Converting from stern drive to outboards

[Ice Water]

I have a 1977 Sea Ray 22 foot SRV. At present it has a 888 stern drive. With no service or parts advailable within 1000 miles I'm considering removing the stern drive and installing twin 90 hp outboards on a steel sea mount.<br />My question is does anyone see any problems with this idea and would twin 90's be eough power?

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Converting from stern drive to outboards

I see this done fairly often, although I have no experience with it myself. Most of the conversions I see have fiberglass brackets, but even with a steel bracket, your net weight should be significantly less than the I/O.<br />I'll leave it for someone else to figure out if your HP is enough, but I run a 23' 5000+/- boat very nicely with a 200 hp OB.

 

[JerseyJim]

Re: Converting from stern drive to outboards

i have seen this done often enough as of late myself.... We considered it on our last boat when the 4.3L mercruiser went south, and we had spend 10 solid years rigging the boat the way we wanted it. <br /><br />In the end it was MORE in cost than repowering with an IO if you go with a new motor/motors in the back. <br /><br />I figure a quality bracket will run you $1000. Re-fibering the transom and making a storage locker out of the engine compartment weill probably run you another $2000. Labor for installation, steering, controls and new motors will probably be close to $10,000 for new twin 90s... We had figured on $8000 or so for a new 150.<br /><br />Repowering your IO might be an affordable option. personally i hate them, as they are heavy and very high maintence.<br /><br />after all that you are already into the price range for a 5-10 year old outboard boat... 13k will get you a hell of a lot from someone looking to get out of a newer boat fast...

 

[JerseyJim]

Re: Converting from stern drive to outboards

i forgot to post the moral of my story anyway:<br /><br />1991 galaxy 22'8" walkaround with a 4.3l merc freshwater cooled and load rite trailer ... book value about $7,000 with a working engine. The engine block cracked over the winter. We finally found a guy who had a shop and a donor boat/engine (someone cracked up a boat by hitting a bouy...boat totalled, engine ok). he paid us $2200 for the boat.<br /><br />We put that money towards the latest money pit, an older outboard CC aquasport. <br /><br />i hope it doesnt sink on its maiden voyage tomorrow... thats all I have to say