Pete Hodges boat engine project

[William Pete Hodges]

I am restoring a trailerable boat to cruise parts of the Great Loop in sections and building a new engine for it. I am applying my engine knowledge and experience to build a gasoline engine that should get good fuel economy at the loads I intend to run. Why gasoline instead of diesel? Partly because the boat is already gasoline powered. Older style gasoline engines are less expensive than diesels, and if you can cruise with similar fuel economy, what's not to like?

David Vizard, the author, podcaster, engine builder, and racer wants me to share my project with his audience. He thinks it will prove interesting to people that have an understanding of engine building and engine applications. I don't know that I fully agree, but with his encouragement I am putting together a series of training videos to explain the theories and how I am applying them.

So far I have two 15-minute videos followed by one that is 22 minutes long. The first two are somewhat entertaining, but the third one is a bit dry unless you are really into the subject matter. The best way to view these is in landscape mode with a touch screen tablet or large phone so you can pause and zoom the images as needed. These videos are not perfect, but I am hoping they do a good job relating the information to the viewers.

I have at least one or possibly two more videos to make in order to bring the subject to a conclusion. One Miracle at a time!

 

[bonefishpete]

Outside of ski or wake boats who builds new inboard gas powered boats anymore?
In Florida the rage is all triple or quad or more outboards hung on the stern.

 

[jesse]

Outside of ski or wake boats who builds new inboard gas powered boats anymore?
In Florida the rage is all triple or quad or more outboards hung on the stern.

the outboard fever is less of a thing in the great lakes region where there is no salt water & inboard gas engines can last decades. My boat has been has a Chevy 350 that is nearly 40 years old. I'd much rather cross the lake on a dark stormy night with a 40 year old Chevy 350 than a 40 year old outboard.

I bought it in 2017, fixed the cracked block with some JB weld, and have been trouble-free ever since.

 

[jsstevens]

the outboard fever is less of a thing in the great lakes region where there is no salt water & inboard gas engines can last decades. My boat has been has a Chevy 350 that is nearly 40 years old. I'd much rather cross the lake on a dark stormy night with a 40 year old Chevy 350 than a 40 year old outboard.

I bought it in 2017, fixed the cracked block with some JB weld, and have been trouble-free ever since.

I fixed a cracked transaxle case on a Honda with JB-Weld. Lasted another 100,000 miles then I traded it. Great stuff that JB-Weld.

 

[Half Fast]

I fixed a cracked transaxle case on a Honda with JB-Weld. Lasted another 100,000 miles then I traded it. Great stuff that JB-Weld.

I’ve used it and it’s good stuff, but be careful of shearing stress. JBW is very strong in tension but pretty weak in shear.

 

[William Pete Hodges]

Here is the last video about my boat engine project. I hope you found this series an interesting way of looking at engine power and fuel economy.