Marinette Boat Forum

You didn't note the cost difference. Cost per gal at your current or preferred fuel stop ?? And do you anticipate more "longer" trips where the extra tanks and weight (6lbs/gal) would pay for themselves? Do you have room for the tanks?
Happy New Year

Joel, fuel at home ran from $5.25 to $6.00 this past summer for ethanol free. Yes, on the longer trips. That is our main reason for the boat, we try to make 3 or 4 trips to the National Park during our short summers. We live on a beautiful canal that connect to Lake Superior on both sides, around 25 miles end to end. We do use the Marinette for some local cruising, but usually opt for the pontoon for that. There is currently room between the engines and the current fuel tanks, but it is too far aft and I dont want the extra weight back there. That is the reason to try and reconfigure the cabin to come up with the space that would come close to the "wine cellar" size that the sedan models have. With the hopes of getting another 100 gallons of fuel in her. I'm not too concerned about the weight as the 454's seem to have enough power for the task.

Made it to the boat to take a few pics of the 454's installed.

View from below deck

Here are the gas tanks mounted next to the forward cockpit bulkhead. Also moved the battery switch panels. Wiring is still a bit unruly, but I will straighten it out when I move it again.

You can see why outdrive power installations have become so popular--all that lovely usable space amid-ships.

Congrats for an exciting and challenging installation!

Love to see/ hear some video of her in operation!

Jeff

Thanks Jeff, I still have a lot of improvements to go. But the wallet is quite empty at the moment, so I will slowly pick at it. I was hoping to get more done this past summer, safety and mechanical systems were first and foremost, cosmetics took a back seat. I have some re configuring of battery, tanks, electrical, etc., hoping to be able to get a chunk of it done before it hits the water this year. I didn't take any videos this past summer, I will try to do that coming up. It is definitely quiter with the through prop exhaust, which was one of my main reason for doing it.

Those mercs look good in that space!

Like they belonged there all along.

Thanks Joe, that is what I was shooting for, To make it look factory. Although it would have saved me a whole bunch of labor and engineering if they would have just done it in the first place.

I have been trying to join this forum for about a year just to be able to see the pictures of this build. I finally got approved to join today. Following along with the text, I liked what I was reading. The pictures look great. I love it.