23 SEACRAFT PROJECT BOAT

[Fr. Frank]

The newish Steyr 256 sounds like a great candidate. Austrian rather than Italian, but what's a little border war between friends

Indmar is selling them as Indmar 256 and targeting the ski boat market.

708 lbs and offering 250 hp out of 195 ci, and 500 ft/lbs of torque at cruise, it looks to be a hell of a motor combo hooked up to a 200 lb Bravo series or a V-P Duopro...check out the details keep in mind fuel curve is in liters/hr

http://www.steyr-motors.com/products...engl_oct09.pdf

As the Yanmar diesel/sterndrive dealer network is rather slim in the US, you may want to consider the two diesel sterndrive power systems with extensive dealer support: Volvo-Penta, or Cummins/Mercruiser.

Or you could go with the Lancing Marine Transom Drive set-up. A lot fewer parts, and very simple. Add your favorite diesel engine (marinized, or course) and a ZF tranny. Cost is a whole lot less than a new diesel sterndive. A couple of threads I've read show them to be popular with the International/Navistar diesel V8's (Ford 7.3, and 6.8 liter) and with smaller 100-180 hp Isuzu and Peugot diesels.

Finally, there is the bolt-in/bolt-up replacement for GM V8 gas motors from Marine Diesel in Sweden. 170 to 300 hp.