With that said, the two options are a re-power with an engine that has OEM support, or getting a later model boat with an engine that is still supported.

I believe the Apex engines showed up in the early 2000's as an option. Would an older boat with this motor be an option for engine support? If so, how far back would support go for the Apex engines.

Just thinking out loud here for affordable boats that have engine support.

Thanks,

Mark

I've had similar thoughts.  Michigan Motorz (yes, that's how it's spelled) has some nice drop-in engines for a re-power scenario.  I've considered that route.  

With that being said...these SBF Ford 5.8 engines are very strong and parts will be available for a loooong time.  If the ECM on my GT-40 were to fail, I would likely go "retro" and convert the engine back to a high performance carb and distributor setup.  My old 1994 Ski came with the TBI "Pro Boss" and the Pro Tech.  After TBI and Pro Tech died, I went with mid-range high performance mods and retro-conversion.  The retro engine was every bit as strong as the original and was remarkably reliable.  Very strong runner.  The carb and dizzy setup is tried-and true and can perform many years well with a reasonable amount of maintenance.

In my new boat, I will likely do the same thing.  I'm fairly confident that I can get 350+ Horse Power from my little SBF without too much trouble.  If / when my GT-40 dies, I will likely go with:

- Roller cam, lifters & rockers

- Edelbrock Performer RPM intake

- Q.F. 650 carb

- Electric fuel pump

- Aluminum heads (AFR or Edelbrock)

- Stroker?  Maybe, but not sure yet.

I love to tinker and work on engines, so it will be a labor of love.  At the end of the day, I will have a rock-solid engine that will be easy to work on, maintain, and will pull my arms off on a slalom start.  All this would be waaaay cheaper than a new drop-in re-power.  I'm figuring $3,500 for all parts with labor being a DIY.

JQ

Currently you have a number of options for a repower.

New non cat 6.0 LS is all thats available from PCM for repower. no more 5.7 no more 5.8

Marine Power has a few non cat options.

in the last year I have repowered 5 boats with the PCM 6.0 bobtail package. includes Hydrodyne, mastercraft and Nautique boats.

will it fit? thats allways the question that one has to answer. newer 6 liter engines are physically bigger then the old ford and chebby engines that come out. motor box as well as cable, fuel line and many other issues need to be addressed when repowering.

Ford and Chevy sbc marine parts are starting to become more then just obsolete in some cases some parts are just not available. Yea we that are in the business have ratholed many parts and have the ability to build near new engines for our own boats however marine repair shops are finding it harder and harder to successfully as well as economically repair as well as replace older engines.

$20K will get you a new 6.0 non cat pcm bobtail engine, a new series 80/123:1 transmission, a Zero Off speed controll and installed on just about any Ski Nautique from 1995-20011.

 

So it makes me wonder, why would this retro thing use an electric fuel pump?

Why wait,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,be proactive, do it now and sell the good parts while they're good  

If you're worried about ECMs, then about any fuel injected Chevy engine out there has plenty of support as far as ECMs go.

Whether it's the first MEFI1  or some later version, you can get them brand new, get a refurbished one or get used and get them programmed for your application by a number of places around the country 

PS...............edit your title 

Any chance the later engines were originally built without a mechanical fuel pump eccentric?

Easy enough to add one if needed...

You're not Jonny 

I might add that up until the last two repowers i have done in the last 4 or 5 years, the focus was to be able to facilitate Zero Off speed control.

Zero Off is the speed control that is only used for current waterski competition. perfectpass is still out their and they build still a very quality product. However many competitive skiers are not willing to purchase a new $120K ski boat nor even a $50K ski boat when their 20 year old garage kept tournament boat drives and skis better then what currently is available for competition and they own it out right.

Finally AWSA looked at the down trend of towboat availability for competition and expanded towboat rules to include basically any boat previously approved by AWSA with the exception that they must utilize current approved GPS based speed control. at the upcoming Georgia state championships they will be utilizing as one of their towboats a Excalibur repowered 99 SN.  

You might be on to something there................    

I likely wouldn't go as deep as Jonny Q, and simply go with the DUI, the HP carb and new perf intake. I'll loose a bit of HP, but not likely enough to notice a big difference based on how I use the boat, and can re-prop as necessary.

Ultra

I will likely add a cam, lifters, rockers, heads, etc. because I like to tinker.  If Mrs. Quest holds me to a budget, I would go with refurb GT40P heads, QF 650 double pumper, Performer RPM intake, DUI dizzy and a new fuel pump.  That setup would be damn close to the GT-40 mill in the boat now.  You could work on that bad boy with regular hand tools without the need for an OBD2 reader.  

JQ

Go back to Mrs Quest and ask for a little more rope.

Only Jonny knows the answer to that question  

Simplicity and reliability, Gary. The newest ECU and associated harness in the field is likely 25 years old. Mine a touch more. For me, its about eliminating issues on a boat I’ll likely have for several more years.

Ultra.

Y’all know what I meant!  No ‘puters needed.  No diagnostic software.  No codes. No Check Engine Light.  Maybe some old school fancy electronics like a timing light and a multi-meter.

I all seriousness, I do worry about aging ECMs and the other critical electronics in a marine environment.  If my GT40 stays running, so much the better.  If the electronic wizardry craps out then I’m off to Jegs and Summit Racing.  

JQ

I can add that my HCI upgrade has been nothing but stellar. I could overtalk, but drivers can't believe its not FI.

Its just super strong and responsive everywhere, especially ski speeds with lungs up top. 

And also efficient, last week we measured four skiers at 14mi total at 34mph, using 4.3 gallons

Im all for improvising existing gt40's FI system when neeeded, I'm sure creative solutions will present,  but also wouldn't discourage a carbation, with a few components one can go beyond gt40 limitations

The 170 TFTW heads with 58 cc chambers can run 2.02 valves on the stock pistons, up to 500 lift 

I've run 87 all season with no adjustments in timing needed to compensate.

Just to get that into boating terms like gallons/hr, your "efficiency" works out to about 10.5 gallons/hr using your numbers

Or in wallet terms roughly 50 bucks an hour 

90-110 cuts in the morning morning each for the price of some karyn's  mocha frappachino latte