Possible new project boat?

[reelfishin]

I looked at another aluminum Starcraft today, while I really wasn't looking for another project, I do like the idea of moving from an 18 to a 22' hull. It's an early 70's 22' cuddy cabin boat with a Merc 140 I/O.
I'm not thrilled about the I/O part however.
I was wondering if anyone has done an I/O to outboard conversion on one of these? I have several appropriate outboards that would work and like the lighter weight of an outboard. The Mercruiser 140 runs and seems fine but like any older I/O, there's bound to be problems, especially after over 30 years in saltwater. It did have a new motor at some point, but the owner can't remember what year it was or what was done. I like the boat, I like the added room, the trailer is near new and the price is right but I'm not sure I want to deal with another I/O powered boat.

 

[oops!]

Re: Possible new project boat?

reel......i would think that a modification like that would be a snap.......the biggest problem would be getting a nice alum extrusion at the transom/upper deck joint......

td has a pick of a ply wood splashwell he made

it would also give you huge room inside the boat.....the equivelint of a 26 footer i/o thats tons of fishin room.....and with a 22 footer.....you might wanna think about twins !

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Possible new project boat?

reel......i would think that a modification like that would be a snap.......the biggest problem would be getting a nice alum extrusion at the transom/upper deck joint......

td has a pick of a ply wood splashwell he made

it would also give you huge room inside the boat.....the equivelint of a 26 footer i/o thats tons of fishin room.....and with a 22 footer.....you might wanna think about twins !

I wouldn't need any extruded pieces at all, I'd leave the transom full height, reinforce the existing transom and fill the hole. The outboard would mount on an external bracket. The interior would be huge, even larger than that of the same size factory O/B boat since there will be no spashwell.
I would build some sort of bench/storage are to hide the transom gusset braces to the stringers though. I was looking at a glass boat that was done this way just recently, the motor plate actually bolted to and over the old outdrive hole.

The boat will be light, so dual motors won't be needed, a good single 150 or so will do fine. I would be tossing the head, all but two seats, most of the cuddy furniture and pads, and even the ice box. I'd open the whole cabing up to one large space. Right now you have to pass by the head and the sink area to get into the cabin. I would venture to guess that the boat itself minus fuel and motor would be in the 1200lb range or less. (My 18' Starchief only weighs in at 980 as an o/b boat).
Besides, with gas in the $4 range, it would only really double the fuel usage unless I went with two small motors. The added cost of the larger motor bracket would also put this project over the top.

My biggest debate now is whether or not I want to deal with a larger boat and more weight, let alone another big project. This boat would mean having to tow and launch a tandem trailer, 22' boat with a Ford Ranger 4 cylinder. Weight wise it could be put on a single axle trailer, but finding one long enough would be tough. I have an appropriate tandem here, but the boat plus the trailer are well out of my towing range, at least at the ramp.

The boat is pretty much a basket case other than the fact that the hull itself it in really nice shape, every last piece of wood is completely rotted, the motor has been sitting out in the weather for 30+ years which is why I lean towards the o/b option. I am also not a fan of having an engine box to step around when fishing.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Possible new project boat?

Did this with an 18' Starcraft Holiday, but built the splashwell etc. I was replacing a Stringer drive so it turns out there was not enough support from the hull to the transom and my hull got hooked to where I think it is unsafe.

I like the idea of the outboard bracket but suggest you plan on a long shaft. My short shaft never did get into the water right and would ventilate real easy.

Make sure there is something supporting the transom in the center of the stern, like on the outboard models. I'd even beef it up with a bracket for every bolt holding the outboard bracket on. Might mean more rivets through the hull, but you are planning on hanging a lot of weight where there was very little. I'm sure that is where I went wrong on mine.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Possible new project boat?

Although I'm still not sure I'll tackle this one, what would need to be done is to reinforce the existing transom, (It's 1.5" thick wood from top to bottom), I'd have to fill the Mercruiser hole, add at least one layer of transom wood, then add bolt through gussets from the bracket bolts down to the stringers. I'd also reinforce the upper transom cap and corners with some under wood support.
A buddy of mine did this to an older glass boat a while back, the result was a super roomy fishing boat thats as strong or stronger than the original craft.

The motor length will depend on the height of the bracket, I'd use a 20" measurement since thats what I have plenty of to choose from.

I talked a guy today that may want to swap the I/O boat hull for an outboard hull a bit newer, so I may not have to deal with the conversion at all. If I can work out a deal like that, I'll pickup the boat and make the swap. The hardest part will be moving it on the rusted out old trailer its on now. A low boy flat bed will be the only option. The first thing I'd have to deal with is the million bees that have made it their home. I just hope the swarm doesn't follow it home.

 

[oops!]

Re: Possible new project boat?

its a tinny....a little bit o gasoline.....and no more bees !


awwww comon go twins reel


what does the new hull look like?

and tack's post about the old hull is a night mare.....("he told me about it")

cant wait to see the proj