help with motor selection

[Lenny]

I also got a monsterous quote on an ETEC 250 I had a Rude Ficht so all the wiring gauges would plug and play and Suzuki 250 4 stroke installed with gauges,new cables,controls, binnacle etc sales tax was almost 3gs cheaper with the gimme 6

[Bigshrimpin]

Dearl - Why not keep it an I/O? It's a four stroke and provides the full transom you desire. If the engine and outdrive work . . . why not keep it?

[dearl]

To be honest, I have been over this alot with alot of people that have been around boats alot longer than me, and with all that help, i still can't make up my mind.I would consider going to something like the smaller 4.3 V6, but i would want a better drive than a omc. Still up in the air, but i've got plenty of time!

[samuelcooper]

For what it is worth, I have a good friend who has a 1966 20 ft Bertram which he has had since it was new. For the past 15 or so years, he's been running the 4.3 v6 with mercruiser sterndrive. She runs very sweet, quiet, and uses WAY less fuel than I did with a 130 Johnson pushing an 18 ft, much lighter boat. From what I have heard, the omc sterndrives are close to junk. I don't know what the conversion would cost or even it it is possible. Also, I think if you run in saltwater, a heat exchanger is a necessity.