big easy

I have a Mercruiser I.O. 351ci 233hp V8 Ford engine for sale.It's a complete engine with all the parts on it. Everything such as the exhaust manifolds,intake manifolds,starter,alternator,carburetor,etc.,are in good shape. The carb is a Edelbrock marine 4bbl,and is a 1999 model. The heads were also done over in 1999. The engine has a Merc.coupler on it. This engine was in a boat that i bought a couple months ago,that i'm restoring.It has not been used since 2001.Since that time,the boat sat covered,with a tarp in a field. I know that it was used last in the 01 Pro-Am,and it ran fine then. I hooked up a battery to it,and it turned over easily without any strange noises. Now the thing i don't know,is,if it was winterized.I can't see any visible cracks in the block,or heads,but there may or may not be.I was thinking of either getting it running and if i couldnt,i would rebuild it, as all the parts seem good. I decided to go with a brand new engine and drive for my project,as i'm basically making the boat new,as it's a total restoration. This engine may be perfectly fine,or may need serious work.It will,at the least, probably need a carb rebuild,along with some electronic stuff cap,points,plugs etc. Also,one freeze plug is rusted out,(not blown out). If anyones interested in it for the engine or parts,i'd let it go fairly cheap,make an offer.It's in Massachusetts,so it would have to be picked up.If you need more info or pictures,send me a PM or email. Thanks all John R.

I emailed Dave Mull a while ago,to see if i could get anymore info regarding the website.Waiting to hear back. On another note,Congratulations to all of you that did the new L.O. United site,it's awesome. You guys did a great job. Congratulations John R.

I run Shark weights,and also the Torpedo weights, on my boat,and have to say that the Torpedos(13lb) work just as well as the Shark weights,at a lot less money. Both weights work very well at reducing blowback,on all the riggers,including the probe rigger,and they also both track very well at all speeds. I have caught just as many fish on the Torpedo weights,as i do on the Sharks,and you can almost buy two Torpedo weights for the price of one Shark weight. I'm not a big believer in all the hype about all these super duper overpriced weights that are on the market today Atommik has the Torpedo weights on his site,if you need to see them

Yankee,i have an interline rod that i'll give you for free.I bought it a few years ago and used it once.I got it to try on a braided dipsy,but didn't see a big advantage of it over a regular rod. It's a Cabelas fifty dollar white heavy action,i think it's 8-1/2 or 9 feet long(can't remember,i'm at work,rods home.) Although it was bright white originally,it has yellowed some,just sitting in my den . I f your interested you can have it for whatever it cost to ups it.

Hey Ray, Lots of guys convert these IO. SeaCrafts, and other boats to outboards,but it's a very expensive retrofit.You need to do some interior glass work to reinforce the transom,for the extra weight hanging off the back. The cost of the brackets from companies like Armstrong isn't cheap,it's a major expense,not to mention the cost of a new outboard engine.Depending on engine size you may have to shell out somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen or twenty grand, or even more for bracket and engine. As for the dog house being in the way,i don't have a big problem with it. I've had IO.s and outboards,and each has their own set of problems. Yeah the outboards are nice because of the open floor plan,but trying to net a big king,thats out around the bracket, with that giant hand grenade hanging way off the back aint easy. One of the primary reasons for doing these conversions, is a corrosion problem with IO.s in saltwater,because you can't tilt them up completely out of the water like an outboard. Check out www.classicseacraft.com or www.classicmako.com for some ideas on these conversions.

*** YOU got it HANK, I'll keep it at Olcott(when it's done)your welcome aboard anytime.I,d also like to pick you brain about these boats,if thats ok.I've never rode in one in rough water,but everyone says,as you mentioned,that they love a big rough sea.I hope thats as true as i hear. Also, for MOTOCROSS, on the Trophy, what exactly are you referring to as how it sits in the water? Do you mean at rest,or troll,or under power?Mine rides and sits fine under all thes conditions. I also don't buy all this crap about Trophys breaking in half,or splitting in two.i'd like to see pics of all those disasters. They're a lower priced boat,and they don't have all the bells and whistles,and they may use stamped stainless instead of cast for some things or polyethelyne instead of fiberglass in some compartments,but it doesn't affect the structure of the boat. You can have as much fun,and catch as many fish,in a Trophy as someone in a hundred thousand dollar Tiara.Just think how much tackle you can buy with the savings. I have some pics of mine in the water,if you want i can foward them to you if it would help.

Hank,it's a 1974 Tsunami which is the same as the scepter,It's a 23.3 footer that had a 351 ford IO in it.I'm doing a complete restore,and have already ripped out all the wood out of the transom,it was all rotted.I'm going through every item on this boat. I'll be replacing the transom with marine ply and will be glassing that in with a several layers of 1708 stichmat. I have to do tons of stuff,to get this where i want it such as new fuel tank,new controlls,all switchs electrical etc,all new winshield weatherstrip,recore and reglass all the hatches,new seating,a soft top or hard top,and on and on. I'm planning on installing a 350 300hp GM Mercruiser with a Bravo drive,maybe fabricating a hardtop for the rod holders and radar,gps ant.etc. These potter built hulls were awesome roughwater hulls,and to this day are considered one of the best hulls ever built.Not many great lake guys are familiar with them,but are very well known in salt water circles. It's nice to see that someone knows about them. I bought this from a friend up in Olcott,and the last time it was used was in the Pro-Am,back in 2003,since then ,it sat in a field. Here's a before picture,when i'm done next year i'll post the after picture.Thanks for your intrest.

Well i used to knock Trophys untill i got one.I have the 22' hartop with the real hardtop and glass windows,and have to say that it's been a great boat for me. It's powered by a 230hp 305 Gm I.O. which gets me up to a cruise speed of around 30mph at 3000 rpm.Top speed is around 40mph,but i NEVER run it there. I troll with a 9.9 Yamaha four stroke and it pushes the boat fine in all but the nastiest days.if it's blowing hard,i'll throw out the bags and troll with the outdrive. I've been out in some snotty water,and this boat handles it amazingly well,it does everything i ask it to,it's a little cramped in the fishing area,and the hardtop can be a head banger,but overall i'm very happy with it. That 2359 Trophy is a very nice rig,don't be afraid to give it a serious look.Just make sure you get it with a big enough engine,lots of guys with the older ones have a hard time getting up on plane with the small engines.After having my Trophy for several years,i would have no problem buying another especially the 2359. Having said all the above ,i'm going to be selling mine this fall,as i'm in the process of restoring a 24' SeaCraft,that i'll be using on lake Ontario next year.I also have a 18' starcraft alum that i'm going to sell.Three boats is too many for me to keep afloat. Looks like i'll have to change my signoff line.

Thanks to all you guys for the info,it is much appreciated.I have a lot to look at now after getting lots of resonses from different sites.Now i just have to decide who seems the most reputable and has best service and price. Thanks again

Can anyone give me the name of a good engine and drive supplier.Muskybob gave me Runs new.co (thanks Musky).I'm going to need a complete package to put into a 23' Seacraft that i'm restoring. I.d like to go with remanufactured to keep the cost down,but will consider new if need be. Would like to go with a 260-300 hp 5.7liter GM, with a Bravo 2, or Bravo 3 drive.It would have to be a complete engine,as i have nothing in it now.If you have any info on good suppliers,or bad ones to stay away from, it would be appreciated. Thanks all