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wmlaks

Regular Contributor
I blew the 2.3 liter in my 17 foot bowrider. I have found a donor boat with a 302 engine. Will the 17 foot boat be able to take the weight of the 302 engine.
 
dunk the boat in the lake. Have 2 or 3 people stand on the engine cover and see how it sits in the water.
Some 17 footers can handle a V8 no problem
others would sink

there's more to boat design than just length
 
It's not just the motor the stringers will have to fit the motor, the motor will it fit into the engine bay ?

Weight, height, exhaust.

Usually the hp max allowed in the boat will be posted in the bay.
 
No this boat never came with a v8 option. There is plenty of room in the engine bay for a v8 to fit. And I have not been able to find a max hp rating in the engine bay
 
Weight difference between the 2.3 and the V8 not all that much. The big thing is that the gearing in the drive will be all wrong. You'll want to find a V8 upper gear set or swap drives. The prop will be wrong too, so add that. The V8 has more power so the drive and prop have to be matched to the engine's HP. Doubtful you will overpower the hull. (20 foot drag boats have 1800 HP.) Exhaust different, needs Y pipe and manifolds. Motor mounts different. Need to rework/install new. Little stuff like wiring harness, plumbing, controls and fuel supply will need to be re engineered. Don't know if engine cover will fit with V8. Prolly missing a few things, but that's most of it. That's an awful lot of work to stuff a V8 in there.
Another 2.3 will make life far easier
 
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wmlaks said:
No this boat never came with a v8 option. There is plenty of room in the engine bay for a v8 to fit. And I have not been able to find a max hp rating in the engine bay
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The max HP is normally on the Coast Guard label, usually found up by the drivers area (mine us on the wall in front of my knees as I sit at the wheel). This also lists the max weight and such.
 
I bought a complete donor boat so I would have everything needed to do the swap. Thw only thing that I can thimk of that would need to be changed is the prop. The donor boat is longer and heavier so I am sure I will need a higher pitched prop. The 2.3 is not a very good engine for watersports. Just not enough power to pull skiers.
 
wmlaks said:
I bought a complete donor boat so I would have everything needed to do the swap. Thw only thing that I can thimk of that would need to be changed is the prop. The donor boat is longer and heavier so I am sure I will need a higher pitched prop. The 2.3 is not a very good engine for watersports. Just not enough power to pull skiers.
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Other than working out in the cold weather, I can't think of any reason not to go ahead. I would take the time to get all the crud off the "nused" engine and put a coat of POR-15 Engine Enamel on it. A clean engine is much more pleasant to work with.
 
Too bad i got rid of a x-19 hull would have given you it for nothing, and the tittle.

Look around for a hull they give them away, costs 400 dollars to have one chewed up.

Here in jersy they are prolific.

Whats wrong with the donor you bought ?
 
Remember the entire set up will need to be swapped. Motor, wiring, exhaust, outdrive and yes stringer modification will probably be needed too. While you are in there I would check the condition of the transom and stringer's too.

I would just hate to think you are throwing a motor into a hull not prepared for that power.
 
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