OK, I think it's a bit of over kill but I may have found a good deal
on a 28' pontoon. The San-pan is 'toons are in excellent shape but the
rest is bogus. no engine (but has Evinrude controls) will need a new
steering cable because someone took a torch to it to steal the 85 hp.
v-4 that was on it. rotten floor , rotten seats, rotten all the way
over. But the frame, floats and trailer are good. A winter project
for sure.

I have a 115 v-4 hanging in the garage. But I also have access to a 28
hp turbo Kabota. not much HP but buckets of torque for it's size, not
counting an unsurpassed fuel economy.

Obviously you can probably tell what I'm thinking of doing. I'm not
thrilled with the thought of smelling diesel fuel, but I know several
fellows that are into burning french fry grease in their pickups. and
with little modification, can be done rather simply and effectively.

Anyhow, this diesel weights less than a small block GM and I've known
of several large pontoons that are set up with v-8 I/O's. The local
machine shop can make adaptor plates and weld aluminum. I have a
couple of spare Alpha drives sitting back in the warehouse, that could
work on this project. Or I could use a shaft salvaged from my old
Chris Craft Cavalier with a Borg Warner "V-Drive" which would mount
the engine more amidships and even though it would take up floor space
would provide for better weight distribution.

I'm not necessarily into speed but more into economical performance.
Of course the Speed would probably be determined on how many people
one stacks on the boat, but I'd like to look over the options. But
seeing this would be on a mild lake or slow river (normal flow 7 mph,
max. flow 12 mph) It might be a neat project.



Does anyone know of a website that provides information or formulas
concerning power and weight distribution for what I'm thinking of
perusing?

Thanks!