New Arrivals — Big changes aboard the 1977 Uniflite 54 Check Out included removal of old controls and gauges to make room for new Mathers electronic controls and electronic instrumentation (top left).

New Cummins QSM 11 electronically controlled diesels (top right) were installed, along with new 9 kw Onan EQD electronically controlled gensets (bottom right).

     The old engines, a pair of 420 hp Cummins BT 903 diesels, did the job admirably for more than 20 years. However, emerging technology had passed them by — in terms of reliability, fuel economy and performance efficiency.
     Check Out’s owner turned to Cap Sante Marine in Anacortes, Washington to tackle the repower — but there ended up being a lot more to the job than changing the engines. Mark Hanger, who is now facilities manager at Cap Sante’s

Check Out, is a 1977 Uniflite 54-footer. The boat was originally a 48 foot cockpit sportfisher, but it had been given a hull extension several years earlier. It met the owner’s cruising needs in most respects — but down in the engine room, it was beginning to show its age.
      Check Out was no lightweight, weighing in at around 66,000 pounds. It took a lot of power to push this cruiser to a top speed of around 22 knots and a cruising speed of around 16 knots.