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Mercury Outboard Powered 65' Motoryacht (no joke!)

Discussion in 'Popular Yacht Topics' started by YachtForums, Jul 12, 2011.

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  1. Swamp fox, Jul 13, 2011
    #21
    Swamp fox

    Swamp fox Member

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    No kidding, what about the early jet skis? They were a floating motor with a gas tank! I know it looks crazy and stupid, but the tank is outside of the boat. Just look at all of the older outboard jon boats, whalers, etc. All of them had exterior portable tanks, usually metal. I would also argue that the old metal tanks are of a significant thinner gague metal than this one....I just hope it is baffled and secure.
  2. NYCAP123, Jul 13, 2011
    #22
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Tasting, not drinking. There is a difference. Can't believe what a bunch of wooses we have here.:D I must admit, after watching a friend every day getting her bandages changed after being unfortunate enough to survive an extremely bad burn, fire scares me.
    Must admit, I never ran a Whaler with that big of a gas tank mounted as that one appears to be. So I guess we know who would take the job. If you get it, let us know how it works out, especially how many times you get boarded and what reception you recieve at the marinas. Maybe I'm the woos after all. Be curious to find out.
  3. YachtForums, Jul 13, 2011
    #23
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    I have no concerns about slapping my No Fear sticker on the bumper of a boat trumped up on 2-stroke testosterone. I ain't skeered! :D

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  4. NYCAP123, Jul 13, 2011
    #24
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Grins... :D :D
  5. YachtForums, Jul 13, 2011
    #25
    YachtForums

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    Even though this Merc McGyver'd mess wouldn't plane with twice the power, for a fleeting moment I was thinkin'... yeehaw!

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  6. NYCAP123, Jul 13, 2011
    #26
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    You may have had a premonition. Just add flames to the aft deck in the photo.:D
  7. Loren Schweizer, Jul 13, 2011
    #27
    Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    Like, was your bilge water dry or fruity? Impetuous with just a hint of Orpine and 200-hour Rotella? Nice!

    On the subject of safety, I can personally attest that a 13 Whaler at speed with two (slightly) leaky six-gallon steel tanks clanging & banging around between pilot and motor never caught fire and exploded.

    This poor Texan's biggest horror will be Severe Wallet Depletion Syndrome--but at least he'll have a lot of grist for Sea Stories at the bar. And, God bless him for his mindset. Enough Nancy/Wimpiness...so PMY.

    WE ARE YACHTFORUMS!
  8. SandEngXp, Jul 13, 2011
    #28
    SandEngXp

    SandEngXp New Member

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    Design Nightmares

    Love the picture.

    It would be nice next to the Mojo poster I have hanging in my office that has reminded me for years of why structural design requires such high load factors.

    This is the easy way to remove the interior in preparation for a refit....:D
  9. CaptPKilbride, Jul 13, 2011
    #29
    CaptPKilbride

    CaptPKilbride Senior Member

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  10. William lll, Jul 13, 2011
    #30
    William lll

    William lll New Member

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    Merc V-6 Triples

    The port engine is a 20" mid, lengthened 5" with an old spacer from an eighties stock Merc V-6 25" shaft motor. And all the propshafts are at about the same height, so...they are all 25" shafts(now). The center engine uses an aftermarket extension piece. At least he had the sense to put the left-hand rotation unit in the center, LOL. :D
  11. YachtForums, Jul 13, 2011
    #31
    YachtForums

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    If you study those pics a little closer William (Gar, is that you???), you'll find the lower pans are missing from the port and center motor, giving the illusion of longer mids. The starboard motor has its full-dress on. And yes, 5" spacers have been added between the mids and lower units. That tells me these motors may have been on big freeboard cat. Maybe an old Chris Cat?

    In the end, what the motors were ripped from isn't as important as their new application, which is one of the strangest sights in boating.
  12. Capt J, Jul 13, 2011
    #32
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    They came off of a Center Console Catamaran.......based off of a race boat hull.....like those jaguar, manta, etc. race boat cat hulls that they made a center console fast cat from......This is from someone at Cable Marine that knows the entire story.
  13. SHAZAM, Jul 13, 2011
    #33
    SHAZAM

    SHAZAM Senior Member

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    I still don't understand why anyone would do this. I know someone that purchased a hurricane damaged 70' hatteras a few years back that purchased an old 34' trawler which he used to pull the 70 back to north Florida. That makes much more sense than this rig. Also, how is the thruster supposed to work the way it's installed?
  14. YachtForums, Jul 14, 2011
    #34
    YachtForums

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    Good question. That's the craziest part of this whole contraption.
  15. Capt Buddy, Jul 14, 2011
    #35
    Capt Buddy

    Capt Buddy Member

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    This has to be in preparation for April 1 2012. those 2.5s will melt before it gets out of the New River. Any one know when the maiden is so we can get some pics?
  16. m2m, Jul 14, 2011
    #36
    m2m

    m2m Senior Member

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    Although I think it's insane I give the guy credit for his idea. I wouldn't want to make the passage but I am betting it will be successful. I have seen a lot crazier and successful (ie: more dangerous) deliveries. One comes to mind with an old wooden sailboat with an outboard bolted to the transom and the transom pretty much fell off, but the trip was successful.
  17. Capt J, Jul 14, 2011
    #37
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I don't understand how the guy figures he's going to save ANY money over shipping it. He had his guys make the bracket, and modifications to the boat, fly here from Texas and spend a week in hotels installing everything, and when you calculate the amount of fuel this rig is going to burn and total lack of range, it makes no sense. But I digress, some people have more money than brains.......
  18. SHAZAM, Jul 14, 2011
    #38
    SHAZAM

    SHAZAM Senior Member

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    Here's the way I see it, no matter where the boat was repaired, the running gear had to be replaced and the engine/trans rebuilt. I agree that cable is pricey, so why didn't he just tow it to another yard, pull the engines, rebuild them wherever then reinstall and drive the boat back? Has anyone run the numbers on what this thing would use in fuel?
  19. YachtForums, Jul 14, 2011
    #39
    YachtForums

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    Don't know what's hiding behind those alien cowls, other than 2.5 blocks. Could be 200's up to 280's. Either way, these are thirsty motors, especially when running in their power spectrum from 4,000 to 7800 RPM. The real problem with hi-perf Mercs is they have NO low-end grunt. Until 2-strokes hit their stride, they've got no ponies. Pushing this barge, it's doubtful they will even be able to spool up, however at their current X-dimension, maybe some cavitation would get the revs up. ;)
  20. tirekicker11, Jul 14, 2011
    #40
    tirekicker11

    tirekicker11 Senior Member

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    After reading this thread I think everybody agrees that this was not the most economical solution but whether he is going to make it is still speculation.
    Is there anybody close enough so that can be verified whether he made it all the way back to Texas with this engine set-up or not?

    I'm willing to bet US$ 100.- that he makes it back to Texas on it's own power.
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