What power?

[BADBK]

While I'm not in a hurry to pick something up, I came across a "Big Johnson"! Thought it would be pretty awesome hangin a big ole 4.0 V8 on the back of my Starflite...

It's recently rebuilt w/bobs coned lower, super clean for $3500... for the $$ it seems I'd be silly to pass it up. Talked to Monty racing already too and they said for ~$3K it would put out a thirsty, reliable ~380HP.

So, if it was your choice, a "Big Johnson" or most likely a EFI 225 Merc for about the same $$$????

 

[boatman4021]

MERC!

 

[pete m]

well badbk its your coin, i'm partial to mercs. wildman has a nice opti 225 for 7000. i'm sure he'd work with you on it!

 

[corey331]

For that kind of money you could even find a nice Merc 250 XB. They are thirsty, but from what I've been reading, they are very reliable and very powerful!! I'm actually looking at one for my flite.

 

[boatman4021]

I have a flawless 2006 225 optimax for $7500. Pushes the Pulsare rather well and uses about 1/4 the gas that my efi did.

 

[jmshipp]

I would say go for the BIG JOHNSON! Those things look AWESOME on the back of a 'flite. If you have any doubts, call the Kunkels and talk to them. I actually own one of the first flites, from them, to have a V8. The motor is no longer on it; but, I have talked to them about it and they said it ran a legit 85+ MPH with 6" of set back.

To get a merc to make the same power you are talking TWICE the money.

Plus, you get to tell everyone you have a BIG JOHNSON!

 

[Jimway]

From the Book of Jim, The chapter on Acceleration and Defying Gravity, and also mentioned in the chapter on High Speed/ Low Drag, " There is no replacement for displacment "

 

[ndaniels]

If you want somthing very unique go for the Jonny Rude... its gonna be thirsty for sure, but way cooler than anything else you could bolt on the back of the flite- bar none.

I'd talk to Kunkels about it... me and Jason were discussing the v-8 outboards a few weeks ago that they rigged.

What are the plans for the boat? Lake rocket, or an all arounder (tubing/skiing)? If its the latter, you gotta be careful porting the v-8s to keep them from loosing all the low end grunt.

 

[BADBK]

Diggin the pro-V8 bunch!!! I think I gotta do it.... That Flite w/rude hanging makes me all school girl gitty! Boat will be a all purpose machine, Monty said @ 380hp it still does everything well, but excels at hauling the mail and guzzling gas!

 

[Tx91z28]

another vote for the v8 from me, the looks alone of the big ol' v8 is worth it

 

[Big Red]

I would go with the merc engine, but then again I am sick of working on stuff and just want to ride. The V8 would look cool but sitting broke down aint so cool.

Get a hold of Rob Z on here he did one awhile back

http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11622

 

[WILDMAN]

I'm getting in a 2003 250xs this Monday. 238 hours. $7500

 

[BADBK]

250xs would definitely be a suitable substitute....

I dunno, lot to think about I guess. Sure it would look bada$$, when it ran! The low end/struggling to get on plane if propped for speed would piss me off too.... hmmmm

 

[berto]

im a merc type of guy but that rude does look mean on the back of that flite

 

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Those V8 JohhnyRudes eat lower units and are heavy. Parts are difficult to find. They were cool in their day but are now antiquidated dinosaurs. Go with the 3.0 liter Merc or Pro Max. More reliable, plenty of parts, you can build them to about 340hp...

 

[boatman4021]

Jup is right and with the difference in weight, it would take alot of hp and loss of reliability to outrun the Merc! I had a Johnson v8 on my Enforcer. Took it off and replaced it with a 225 merc and was just as fast and losing the weight helped with ride and handling.

 

[engineermike]

I dunno. . . the big v8 is one of those things that I think is really cool. . . as long as I'm not the one doing it.

 

[opsdave]

The first Checkmate that I ever rode in had a hopped up V-8 Evinrude and i was hooked! You can't beat the sound and looks you get from that monster on the back. I'm with the rest of the guys though.... With the parts availability and power output of the 3.0 Merc you can't go wrong. A 250XB would be sweet hanging off the back of your Starflite.

 

[Gimme Fuel]

Those V8's are just cool.....And they make big HP! DO IT!

 

[Chris E]

like jup said, parts are scarce, and they eat lower units. i knew a guy who had 4 on a 38' stuphen and always kept 2 spares for his poker runs. eventually after spending countless dollars on the things he put i/o's in.