[sogilmore]

EBEACH
You and I have very similar projects going. Where are you in CT? I am in Southport, exit #19 off I-95.

I had a 454 king cobra IO pckg in it before....it ran just under 54 mph (GPS). What a ride....these hulls are supernatural. I love how they bank in turns.

I would love a diesel pckg, but thought that they were no where near the wt. of the 5.0 & 5.7 ltr. Mercs you refernced. Volvo does mate the new composite outdrive to a diesel now. No more info on that is known by me.
Have you gotten a quote on the complete pckg yet? I would be interested to know the $$ damages are. Maybe we can get a discount if buy TWO! PM me if you would.
As for the jack-shaft...I am not fan of them. And I do not want to engage in that level of cockpit redesign. I do know of a Tsunami/Sceptre that was an IB that went w/ a Yanmar 230 hp. It was a nice set up but "expensive", so I was told.
My fuel tanks are on center line std tank mid ship is 45 gal. and an after market install fwd 30 gal., under the floor between the pilot and mates seats. I will send you an email w/ a pic of my boat's existing waterline. Check it out against what you know about your's. My waterline is perfectly 1" under the top of the green bottom paint all the way around. Check the bow entry too, use the lifting strakes as a reference point (where they come together at the bow), under the chine and spray rail.
Email me yr email address in a PM if is not found here in the forum site.
-Sean <sogilmore@hotmail.com>