jet drive coversion to stern drive is this possible

[VISH136]

can anyone tell me if i can convert a jet drive to a stern drive?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: jet drive coversion to stern drive is this possible

Howdy,


With enough money, anything's possible.

It would probably entail replacing the transom and rebuilding/installing stringer type engine mounts.


You need to have a look at an installation manual to get all the dimensions and mount instructions.... "X" dimension etc....

It probably could be done. being worth it will probably be up to you.


It's probably cheaper to just find a boat set up the way you like it...


Regards,


Rick

 

[carcraze]

Re: jet drive coversion to stern drive is this possible

I did a jet to I/O conversion, had a older 70's Sleekcraft with a 429 ford on a jacuzzi drive. It was very inefficent and the jacuzzi parts were hard to find.

I found a donor boat that had been run into a barge the 302 Ford in it was seized but all the outdrive parts were good and the marine equipment on the motor was good. Built a 351 for it and dropped that in.

I had to use marine ply and glass in an inner transom in it as a jet does not really have one. As well glass in and reinforce the area the jet came out of. Once all that was done I cut the transom from the donor boat and used that as the template for the drive cut and there verified the install heights to the corrent dimensions.

THe stringers in it were good but I had to add motor boxes as the originals were too wide for the 351 mounts.

It was a good boat after all that ran well, but took a while to do and I would not even think about it without a donor boat.

Good luck

 

[jtmarten]

Re: jet drive coversion to stern drive is this possible

Why Why Why???

Feel left out since your yearly maint takes, what, 5min instead of hours and hours???

Tired of trimming up and spraying the lake lice when they get too close to you??

I know ... tired of not telling the "I smashed another prop on the rocks" stories??

I seriously miss my jet, wish the Nova II had twin jets instead of props.

You'll have to consider the pad at the back of the hull. They're designed differently for jets vs. stern drives. The hull may not handle/ride well after the swap. The swap can be done, but will not likely be cost efficient (especially when you figure in your time). If you have an obsolete pump, it would be easier and cheaper to convert to a Berkley.

 

[GeorgiaDave]

Re: jet drive coversion to stern drive is this possible

Intersting - with all the issues I've had over the last few years fishing the flats in the Gulf, I have been seriously considering swapping my I/O for a jet. The engine issues are a bit of a holdup, but supposedly (waiting for a callback right now) there are kits that can be purchased to allow the jet to be mounted pretty much be completely off the back of the transom.

Having never run a jet before other than PW's, I've heard good and bad. I'll be interested in seeing how this thread progresses.

VISH136, maybe we could work out a swap?!

 

[carcraze]

Re: jet drive coversion to stern drive is this possible

There is good and bad, I have had a couple jets. My 21 sleekcraft with the 455 Olds was pretty fun to kick around. The 25 with the 429 was using fuel like no tomorrow. After the conversion I ran faster and used less fuel, no bad habits in that hull after the conversion.

Again both of these had old jacuzzi drives and the 25' was shot, it was easier at the time, for me to go I/O. When I priced going to a newer jet it was more costly than the conversion I did (not factoring in my hours and hours of labor), again I had a 500.00 door boat, and the 429 was traded for the 351.

But the 21' that I kept a jet was a blast, I could run really shallow, hardly any problems with anything, had to replace one alum manifold and it always ran.

Pick your evils.