Cary 50

I've Got Blisters On My Fingers

Be sure to check the bottom of the Cary you are considering. Here is what the bottom of White Lightening looks like. They are still working on the drives.

Repower Options???

Ok, after reading this thread, I agree that 4x540 is not the best option. What do you guys think about repowering a Cary 50 with twin Seatek 820s with Arneson ASD-10 surface drives? I think this set up should physically weigh less and produce more than enough Hp and Torque to push the Cary 50 to 60-65 knots top speed.

I would think that twin 820hp diesels and arnesons should be enough to push it. Whether it would achieve 60-65 knots, I don't know.

Thanks for the Link SHAZAM. Does anyone know if these Merells are still being produced? I couldn't find any info on line. What a great looking cruiser. I think it would bennefit from a better power package ie: twin Seatek or Isotta turbo diesels and Arneson drives. It would certainly look great heading across Nantucket Sound with that package.

You should probably talk to the arneson specialists at twin disc.
The ASD-10 drives are rated for 2000 ft-lbs. I dont have the software on this computer to calculate what the deepest reduction ratio is you can use with 820hp diesels, but this is a factor the arneson guys can tell you very quickly.

The best running 50' I'd ever been on was the last one built with 12cyl MTU's & Arnesons, boat was a beast. IMO, I think the ultimate set up would be a 50 with triple 715hp QSM-11 cummins & Arnesons. Clean install and tons of power.

That's good advice. I was thinking that a pair of ZF 550 TS transmissions would solve any gearing problems. Getting advice from those who know more than I is always welcome.

Woah' I would think trip QSM-11s would be an awful lot of weight in the stern of a 50.

Here is a listing 2011 High Speed Security Patrol - New Build to Order Power Boat for a 47ft boat with Twin Cummins QSM11-M/715HP and Twin Disc Arneso Surface Drives
that claims a top speed of 58knots or 66.74mph so it sounds like you are on the right track.

Not at all. Remember the Lady Colombo with triple 3208's? The M-11's would weigh the same and that boat had near perfect balance.

You know, after I made that post I thought more of it and I think you are correct. That set up probably wouldn't be too much weight. I still think that the Seatek 820s would be a better choice at .405 Hp/Lb ratio @ 820 Hp and 2024 Lbs. The Cummins QSM-11s have a .273 Hp/Lb ratio being 715 Hp and 2620 Lbs. Those Cummins in a Trip set up net you 2145 Hp at 7860 Lbs. Now accepting, that Trip QSM-11s weighing 7860 Lbs would not be too much weight for a Cary 50 than I would go over the top and do Twin Seatek V-12 1500s. That set up nets you 3000 Hp at 7700 Lbs. If you want to stay with Trips than the Seatek 820s net you 2460 Hp at 6072Lbs. All of this being said, at what point do we get to too much power for that hull? It is a Cary 50 not a Nor-Tech 50. I just can't imagine trying to push a Cary 50 to 90 knots.

I think the Cary 50 hull will take as much HP as you give it. I think it's just a plain old deep vee hull that's only limitation to top end speed is it's weight. Twins with the same hp as triples will always be faster with less running gear in the water.

Capt J; I have always believed that to be true about less running gear. More power, less weight, less gear should equal more speed. I know I have been preaching Seatek diesels but I have experience with them and believe in them. I use to know of a Meteor 50 not far from me that was running twin Seatek Navy 750s with surface drives and let me tell you that boat was ungodly ripping up the bay.

Turbines????

Has anyone ever heard of anyone trying to stuff T-53 turbines into a Cary 50? I'm just wondering if anyone has ever tried to do it.

Correct, the hull is nothing more than a scaled up 32 Cary/36 Cigarette.

I stand corrected. I just found this website for Mystic Powerbats.
Mystic Powerboats presents the SL 700 Express Cruiser - a 70 ft high performance powerboat capable of atop speed of 70 knots.
They are apparently pushing a 57,000 pound, 70 ft cruiser to 70mph with twin 1500hp MTU 10V2000 diesels and all the way to 90mph with twin 2400hp MTU 16V2000s. A Cary 50 powered by 3000hp worth of Seatek V12s should be crazy fast.

I own a Cary 50 and it has over 2000 hp (500+ x4) and still is not fast. The hull is wide and heavy #34000 lbs. Great boat for big water cruising.

I will try to up load some pictures but not much luck so far

Judging by the windshield, that's got to be a late 80's early 90's 50. This windshield was the factory's attempt at modernizing the boat, the bottom of it still fit the angular base from the older boats while the top had a slight curve. Also, has anyone ever noticed that the deck hatches on the original carys are nothing more than aftermarket automotive sunroof/moonroofs?

Can anyone shed some light as to why the factory powered these boats with gas I/O's rather than a more sensible diesel package?