Repower options...

[swat]

Greetings! First time post....
I have a 1982 cruisers inc bar harbor III. It has a 260 mercrusier and alpha 1gen1 out drive. The boat is grossly under powered. My question is, would I be able to upgrade the engine to a big block and maybe a bravo type drive?? I would just like to get to my fishing spots a little quicker on the great lakes and possibly be able to out run the occasional storm.... thanks in advance for any advice!
Eric.

 

[achris]

Re: Repower options...

Hi Eric,

The Alpha drives are only good to about 300hp, so to move up to either the 377 or a big block is going to be too much for that drive (particularly if it has a few hours on it). The only other option, which you already said is a Bravo. Unfortunately the Bravo transom housing is completely different to the Alpha, so it would involve a complete new power package.

I don't know the boat specifically, but have you considered a diesel? A 240hp 4 cylinder Yanmar would do your job just nicely... Remember that in a boat it's not horsepower we look for, it's torque, and diesels have that in spades! (that is an expression, not a racist comment). You'd end up with more speed and use less fuel to boot...

Chris.......

 

[swat]

Re: Repower options...

Thanks Chris!
The boats about 27the loa and beam of about 10ft. Not huge but to big for a 260.
I guess I hadn't even thought about the diesel route. I supose I could even run my off road diesel to lessen the fuel bill a little. I will look into that, thank you!

 

[achris]

Re: Repower options...

...The boats about 27the loa and beam of about 10ft. Not huge but to big for a 260...

25 foot Bertrams ran either twin 165s, twin 470s or twin 175hp V6s stern drives. 28 Bertrams run either twin 260hp V8s or twin 170hp diesel shafts.... (I was looking at buying a 28 Bertram about a year ago with a couple of Ford 302s. If I had bought it, then they would have been replaced by a couple of 4LHA-STP (240hp) Yanmars)....

I agree, single 260hp is too small...

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Repower options...

I accidentally ended up with a Complete Gimble housing, inside and out, with bell housing for a 97 Bravo CHEAP, if your interested in changing out.
PM me

 

[Bondo]

Re: Repower options...

Greetings! First time post....
I have a 1982 cruisers inc bar harbor III. It has a 260 mercrusier and alpha 1gen1 out drive. The boat is grossly under powered. My question is, would I be able to upgrade the engine to a big block and maybe a bravo type drive?? I would just like to get to my fishing spots a little quicker on the great lakes and possibly be able to out run the occasional storm.... thanks in advance for any advice!
Eric.

Ayuh,... It's easily doable,...
You could buy brand new from Mercruiser, or used...

If goin' used, buy a donor boat, 'n junk it out for the driveline...
That way, ya have all the little parts that cost Big money....
S'pose ya could drop the 260/ Alpha into the donor hull, 'n get back some, or most of yer investment though...