1976 SRV240 Sundancer

Trout Slayer

Trout Slayer

New Member
Jun 23, 2009
9
Ashland, WI
Hi all,
Very nice forum here, great info!!
I have a few questions if anyone can help. I recently purchased this boat with a 351W/ Mercruiser outdrive and the engine is seized. I am wondering if there is any other motor option I can go with on the repower? Or should I stick with the 351? Rebuild existing or buy a new longblock? From what I can tell the block is not cracked, however I did find some rust colored water in two cylinders. The exhaust manifolds look new.
Also, what type of performance can I expect from this boat? I was thinking around 30mph, but unsure.... I would like to waterski with it once and a while if possible. I have trim tabs also, so that should help.
Any other areas I should be concerned with? Thanks for your help!
 
We have a 351 in our 1976 Sea Ray 195. Rated at 233 hp and we liked it real well. The little 195 could pull 4 skiers. With one person it had a top speed of about 62 mph but a lot depends on the prop etc. The engine itself performed nicely. I would say 30 would not be out of the question for your 240. You may want to research parts, availability and costs of the 351 compaired to the 350. The 305 and 350 seem to be so common and interchangeable that parts are pretty reasonable and mechanics are very familiar with them.
 
Have a 72 weekender. We get around 30 mph out of it with a 19 pitch prop. Thinking about getting a 21 pitch prop and see how that does.
 
Welcome,
I have a 1976 SRV240 Weekender with a 351 and I am able to pull a tube or skiers. The boat is pretty heavy when loaded. You will get better performance with 1/2 tank of gas and water as opposed to full tanks. We really like the 240 because you can spend the weekend on the boat and take the kids tubing. It is a compromise that does both jobs. If you get a chance post some pictures. You can see some pictures of mine on my public profile.
rgds,
 
Hoosier, what pitch prop do you use to pull with? I have 19 on mine and thinking about going to a 17 for some more umph out of the hole and getting a 21 pitch for cruising.


hoosierhog said:
Welcome,
I have a 1976 SRV240 Weekender with a 351 and I am able to pull a tube or skiers. The boat is pretty heavy when loaded. You will get better performance with 1/2 tank of gas and water as opposed to full tanks. We really like the 240 because you can spend the weekend on the boat and take the kids tubing. It is a compromise that does both jobs. If you get a chance post some pictures. You can see some pictures of mine on my public profile.
rgds,
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the reply's guys. Hoosierhog, that's quite the rig you got there! I'll be sure to post some pics of mine (It's currently under construction)
 
Greg,
I am currently using a 14 x 16 prop. This is the only one I have tried so I don't know if it is optimum, but it works.
fyi,
 
Id stick with the Ford Power just because you have one now. All the mounts, wireing cables ect will match with the replacement. I have noticed on my OMC rig the bellhousing has many unused holes. these would be for "bell bolts" for other engines. Not sure about the Merc. No hands on experience there for me. But the wiring issue would get me to go with original equipment.
 
Mine is a Volvo ( GMC ) 255HP with a Duo Drive ( two props on same shaft ) the hole shot is great and we get 33 MPH ( gps readout ) at full throttle.
 
I have the same boat, same motor. Planning on doing some extensive cruising this coming year. Does anyone know of approximate gas milage to expect--at a slower cruising speed of maybe 15-20 mph?
 
Something else to take into consideration.
If not equipped already, trim tabs really help with keeping a boat "planed" at slower speeds. You can keep the nose down at speeds as low as 15 mph. They also help a light horsepower boat with getting on plane when loaded down.
 
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