Just couldn't wait any longer.

We put the Cobalt 18DV in the water yesterday for the trial run and engine break-in. We had it running on the hose for about 2 hours already, leak checking and setting up the carb and timing and thermostat opening.

It fired right up, idles ok (little fast), warms up fine and quick.

We took it up to 3000 onto plane and did a little up and down with the throttle to feel it out, then did 10 idle to 4000 runs to seat the rings.

This thing is scary fast. It jumps onto plane with two people on board and 36 gallons of fuel, minus about 200lbs of seats, in under 2sec, easy. The speedo won't register above 30, but phone gps says 4400 rpm is 54mph, and with a 13 3/4" 19pitch prop, it wants to go past 4800rpms and keep climbing. The acceleration out of the hole is so strong you have to hang on tight. We have a 21pitch prop to put on it, and it's gonna need it. I now predict well over 60 top speed.

The engine is a 350ci 84 vintage stock 260hp Mercruiser, with the heads shaved some and a Comp Cams XP256H grind cam and lifters and springs. This cam is ground with 4* of advance built in, 256* duration, and it has a mild to noticeable idle at 750rpms. Compression is about 9.25:1, and it's running on regular. Ambient temps were around 105*, so I expect even better performance in cooler, denser air.