1973 Morgan 28... My First Boat?

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Bestathook

In the long run, though, paying more, for a better boat, proves cheapest in the long run.

Truer words were never spoken.

No one ever gets out of a boat the money they put into it. Buy the best-kept, most well maintained example of a given boat you can find (within reason), and let the previous owner take the hit on the cost of having kept it that way or brought it to that level.

It's easy to say "yeah just drop a rebuilt diesel in there." And then you find out the beds need to be rebuilt, oh and you need an exhaust, heat exchanger, shaft and seal, and prop, etc. You'll spend more than the purchase price of that boat a couple of times over in short order.

I agree that an outboard is completely inadequate for that boat if you ever want to leave protected waters. As it was, it was underpowered to begin with. If I were dropping an engine in that thing I would not look at anything less than 30 hp.

[Ballenxj]

Can't you get away with slightly less horsepower with a diesel due to the higher torque ratings?
-Bruce

[pistarckle]

Take a look at the mast step . Many had an alum mast and steel step , lots of corrosion .
Kinda easy fix , cut a couple inches of base !

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Ballenxj

Can't you get away with slightly less horsepower with a diesel due to the higher torque ratings?
-Bruce

I misread his post. The old Atomic 4 is plenty of horsepower for that boat, and the outboard will probably push him at hull speed without any problems, but I would still look for an example of the boat with a running diesel.

[Ballenxj]

Originally Posted by Suijin

I misread his post. The old Atomic 4 is plenty of horsepower for that boat, and the outboard will probably push him at hull speed without any problems, but I would still look for an example of the boat with a running diesel.

Thanks, Yeah most of the boats with diesels that I find seem to run in the range of 10 to 20 hp.
-Bruce