Well, I refuse to part with this boat, so we're doing a small refit this winter..... Need opinions

My wife wanted me to unload the boat this year, and buy something that doesn't need major work to be enjoyable. We'll, I cannot part with this boat. As much as I've said over and over, I'm so tired of working on shit, rebuilding motors, changing seals fixing this or that, I'm facing my reality. It's a part of who I am and as frustrated as i get sometimes, I'll never stop. When I do all the work myself, I get a boat that is setup, how I want it. With no compromises. I never lose when I invest in the work I do, to MY boat. Anyway, I have quite an extensive list of things I'll be upgrading and or replacing, 75% of everything will be done by me. First on my list is a repower. My old 330's are worn out. It's time. Plus the port motor is knocking like hell and its been bandaided by the po so many times already, I'm doi g it the right way. As I said, it's got 454's in it now. It really doesn't need big blocks in my opinion. I believe a set of small blocks will do exactly what I want/need it to.. Here's my dilemma. Originally, I was going to look for two crusader 270s. I had a Chris craft that was in the same class (weight/age/size/use/hull design/) as this boat. She was powered by twin 270s. I loved those engines. They are ALL thirsty, but the fuel economy between My Chris craft and this boat was a VERY noticeable difference... Something like 25gph/engine VS the 45 with the 454s. The crusaders just seemed to hold up better all around. I'm doing this boat on the tightest budget I can have whilst not giving up on any quality I can afford not to give up on.. Simply because I'm just not a rich man. I'm definitely not cheap.
Ive found two practically new crusader 220s. I know. I know. They are 305's, believe me, it's crossed my mind over and over and over. That's a small, small small block lol. Let's face it, automotive or marine the 305 just isn't a powerhouse by any stretch. Reliable as hell. Just weak. However, as I said these motors have almost no run time on them after being completely rebuilt. Guy has receipts, and I have talked to the shop that rebuilt them. Every thi g was done on the up and up. I can get these motors for literally almost NOTHING. The owner of them got them for a 30ft sport craft, and the boat ended up having rotted stringers. So they got laid up in a garage last year. They are routinely oiled and turned by hand. They are counter rotation. What is everyones thoughts on this? What can I expect with these two engines in there? I know it's a huge dip from what's in there now, but I don't need a ton of power, and as I said, the guy is almost willing to give me these engines as I have been doing work for him a long long long time, I would say we are friends. We talk boats every chance we get. He isn't hurting for money at all, and he wants to see them get used, and plus he loves my boat so.... I normally wouldn't even consider it if I was paying top dollar, but completely reliable, professionally redone engines? For next to nothing. I'm torn. I know they'll struggle with my 12,000lb 31 ft boat, but how badly? Anyone, need guidance. Sorry for the long post, but this is a big decision for me. Thanks in advance, if you made it through the entire post, thanks even more haha.

I think you’ll go through the time, money and then be disappointed with the power.
I’ve owned a boat that I thought was underpowered. It was many years ago but I still remembered how much it sucked.

Probably fine if you want to idle around

Nope. Won't work. I have 305s in my boat which is lighter than yours. They get the job done, but it's a slow boat to china.

I would be looking for the newer 383 strokers. Small blocks with big block power.
https://www.michiganmotorz.com/mercruiser-stroker-p-502.html

Most of our time will be spent under 3k anyway. If she planed with those engines I'd be happy. I would like to have the power when needed, but I'll never step in shit like this again..... Plus they'll sit in his garage until they're locked up and no good. He won't put any effort into selling them. I'm conflicted.

Jeff, 4 words of advice:

Happy Wife, Happy Life!

Get a clue from all of this. Your wife wants to go boating. She obviously does not share your enthusiasm for working on, and pouring money into a boat.

Actually, she does. She hates seeing me get frustrated and disappointed sometimes when a part won't be in, or another problem arises... But when the boats runs right after a day of working on it, she couldn't be happier watching me smile. My wife and I have a unique relationship. She will support whatever I want to do. She loves this boat just as much as I do. It's getting a repower one way or another. With what power is what we are going to figure out.

