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Twin-Engine Fish Nautique #2

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rosconole View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rosconole Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-01-2019 at 3:05pm
There are tons for 4.3 V6s out there that's what the rest of the twins had for power. couple thousand you would be like it is supposed to be , Not some JET BOAT engines. Their is nothing cheap about trying to refresh engines that are in there.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tim D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 1:56pm
Is there room for a pair v6 or v8? Looks like the little 70 cubic inch rotarys have it full. I wonder what that think sounded like at top end. Those things will rev. My sister had a rx-7 and one of my good friends had one. He took the little stick off the tach gauge and could wrap the rpms past 9000, all the way around back to 2000. The clutch couldn't hardly grab on to that. The one thing that made those engines strong is that on each rotor, all three sides were doing a different step of combustion at the same time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NautiqueJeff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 2:31pm
There is plenty of room for normal engines. My other twin-engine Fish Nautique has the V6 engines, and I know of another one that has twin 454's.
Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zwoobah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 3:50pm
Interesting boat. I think your plan is great - have the rotaries looked over, if they can be gotten running for short money give them a shot. If you ultimately decide to swap in a V6/V8 pair, you can sell the running rotaries.

The rotary engines were always known for poor fuel economy, sensitivity to heat, and some oil consumption. Keep a close eye on your oil levels and temp gauges if you get them running. They ought to sound pretty cool at full blast.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Orlando76 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 3:51pm
Originally posted by Tim D Tim D wrote:

Is there room for a pair v6 or v8? Looks like the little 70 cubic inch rotarys have it full. I wonder what that think sounded like at top end. Those things will rev. My sister had a rx-7 and one of my good friends had one. He took the little stick off the tach gauge and could wrap the rpms past 9000, all the way around back to 2000. The clutch couldn't hardly grab on to that. The one thing that made those engines strong is that on each rotor, all three sides were doing a different step of combustion at the same time.

Ah the power of the mysterious “3”. “3” and it’s square root is what makes the world go round. Kinda surprised Rotarys didn’t get used much.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MrMcD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 4:15pm
A friend with an RX2 put a Holley 4bbl on it, it was really fast but I think he only got about 12 MPG, a car the size of a RX2 with a 4 cyl engine should have produced 30 MPG, this was in the late 70's, maybe 1979. At 12 MPG we could have driven a 350 HP 350 Chevy and had the same mileage and double or triple the torque.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gary S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 4:28pm
Originally posted by Orlando76 Orlando76 wrote:


Kinda surprised Rotarys didn’t get used much.


Mazda started pushing them hard in their regular cars right when the first gas crises hit. They never recovered the stigma of lousy mileage.Sitting in line for a couple of hours waiting for gas was not fun. That was in the days when a VW Beetle could sometimes luckily hit 25mpg with 50hp.
Mark I was under the impression that the 1970's rotarys had 4bbl from the factory.
The Mrs new car has 350hp and gets 25mpg at 70+. First car in many years that I actually enjoy driving and need no excuse to take a spin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 63 Skier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 5:55pm
Originally posted by Orlando76 Orlando76 wrote:

Ah the power of the mysterious “3”. “3” and it’s square root is what makes the world go round. Kinda surprised Rotarys didn’t get used much.

When you look at a cutaway of a rotary engine, and how it runs through the 4 cycle sequence, it's amazing to me that the concept came to somebody and they made it work. It solves much of the stress on a piston engine where the crank is pushing and pulling the piston in opposite directions at high speed, the rotor just turns in one direction all the time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MrMcD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 6:02pm
Gary, I think you are correct about them running a 4bbl but my friend Brian installed a larger Holley to go faster.

Did the Turbo rotaries have better efficiency?
They were small and powerful, I remember seeing an MGB with a rotary engine swap, small size with more power than the original MG 4 cyl engine.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 63 Skier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 6:36pm
Originally posted by MrMcD MrMcD wrote:

Gary, I think you are correct about them running a 4bbl but my friend Brian installed a larger Holley to go faster.

Did the Turbo rotaries have better efficiency?
They were small and powerful, I remember seeing an MGB with a rotary engine swap, small size with more power than the original MG 4 cyl engine.

So I was just on Craigslist looking at a 2004 RX8 in great condition for less than a NWZ Ski Nautique costs ($5,995). I shouldn't be allowed on Craigslist. Anyway, then did a bit of reading and the mid '90's RX7 twin turbo put out 255 hp and was still marginal on mpg. The 2004 RX8, non-turbo, put out 250 HP and was rated 18/23 mpg. 159 lb.-ft. and 0-60 in 6.4 sec. I wouldn't call that great mileage for the power output, and also considering it's a small light car, but not awful either. The 0-60 surprised me a bit, thought it was faster than that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tim D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 6:43pm
They consume oil because it is injected in the chamber to keep the seal from drying out. And they will barely run on diesel. Mys sister put diesel in hers back in the 80's when they first started putting the diesel pumps on the side of the gas pump instead of a separate pump off beside kerosene. Man, that thing was smoking and backfiring, but she made it home. The real power plant was the three rotor engine they built for racing.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MrMcD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2019 at 8:54pm
In today's world my 2.0L 4 cyl Ford Fusion with Direct Injection makes 240 HP, it does have a turbo. Has almost all torque available from 1,800 RPM on up. That little 4 cyl pulls the car very well.   Would have plenty of power for a boat but I bet it would cost lots more than a 351W's or 350 Chevy and under full load like it would be exposed to in a boat it would probably not last very long.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NautiqueJeff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-03-2019 at 6:43pm
Still unsure what the props are on this boat, but they'll certainly have to be swapped out no matter what I do with the engines. They are clearly too close to the hull, and one side has already burned/chipped the gel down to the glass. Can't imagine why anyone would have installed these like this.

