1992 Caravelle 1750 BR Resto project advice

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docster

Seaman
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Jul 29, 2011
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so i got a 1992 Caravelle 1750 BR for a whooping 200 bucks with trailer. Heres the deal.
Trailer is perfect Bearing buddies and brakes!
Interior is good, will need a few things cleaned heavily, but floor is very solid.
Exterior, is good, few dull spots in gel coat but nothing a heat gun cant fix.
Engine is a OMC 3.0 with a cracked manifold and wont turn over. Outdrive is a OMC also. Now since the boat was so cheap, im not going to fix the OMC crap. Just curious what engine and outdrive will fit in here. A 5.7 Merc would be nice, but unnecessary. A 5.0 would be good too, or a 4.3 would be nice. I could go either merc or Volvo/Penta. So what do you think would be the easiest swap/most bang for buck swap. Primary uses are cruising, tubing, wakeboarding, and floating (haha, can do that as is!) So what do you guys recommend. Getting 55-60mph out of would be nice for the long trips up north on torch, but im not sure how feasible that is with this hull, i know very little about them but couldnt pass up this opportunity.

FWIW, right now i have a 1992 Procraft V180c with a 150 Mariner that will do about 65 mph with just me, but its just too small (rated for 6 people) and shallow hull for the larger lakes we go to. plus sides are too low for the little one the wife gets nervous.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Re: 1992 Caravelle 1750 BR Resto project advice

so i got a 1992 Caravelle 1750 BR for a whooping 200 bucks with trailer. Heres the deal.
Trailer is perfect Bearing buddies and brakes!
Interior is good, will need a few things cleaned heavily, but floor is very solid.
Exterior, is good, few dull spots in gel coat but nothing a heat gun cant fix.
Engine is a OMC 3.0 with a cracked manifold and wont turn over. Outdrive is a OMC also. Now since the boat was so cheap, im not going to fix the OMC crap. Just curious what engine and outdrive will fit in here. A 5.7 Merc would be nice, but unnecessary. A 5.0 would be good too, or a 4.3 would be nice. I could go either merc or Volvo/Penta. So what do you think would be the easiest swap/most bang for buck swap. Primary uses are cruising, tubing, wakeboarding, and floating (haha, can do that as is!) So what do you guys recommend. Getting 55-60mph out of would be nice for the long trips up north on torch, but im not sure how feasible that is with this hull, i know very little about them but couldnt pass up this opportunity.

FWIW, right now i have a 1992 Procraft V180c with a 150 Mariner that will do about 65 mph with just me, but its just too small (rated for 6 people) and shallow hull for the larger lakes we go to. plus sides are too low for the little one the wife gets nervous.

Ayuh,... A 4.3l Efi/ Alpha 1, Gen.II would be perfect in a 17' boat...
 

mnypitboat

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,091
Re: 1992 Caravelle 1750 BR Resto project advice

What he said. At that small, I would even venture to say a carbed 4.3 would be plenty. The nice thing about the Mercruiser is they are cheap and plentiful. Volvos are more money and not as plentiful. EFI is hard to find, especially in a 4.3.
 

Usmcgysgt

Recruit
Joined
Feb 11, 2012
Messages
1
Re: 1992 Caravelle 1750 BR Resto project advice

I bought this same boat for 125 lol I'm currently restoring the deck and wiring I've had zero luck finding anyone whose tackled rewiring this particular boat. I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I've bought a couple books on boat wiring and I'm running with it....
 

oops!

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
12,932
Re: 1992 Caravelle 1750 BR Resto project advice

hi.....welcome to iboats !

it is allways beter to start your won thread.

the electronics forum here has all the info you need.

the wiring is not boat specific....but generic.

cheers
oops
 
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