I have a feeling I'm just going to be unhappy with the performance I'll get out of these engines. I wish I had something else I could do with them.

Jeff8330 said:

Actually, she does. She hates seeing me get frustrated and disappointed sometimes when a part won't be in, or another problem arises... But when the boats runs right after a day of working on it, she couldn't be happier watching me smile. My wife and I have a unique relationship. She will support whatever I want to do. She loves this boat just as much as I do. It's getting a repower one way or another. With what power is what we are going to figure out.

I have a feeling I'm just going to be unhappy with the performance I'll get out of these engines. I wish I had something else I could do with them.

Click to expand...

Buy my boat and put them in there.

You may be the first person in history to say "My boat has too much power". A well tuned big block should not use significantly more fuel than a small block at a given speed. Obviously if you burry the throttles, you'll go faster at a heavy cost.

The decision as to what motor should be based on how you use the boat. 305s would be perfectly fine if you are just trawling around at hull speed. If you prefer to be on plane most of the time, you'll end up burying the throttles and running those 305's to within an inch of their lives.

Also, when your wife wins the argument (and she will), and you go to sell the boat, smaller engines will detract from the perceived value.

Listen to the advice you are getting. I think the cheapest way to go would be to rebuild the big blocks if they're rebuildable. You will hate the boat with small blocks.

Get the 305s sell them and put the $$$ towards 383 strokers. Problem solved.

"My wife wanted me to unload the boat this year, and buy something that doesn't need major work to be enjoyable."

"Actually, she does. She hates seeing me get frustrated and disappointed sometimes when a part won't be in, or another problem arises"

Really? Your opening statement is copied above. I suspect you two are not on the same page. She wants to go boating without having you fretting and getting angry over parts not in, things that don't work, etc.

When the boat DOES work, she enjoys it. When it doesn't, not so much.

"As much as I've said over and over, I'm so tired of working on shit, rebuilding motors, changing seals fixing this or that, I'm facing my reality. It's a part of who I am and as frustrated as i get sometimes, I'll never stop."

IMHO it sounds as though YOUR reality does not coincide with HER reality. I'd suggest making your wife happy before....

Gofirstclass said:

"My wife wanted me to unload the boat this year, and buy something that doesn't need major work to be enjoyable."

"Actually, she does. She hates seeing me get frustrated and disappointed sometimes when a part won't be in, or another problem arises"

Really? Your opening statement is copied above. I suspect you two are not on the same page. She wants to go boating without having you fretting and getting angry over parts not in, things that don't work, etc.

When the boat DOES work, she enjoys it. When it doesn't, not so much.

"As much as I've said over and over, I'm so tired of working on shit, rebuilding motors, changing seals fixing this or that, I'm facing my reality. It's a part of who I am and as frustrated as i get sometimes, I'll never stop."

IMHO it sounds as though YOUR reality does not coincide with HER reality. I'd suggest making your wife happy before....

Click to expand...

What he said. It's not like newer boats don't have projects to complete to keep you occupied.

I've had a 305 in a pick up with an RV cam and it worked decent, but its all up hill pushing a boat around lol!!
The worn engines won't be giving the best mileage. A fresh pair of 454's wouldn't need nearly as much throttle as a small block pair.
If you own the boat outright, you can fix what you have way cheaper than buying something new(ish).

Good luck!
Bill

I have owned a 305 before. Anemic is the best way to describe it.
I would not consider anything less than 5.7’s in that boat, maybe even 6.2’s.
Don’t try to stick a square peg into a round hole. Those motors will find a home somewhere.
You will spend at least half the cost of properly sized motors by the time youre done - then you will end up replacing those again. The 305’s crankshafts and piston rods will be worn out in short order due to the constant extreme load. Have you ever studied an engine’s oil temperature under differing loads? Normal light cruising to the big block will be extreme loads to the little small blocks.
If you really like the boat, yank the 454’s and have your mechanic friend rebuild them.

a pair of 6.2`s will do nicely