Originally Posted by
Skoontz
Have plans for a 12' cracker box type boat that I wanted to power with a 600cc Suzuki Katona motor turned sideways. I put a lot of thought into a smaller inboard, and felt the weight ratio to power drained from the driveshaft would have to balance out around the 600cc/80 HP mark, and depending on propeller selection, you got a redline at 12,500. Just hook the driveshaft to the tranny and you got 6 ratios in which to play, and you can even use the factory instrument cluster.
Its been years since I played with any lawn mower engine type performance, but the amount of fiddling needed when we ran them on mini bikes was extensive, and hop up parts had to me made. With a motorcycle engine, you can buy a great deal of the stuff already made!
Now that I've been accepted as a volunteer at the Lake Tahoe Maritime museum at the restoration projects facility in Truckee, they will let me use the space to build the boat....But then there is the time...I've only budgeted a day a week to volunteer and all else taken with projects. Keep us posted about what engine you may want to use and your project.