Looking to see if anyone on the forum with a Mk II has re-powered with a Beta Marine engine? I have seen postings for the Mk I, but I'm looking for any detail on the hiccups and pitfalls encountered. As with any major project, there are ALWAYS things that pop up which were not accounted for and can add significant cost to the overall project.

In particular, looking for thoughts on the overall project as well as the exhaust riser, panel on the helm station, shift/throttle cables, engine mount etc..

I know it will come up so..... I'm looking into re-powering vs rebuilding. My current Universal 35BC has close to 5,000 hrs on it and is definitely on the edge of its serviceable life. Lots of little things that need fixing and/or replacement including a slipping tranny. When you start doing the math on rebuild, it's pretty significant compared to re-powering plus a 5yr warranty on a new Beta. The current engine is well cared for, but it is used very heavily (over 110 outings last year, some of which involved 12-15 hrs of motoring). Rebuilding just buys time. Re-powering can add (keep) significant resale value but may costs 2x-3x more depending on how deep the rebuild goes.