305 boat motor

[NevadaNeal]

 I was giving a 1978 19' Cobalt tri haul a number of years back. when i got this boat it had no motor or trailer. Over the years Ive slowly goatherd parts for a restoration on it.
The boat had a small block in it before,and i happen to have a good 305 sitting with no home. My question is will the 2 barrel 305 provide enough torque to move such a heavy boat?
The 305 is stock. Ive been told in the past the ideal cam would be a high lift short duration pattern. But Ive been told allot of things about boat motors.
I'm no boat guy so this is a new endeavor for me. I have the mercruiser stern drive and all the manifolds. I'm currently in the process of repairing the hull and having the wood work replaced.
Plans for the boat are some cruising on lake Tahoe and maybe some spec'ing.And since its a 70's boat i can leave it hooked to my 73 for car shows.

[Irish_Alley]

dont they have two diffrent heads due to the water cooling

[NevadaNeal]

See thats something i didnt know already. Ill have to do more research.

[fitz]

dont they have two diffrent heads due to the water cooling

I don't think so.
I thought the only thing you had to change on the long block (assuming it's raw water cooled) was the headgaskets and the freeze plugs (so salt water doesn't eat through them. If you only run it in fresh water (or have fresh water cooling) i think your o.k. the way it is.
As far as power goes, I had an 18' Four Winns with a 4.3 (205 HP) and a 23' wellcraft with a 350 (260 HP).  The 18' was the quicker 1 out of the 2 but I think a 305 will do fine.
Keep in mind the engine accessories are different in a boat compared to a car.
Because most boats have a sealed engine compartment things like the starter/alt/dist have to be spark proof and cost big $$.   

[Canadian 4X4]

i have a 302 ford in my boat and its only rated at 188hp and it moves my 3000 lb 21ft boat just fine. its no speed boat but it does fine for tubing wake boarding water skiing. i think a 305 will work fine i think the last tri hull i saw was about a 17ft and it had an old 250 -6 in it

[NevadaNeal]

Cool thanks guys. I was pricing the marine parts summit has, and your rite fitz they are high dollar.

[Irish_Alley]

lol meant the exhaust manifold for the water cooling

[NevadaNeal]

I have the exhaust manifolds and all the boat specific parts that go with the mercruiser stern drive. Im going to paint the boat simular colors as the truck.

[Psycho71]

Marine cams are a bit different than street driven cams are. A boat will need a smooth idle at very low rpm's to shift from forward to reverse correctly. Numerically low duration numbers would be desirable for this. I'd call Comp Cams and see what they recommend. I'm sure they build cams for marine applications. I'd run brass freeze plugs, and a marine carb with spark arrestor on top. Mandatory in most, if not all, states. Power wise it should be OK once you get it outfitted with the proper running gear.

[78 Chevyrado]

Check out Post #12 on this page.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/60883-can-i-use-stock-chevy-305-my-boat.html

[NevadaNeal]

Thanks guys, gunna be a nice little boat when i finnaly get her done. Any recomendations on a intake manifold. Stay stock or find something with longer runners? Maybe ill find an old weiend stealth intake.
Comp has a few nice little cams made specific for marine applications, and Mallory has some ignition goodies..Didnt mean for this motor to become a full blown build but it just may 
What brought this all about is its allways been a mirror project while rebuilding my 73. i did the same with my old ford and a travel trailer. But that was allot easier then this..LOL.
Oh well i still have to finnish a motor for my jeep j10 and source some axles for my international d 100 truck. Nothing like keeping busy.