On Sat, 29 Mar 2014 15:37:13 -0400, wrote:

On Sat, 29 Mar 2014 13:29:03 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

On Sat, 29 Mar 2014 13:19:51 -0400, wrote:

On Sat, 29 Mar 2014 09:51:20 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

Now that the 4 strokes are getting better, there is very little

advantage to an I/O.

My mother's family all ran "Bay Built" work boats with inboards and I

thought an I/O was the best of both worlds until I got down here.

The ones I was familiar with on the Chesapeake were still trailer

boats. Down here the only I/Os you see are "go fasts" with big block

V-8s that seldom get wet.

I know exactly what you're saying Greg. But unless you have a sail boat, and like to pay slip rents, around here, trailer boating rules. Mercruiser alpha 1's are easy to come by due to long term use. I mean' it's kinda hard to improve a hammer.

And I/0 engines are something that most parts you can get through NAPA. Like carb kits, solenoids, belts etc. I wouldn't use an automotive water pump, though...

What's a "carb kit"?

I haven't had anything bigger than a lawn mower with a carb in 15
years. These days those tune up parts are not really that important.
On a 4 stroke outboard the maintenance is mostly oil changes.
You still have thermostats, impellers and anodes in your stern drive.
Those are the other common maintenance parts.
If you are running in salt water you will need fresh water cooling so
you will be adding the heat exchanger parts to your maintenance
schedule, along with all of those rubber parts that keep your boat
from sinking.
I think the advent of EFI 4 strokes pushed outboards past the I/O and
you can get 350HP in an outboard. I hear rumors a 400 is in the works
from the majors.

If you want a boutique manufacturer, there is Seven Marine, putting a
Northstar Cadillac engine in an outboard. (557HP and looking at
something over 600 from what I hear)

This is what I'd call a 'carb kit', although it's not for a V6.

http://www.harpermoto.com/carburettor-gasket-kit.html

For when it's cold, rainy, and you're looking for something to do.

I have gone out of my way to forget carb kits.

It is like painting. I know how to do it but I hate it.
If you don't have access to a hot tank, "rebuilding" carbs can be a
frustrating exercise. There always seems to be one passage you don't
get completely clean and that is usually the one that caused the
problem in the first place.

Guzzi carbs aren't near as complicated as a 2 or 4 barrel auto carb. I tried to rebuild one of those
4 barrels when I was about 19. Got it back on the car, had a friend hit the starter, and gas came
flowing out the top of the carb. I never tried again until I got a Moto Guzzi. They're pretty easy
to work on.