I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Airex PCX and straight fiberglass panels (even available from McMaster Carr) let me hit up the laminate guys next door when they get in
 

tpenfield

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@Scott Danforth . . . thank you for any information/ideas that you can provide.

Not withstanding further discussion after the design review . . .

I did find a poly-based fiberglass panel called GPO-3. I'm thinking the aspect of compression and tensile strength are what matters (?) :unsure: . . . G10 being the best by far. Here is a quick summary of the tech. data I've compiled:
  • G10: 38,000 psi Tensile, 65,000 psi compression
  • GPO-3: 7,800 psi Tensile, 33,100 psi comp.
  • Airex PCX 420 (26 lb): 846 psi Tensile, 1,338 comp.
  • Coosa BW26: 549 psi Tensile, 1,015 psi comp.
I can see why the N.A. is not so keen on the Coosa alone for the transom core in this application.
 

Scott Danforth

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Aqua Steel and Whale Board are the VE resin compatible material. getting the material data sheets sent to me.


 

tpenfield

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Quick Update . . .

I got a quote on the Suzuki 300's yesterday :oops: . . . Just wondering if some of the the outboard suppliers are seeing a soft(er) market ? . . . (@Scott Danforth - any industry scuttlebutt on that ?)

Also wondering how many times I have to tell the re-power shops "30 Inch shafts" . . . :rolleyes:

In other news, the Admiral and I had not gone (snow) skiing since before Covid (nearly 7 years). We survived a day of skiing with friends yesterday. :cool: . . . . I didn't want to fall & hurt myself, as that may have put quite a delay to the project. I'll have about 5 days to work on the boat, then we are off to CA for about 1 week. Project/life balance . . . I guess. :p
 

tpenfield

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10˚F this morning on Cape Cod . . . :oops:

Forecast for Sunday-Monday . . . :rolleyes:
Screenshot 2026-01-24 at 3.49.11 AM.png
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I started up the generator yesterday to make sure it will run if needed. I might have to get the larger snowblower ready for action. :unsure:

It is 55˚F in my 'shop', so I'll have to run some heat 🔥 into the bracket area to get the fiberglass to cure.
 

Pmt133

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Weather station on my plant says 9F. Snow totals look similar though I'll believe wjat they say when its over. Did the oil change in the genny and everything thursday night.

Stay warm sir
 

Lou C

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We are at 10* also on Long Island. Here’s a tip about generators at least the portable style….when you run them to see if they will start plug in a load to them like a hairdryer to make sure they will produce current. These depend on residual magnetism to make AC current and if not run with a load on them it can be a problem, apparently because the magnetism dissipates over time. There’s a way around that though see James Condon you tube channel he explains it really well. So once a month I borrow my wife’s hairdryer lol. Briggs & Stratton 5,000 watt unit. I bought a bunch of 94 octane ethanol free gas and mixed up sone 2 cycle fuel for the snow blower. We are supposed to get 10-14”. Hopefully no ice.
 

Lou C

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Going to hit near 78 today at Blue Springs state park.
It's times like this that I feel like I've reached the end of the rope for me as far as living in NY. If my son and daughter in law come to that conclusion, we're out of here! Life is too short especially now for putting up with 4 months of cold weather.
 
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