimax means there is about *122lbs difference in weight, adjust the with the fact that it sits 4 feet further forward (ballpark) and you would need to carry 50% percent of the fuel to get the same range....does not seem like much of a difference to me...whatcha think?
As far as price goes, if someone were to buy a new motor and a bracket and do the transom mods required. The cost would be real close to the same amount as the bolt in diesel, the price seems reasonable especially if you factor in getting a 100% increase range.

[macojoe]

Brackets from Stainless marine like mine are only about 200 pounds.

But it does sound nice!!

I am weighing my options, I can go and buy a new boat in a year or 2 but I am seriously considering turning this old beauty into a new boat, I can get a new 20-22 foot center console for between 22k and 26k. seems to me for a lot less then that I can turn the V20 into a new boat, from bow to stern. I dont think I am ever going to want to go bigger. 20 miles or so is as far out as I want to go anymore, I have spent the last 20 yrs running boats all over the world and now I just want to stay right around my little bay and have something I can drag north whenever a hurry kane threatens it. Oh and of course having the world first and only diesel V20 sounds really really cool ;D ;D

[reelapeelin]

And a new boat requires TAXES on a new boat...payin' tax on a '76 model is much less PAINFUL...I think you oughtta go for it!!...check the power/ weight comparison on a Yanmar while you're shoppin'... ;)...I think they've got a Volvo/Penta combo that might work... ;)...

[macojoe]

Do the rebuild!! The new boats may look pretty but they have so many problems!!
They just don't build them the way they use to!! And if you find one that is, you pay threw the a$$!!

The weight of the diesel is not as much of a problem as putting the motor on the bracket. The motor is in the boat and not hanging on the out side.

Well the diesel is not on tomorrows to do list but I thought you guys might be interested in seeing, it is certainly within the realm of possibilities for me.