The Pump Gas part is what has me saying not a chance, really, Stuart.
I'm running right on, or over, the borderline of too much compression, 11:1 or so, (For the oxygenated crap we call premium gasoline here in Arizona), and jury's still out if the engine will hold up to it over the long haul. Runs fine on (And LOVES) 103 octane or better Avgas or Race Fuel, but scares me a little running 91 octane pump gas. Boat won't idle half the time, can notice SOME pinging from time to time, so I try and buy my gas at one place where 93 octane is their premium in town.
I'm probably at, or over, 550 (I say 600, by seat of the pants and given it's acceleration) on Race Gas. On pump gas I'm quite sure I lose better than 50 HP or probably even significantly more. (Given recent carb issues and not running a filter has caused some greif lately). But on Race Gas, will idle (granted a pretty significant lope), at 800 rpm with the lope dragging it to 1100. Sounds badass when it does this in the NWZ. Kinda cool seeing the faces of new passengers seeing the tach bouncing like that too!
If you want 800 HP, blown is the only way you're gonna do it on pump gas, I beleive.
Ray
FWIW, I'd never build an engine this close to borderline again for a boat. Hence the Blower in my kitchen and the other in the garage (And a third to be announced later). I thought I could outsmart the sytem, for lack of a better term, with my hot rodding background, But no, Boats are different, and race/AV gas is not that accessible! I am lucky in that the boat runs at around 140 degrees all day, any more, it would probably detonate like a grenade. Paul, Lakesonly, and Dave, enginedoctor, are EXACTLY right, if you want a reliable turn key engine, listen to both of them.
