[Brian Belcher]

Howdy everyone,
Brian Belcher here and if one more neighbor ask "Permission to come aboard?", I'm going to shoot them between the eyes.
Just bought a 97 Z276 w/7.4 & Bravo III. Wasn't really expecting to buy this particular boat but the Lord seems to have lead us to it. It is in awesome condition for ANY boat over 5 yrs old. Generator, A/C, water heater, flat screens, etc etc. haven't had it on the water yet but we (wife and grandkids) are already having fun with it sitting in the (entire) driveway.
So, since 1980, I've been into taking Jeeps up every rocky crag I could find. We call ourselves rock crawlers and our machines never see mud, yuk, and cost over $100k.
Mine was a 2000 Jeep that I bought brand new and after SEVERAL thousands of dollars, I could get up and over a 10', solid rock wall. Drive over boulders the size of our boats. No kidding.
17 yrs with that one. Loved that Jeep but too many issues prevented me from enjoying the sport anymore. I've some very serious back and neck issues, fused over five discs and I was having to get so doped up to get past the pain, it wasn't fun. Couldn't take grandkids due to my impairments AND the danger of the sport is starting to get out of hand.
So.....
I sold everything. To buy a trouble free boat !!
First and far most, this boat is to give me and my wife, some us time. Second, it is to get the family together in safer world and have fun.
I'll blow up this site with questions BUT, I'm pretty savvy with engines. So, if you answer my questions, I can help y'all if cam ramp angles or is FAST system good or not.

[ShabahZ280]

Congrats and welcome to the MOC family! The Z276 will be a great boat for you. I've got the Z280, which is what renamed the Z276 to in '98. Sounds like our boats are similarly equipped too, you'll love it. So if you've got any model specific questions, feel free to post them in the "Original Mariah Talk" section and myself or Hudson River Steve, or any of our other Z276/Z280 owners (in addition to all the other Mariah owners!) can help you out! You'll find with over 11,900 members, we've got some really helpful people and knowledgeable around the site.

Ironically, I came from the Jeep world too. Had a '95 YJ sitting on 35's, SOA, 8.8/D44 combo, ARB's, the whole deal. Used to be involved with NEUROC and EROCC competitions back in the day. I sold mine back in 2006 to buy my old Z250, traded it back in 2012, for the Z280 and haven't turned back to the Jeep world since.

[Brian Belcher]

Mine was full caged chassis on Dana70HD's and 43"SX stickies. I may have already said that but I was proud of that thing. But, broke back, broke neck and broke attitude from the recklessness of my sport has forced my hand.
Taking the boat out Satirday for a full shake down. If all systems check out, wife and I and two Weinmariners are going to stay the night. Letting her decorate it how ever she wants just so long as I don't get questions about 1.7 roller rockers and FAST fuel injection set up. She's asked how much for stuff and I just reply it's cheaper than two ARB's. She understands that !