Wonder how long that fishing line has been on there...



Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 75 Tique Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-03-2019 at 6:50pm
I say keep the rotaries. If you can get them to spin up like the video linked above, how cool would that be to scream down the middle of Lake Norman in a Fish Nautique going about 90 mph.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 63 Skier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 12:44am
So, here's the problem with this %$&*#@ site.

I read about a guy thinking of restoring a Fish with twin rotary engines.
I start discussing why he should keep the rotaries, or at least look into it.
I remember I used to drool over RX-7's.
I go on Craigslist and see a really nice RX-8.
I buy the RX-8.

Yes, pulled the trigger, brought it home Monday. Incredibly fun to drive, not all that fast but handles like crazy and the engine will wind up to the 9,500 rpm redline so quickly as you go through the gears, to my ear a really great sound.

So Jeff, I'm blaming you for this!


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 63 Skier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 12:45am
As usual, not sure why the uploaded pictures didn't post.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KENO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 8:23am
Dave

Stay away from the thread where there's talk of Pintos and Pacers and Wienermobiles.

Just tryin' to keep you out of trouble
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gary S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 8:57am
Dave needs an intervention!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zwoobah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 11:49am
Congrats! You're right next to Loudon. Get some good tires, brakes, and brake fluid in the RX8 and then sign up for a student day with COM!


https://www.comscc.org/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 63 Skier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 12:10pm
Originally posted by zwoobah zwoobah wrote:

Congrats! You're right next to Loudon. Get some good tires, brakes, and brake fluid in the RX8 and then sign up for a student day with COM!


https://www.comscc.org/

I have 2 friends who do the Loudon thing, love it. We were just talking about it a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure it's for me, maybe I'll go with someone else and see if I like it, from what they described it sounded like fun to open up your car and drive fast, but also stressful to deal with the widely different skill levels and performance levels of the cars.

My last manual car that I owned was in the late 1980's, have driven a bunch since but not on a daily basis. I wondered how my left knee would hold up, the clutch isn't all that light, but I'm having too much fun to worry about it! I'm actually going to park it for the most part until spring, if the roads are dry I'll take it out a bit but I'm not buying snows so it won't be used if the roads are even wet.

Strange, I didn't even have the slightest urge to go out and look for a Pacer or Pinto, not even a Gremlin!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote quinner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 5:35pm
Originally posted by Gary S Gary S wrote:

Dave needs an intervention!


Dave's a Killer
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zwoobah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-19-2019 at 6:01pm
Originally posted by 63 Skier 63 Skier wrote:

Originally posted by zwoobah zwoobah wrote:

Congrats! You're right next to Loudon. Get some good tires, brakes, and brake fluid in the RX8 and then sign up for a student day with COM!


https://www.comscc.org/

I have 2 friends who do the Loudon thing, love it. We were just talking about it a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure it's for me, maybe I'll go with someone else and see if I like it, from what they described it sounded like fun to open up your car and drive fast, but also stressful to deal with the widely different skill levels and performance levels of the cars.


If you go, go with a group like COM that provides excellent beginner instruction. An instructor will be in the car with you at all times until you are signed off to drive solo - usually after 3-4 events. You'll only be on track with other new drivers who also have instructors with them, unless you ask to ride shotty in your instructor's car during one of their sessions. They'll put you through a couple classroom technique sessions. It's the best way to learn. Open "test n tune" days are kind of the wild west.
You could also look at autocross events at Loudon. Lower speeds and less risk, but also less driving time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MrMcD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-20-2019 at 3:49pm
When that rotary stops working look into the LS swaps that are being done into that car.
An RX with an aluminum LS 5.3L makes for a really powerful car that still handles very well.
They are a fun car, enjoy your new toy!
A buddy of mine signed up for the driving school at Sears Point Raceway, they were driving small open wheel race cars in this class, powered by 4 cylinder Ford engines.
Formula Ford class?   After instruction and the first day on the track, I think this was a 3 day course the instructor was ticked off because the class was not following instructions. Each of the class had recored their best lap times for the day and they were all lousy.
The instructor jumped in his Mitsubishi Montero, a 4wd small SUV, ordered all the class to pack into that car.
With 7 people in the Mitsubishi the instructor went out and raced around the track. He beat the best time recorded by the class that day in the open wheel racer.   My buddy was a passenger, he said the Mitsubishi felt like it was going to roll over on every turn, scared the heck out of him but after the lap the instructor told the class they were slow because they did not listen.
Tomorrow you will listen.   He made his point.   My buddy has progressed since then and now races his 2006 Porsche 911 frequently in club events and has a lot of fun with it.
He still says there are guys in the club that can jump in his car and go much faster around the track than he can. It is a learning curve.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 67 ski nat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-20-2019 at 8:47pm
MrMcD   So proud of you for calling it Sears Point.
I’m went to high school in Napa, racing with dad weekends in 80’s
One of top ten tracks worldwide.
Of course laguna seca edges it out
Merry Christmas
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MrMcD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-21-2019 at 2:14am
I know, today they call it Infeneon Raceway, Sears Point should always be Sears Point.
Sounds like you had fun back then. I agree, Laguna Seca is a special track.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 67 ski nat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-21-2019 at 4:30am
NASCAR Corp bought it   Sonoma raceway now   NHRA after dark is amazing there
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