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Engine selection Enchanter

J

Johne

New member
My name is Johne and I’m new to this forum. I just purchased a 1986 20’ Enchanter (project boat). My hobby is customizing boats by reconfiguring the interior, regel –coating, doing fiberglass work ( I once took a 15’ fiberglass Lone star and made it into a 18’ long boat with twin swim platforms). But the main thing I like to do is to add a mahogany deck of a fiberglass boat. My thinking is that it is the best of two worlds, the modern and efficient fiberglass hull and the looks of a classic wood boat and is very unique. But what I’m very interested in knowing is if this Enchanter was your boat and you had the opportunity, what engine and out drive YOU chose to put in? I’ll looking for a fast, safe boat, that can do 65 mph (is that a reasonable goal? 70?) What other equipment would you recommend? Trim tabs? Mufflers? Cutouts? Other equipment? I like to do these projects the best I can but I don’t have an unlimited budget either. I love the lines on this boat and the fact that the bow is closed and 10’ long which gives me a great opportunity for an awesome wood deck.
 
Welcome to the forum

Enchanters were made in both O/B and I/O configurations but this sounds like an I/O boat.

The factory usually used Mercury alpha drives on those. That's what I would run given the choice. The only motor I would put in front of the drive would be a 350 or 383 Chevy, also the most common factory option.

With a Mercruiser 260hp 350ci alpha combo 60-65 mph is typical. Now if you add a bunch of weight with all that wood... well who knows?
 
If you're going the Bravo route, then go LS motor. But that all depends on how much money you are willing to dump into the boat.

If cost is an issue, then I'd just build a 350/383 SBC and keep the Alpha drive. On a side note, one of my brothers has a mid-80's Baja 210 Sport with a 330hp 454 and an Alpha drive. His Alpha has held up over the years. But it's been used only on small inland lakes since new.

My 95 Persuader 219 has a 7.4L (454) and Bravo 1 outdrive. It is very stern heavy. If I had unlimited funds, it would have an all aluminum Dart 540...
 
Sounds like a cool project, i love the look of a mahogany deck but i would be worried about the added weight. I have an '86 Enchanter I/O myself, so i'm pretty familiar with them lol!! I'm still running the stone stock factory installed Merc 350/260hp with the Alpha 1 drive, it's good for low 60's. 70+ mph is the goal for my boat someday, in a perfect world i'd like to replace the Alpha with a Bravo 1 with a 383 stroker around 400 HP. I know everyone say's the Alpha is fine behind a hot SBC but i'd rather have the piece of mind of the stronger Bravo drive, more of a "bullet proof" set-up. Cost wise, that will probably not happen and i will stick with the Alpha, but if i were doing a ground up project like you i'd go all out!! Good luck, i'm looking forward to seeing some pics of the project!! :popcorn:
 
Now this should be cool to watch! Welcome to the forum and when in doubt, more pics is way better than less pics. Same thing with HP.
 
Thanks for the info. I totally agree with you on the hp and Bravo drive but the cost, well there's that. The wood doesn't add a hole lot of weight because its only 1/4 to 5/16 thick, but it will have 12 coats of varnish. To me the weight vs the look is well worth it.
 
I'm not an expert on Alpha versus Bravo drives but it seems to me with a light boat like an Enchanter an alpha might be a better performer. An LS motor hooked to a built Alpha seems like it should last. Wasn't there a Chapparel going a 100 mph with a built alpha?

I've always been a huge fan of the Enchanter and I'm looking forward to your build.
 
Your workmanship is incredible

That ski boat looks awesome! I just did some research and believe it or not the density of the Mahogany is less then half that of Fiberglass with weave.
A checkmate that looks close to that has to have a very cool rumble and hall the mail as many like to say. I still believe there is no replacement for displacement but there are a few LS1 builds that are on the forum that I love.

I would go with BBC & Bravo 1
 
If you do stick with a small block, I'd start looking for an alpha SS. A guy at the local lake here has one on a senator. Sweet rooster tail!!
 
Chellems said:
I would go with BBC & Bravo 1
Click to expand...

Big block would be cool but unless you want to cut up the hatch i don't think it will fit to well. My 350 doesn't have much room under hatch, it's a fairly low profile boat! I could be wrong, maybe a BBC would fit with out modifying the hatch cover, would sure be close if it did fit! For weight and balance i'd definitely go with the small block. The Enchanter is not a very heavy boat, 400HP should get you to 70 MPH and maybe a little more!
 
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