Hey fellas...was wondering if anybody knows of a performance shop that has hop up parts for the horizontal 18vanguard twin. Forgive my ignorance as I have only dealt with smaller single cylinder gx200's on the mini surface drives I build. I am looking to build a boat to match this hopefully hopped up 18hp mini lite SD. I am currently designing a 15x44 mud hull with 21" sides. I would like to be able to carry 2 guys and gear well, but still a light enough rig to easily winch levees and such. I'm making the rake on the boat nice and long but would really like to find someone with cams, heads, exhaust, carb,etc... options. Surely someone is makin somethin for these motors...right?? Thanks.

Get you a 23 block for starters...

You can have your cam ground to your specs. You can have your heads decked by a local machine shop. Exhaust, you could gut your stocker or build your own. On the carb, you may be able to swap it out for one off a larger motor (maybe a 23?), or tweak the stock.

If you are looking for someone to do it all, check go-kart sites...maybe mini dragsters, I dunno.

I believe it's the same block as the 23, just different internals and bore.

Whatever you do, you will be limited my your prop on the Mini 18. Last one I saw, had the threaded 10X8 prop and I have not been impressed with it's performance.

Just something to think about.

Mag10

iI had the 18hp mini and i believe it will turn an 11x10, the only 3/4-10 prop i have seen is on Ebay from Ron hill. I tried that 10x8 on my 24honda mini and it is a poor performer, even after i had it reworked by a reputable propeller shop.I also saw on the hillmarine website he sells a 9x9 surface prop also. Hopkins will make you a prop like you want but it is $$$$$$$$$$ more. I am about to buy a Ron Hill soon, maybe after holidays and try it out. What i did was have a 12x12 godevil prop machined by machine shop to fit 3/4 shaft. All they done was put a stainless steel allthread in it and then drill and tap it. Costs me $100 for that.

Hey its me the guy with the 18 Vanguard LOL, and the props are mostly 3/4 hex or 7/8 course threaded.

Hey fellas, found a guy by the name of Ryan Kerr, owner of Ryker Racing, with the parts and know how to give the 18 a little more life and still be reliable. Only downside is his shop is in Canada. Anybody know of him or his work? Wanna make sure it's not another Gerker type of deal,...seems to know what's up really well...Here's his reply to my email...
-"Hello Jeff, we build vanguard engines every day and have made as much as 75hp with one of my own personal vanguard small blocks, something like that has one off parts in it made from exotic materials, it can be done but is pretty pricey. Building an engine with a smooth idle and a lot of torque shouldn’t be a problem, most of the power would have to be made in the heads for something like that and that is what we specialize in. Before I give you a price did you want a complete turn key engine? and what year is your 18hp engine? also what fuel will be used? Where are you located? Depending on what you want to spend I would go with the 23hp heads, I have a set here that are in the process of being finished, ported with big supertech undercut stainless valves milled and o-ringed completely assembled with double springs and retainers and I can give you the flow sheets with them. These heads are capable of making up to 68hp. I have my own copper gaskets for the heads as well. An engine with those heads and a near stock cam shaft would be pretty reliable as well as having a lot of torque.
Thanks, Ryan"-
When I spoke with him today he said my 18 could reliably make 50+hp with his above mentioned heads(which flow between 116-119CFM), HD briggs 23 rockers, near stock cam, double barrel intake/carb setup, exhaust, and premium pump gas. Stock short-block minus cam and HD steel push rods. He sent me a video of one of his smaller motors-" Hey Jeff, here is my smallest engine 16hp 31ci short stroke vanguard making close to 70hp. Keep in mind in the video I'm just playing with them, I went fast for a couple laps then backed off again. I'm the blue and orange machine starting at the back."- Yeah I know it's lawn mowers with way less drag than marine applications,...but I think for the money he wants for the parts and labor...$1,000.00+/- and the rig I'm building it would work great. He's also got a 25 kohler makin 110 HP, but on methanol,...Would like to see what this fella can do with a big block. Whadda ya think?

$1000 sounds pretty reasonable considerin stage one for a big block cost that much.

hey keep me posted if u get this guy to do some work for u i would really like to know how it comes out!!!!

Thanks for the correction. A buddy had a 2008 18 mini and it had a threaded 10X8. They must have changed along the way...