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Can you put a car motor inside a boat?
My husband and I just bought a Baha, and we just found out it has a 454 car motor inside. Is this legal? Can we boat with it?
We took it to a mechanic when we first got it, he didn't say anything unsual, but the mechanic that has it now says he can't work on it because it is illegal to use a car motor inside a boat, and he refuses to work on it due to liability.
It sound to me like you have a lat 70's or early 80's baha. They came stock in two configurations, wet or dry exhaust, the dry exhaust was very loud since it used headers facing upward and over the transom. hot looking but not practical except in racing applications, your passengers would not appreciate sitting next to it. The wet exhaust uses marine manifolds and go through the transom near or just below the waterline, much quieter and more enjoyable.
Either way the motors are based on standard car motors, the important changes were manifold if wet and air cleaners, no sparks allowed!
Salt water kills the motors, if you have fresh water cooling that is great the heat exchanger takes the abuse and the motor can then be filled with anti-freeze just like your car.
Good luck and happy boating!
The main thing is to be safe and return from your adventure.
Top Gear - Car-Boat Challenge - BBC