Depending on where you boat and what you use the boat for, you might
seriously consider a performance boat w/ an outboard. Used ones are
available for about the same price as a good 20' runabout w/ a V8 engine.
For example. I have $15k in my eliminator. Seats 7, runs 85 mph top end.
Runs 70 w/ 5 adults in the boat
and you can cruise at 60 if you want to all day long. Point is, it will
ski, pull tubes, looks good (to most people), go fast, carry people, tows
well (3400 lbs), rides good (21' tunnel), and is not that expensive to
operate/maintain. Gets right at 3 mpg on an average outing which is a
little running fast, a little cruising at 35 to 40 mph, a little tubing,
etc...
Just a thought.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"simon gilder" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi Group

I'm the owner of a nice example 1989 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3 ltr cobra
omc
engine.
Now my first thought when i bought this boat just over a year ago was that
it was going to
economical.
The boat has not had a hard life and is all serviced.
With a different prop top speed is 34 mph tops but this is screaming the
engine.
I guess at this speed i'm probably using what 5-7 gals.
My thoughts are now that i cant be doing the engine any good running at
max
revs and only acheiving 34 mph tops,so i'm considering selling up and
buying
either another Bayliner with a 4.3ltr or 5ltr engine.
My question is i guess,am i going to be in for a nasty shock when i
realise
that,that fuel consumption has at least doubled?
I've been told that a larger engine would'nt be working as hard and could
be
as economical as the smaller 2.3ltr.
Also,would a larger engine last longer if serviced propably as it would'nt
be working so hard.
Any thoughts or answers would be really appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

Simon