Boeing really needs the work, but a 737 based maritime patrol aircraft is just stupid. Too fast, too high, with no loiter time on station. When you are using planes to track ships, low and slow is the way to go...
When SURTASS LFA is perfectly capable of pinpointing the subs, then you really don't need that much loiter time... in that case, speed become more important.
The 37 is a great plane, but with 4000 hrs in P-3's, mostly in the vast western pacific, I say give me 4 engines baby! Get 1500 miles out in westpac in a 737 and lose an engine and you're gonna have a looooong flight home!
yup, the loiter time on the P3 is really astonishing.
The folks who chose I'm sure also had your concerns but it seems Boeing answered their concerns successfully. These people are not stupid. Btw, I read an article way back where Boeing showed these folks at the pentagon that the 737 can indeed fly very low and slow to match the P-3.