Help with build please

[CHEVYMAN434]

Hey guys i just bought a 20' vt rocket from my buddy.Im not familiar at all with fast boats but i do have a drag car. I live on the Santee Cooper lakes in sc and have allways had a boat just not a big motor boat...lol.. But this boat i bought has a 89 175 elp engine on it is what the title says.My buddy says it was built to drag race with and has 300 hp. It is a newly rebuilt engine that was ran for a couple hours and it got a piston. Says it needs to run on race gas and all that. But i asked him if i could just fix it and he says it is a race motor made to turn 10k rpms and is not really what i would want on my lake cruiser.. Im not looking to go out on the lake and set any records but am wanting a motor that will push the boat maybe mid 80's and be reliable.. Im wanting you guys advice on what i should do to get it up and running. Think i should just get a new powerhead and that would work? I was wonderin about if i would get a 2.5 or 3.0 engine but wouldnt know if i should get a carbed of efi setup? And if a 2.5 or 3.0 would even work on what i have? Or even should i just start with a new or used complete engine? So please school me on this and help me get out on the water....lol..Thanks in advance..

[albypine]

how deep are ur pockets? 2.5 hipo merc's are not cheep motors. I paid 4k for a 280 ros power head that needed 6k rebuild. I am very happy with it and glad i delt with the best when i had her done, let the wrong one build it and you will have 10k in scrap

[CHEVYMAN434]

Well to to tell you the truth when i got the boat i was told i should just get a stock powerhead,like a 250 or something,and it should go together and run fine.So you know what i was lookin at is to spend between 3-5k for a stock powerhead,2k or so on interior,and i got with the boat all new teleflex cables,sea star steering,new guages and wiring harness,help and 5 racing props..I could just sell the whole engine i have if that may be best,and buy on of the complete engines in the for sale section..The boat was completly resored and was at a local boat company in two peices.They put a new transom,stringers and has a composite floor.Took out 35 contractor size trash bags of foam too.It has all new white gelcoat and looks great.My buddy says he will rig the boat but he was not really sure either about getting the right powerhead,so im here askin the resident experts.....

[CHEVYMAN434]

Hell,i may just sell all of this and just get a boat in the for sale section....Prob cheaper and alot less headache......