1968 bertram 25 flybridge

[freedive]

doing a total restore on this boat . took out the engines and drive units the outdrives are mercruiser . one is an alpha gen1 the other is an alpha gen2 . transom plate and gimbal assy. are 100% off and apart i'm repainting it all . my question is , i'm using through hull raw water pickup for cooling i'll be putting a block off plate kit on the gimbal housings . can i delete the outdrive water pump and the rest of the hoses , plumbing up to the gimbal housing . the gen 1 assembly is being replaced with a gen 2 assembly . the engines that will go back in are steyr 164 diesels ,thats why i need through hull raw water for cooling .

 

[GA_Boater]

Your project is not complete and the questions are about the outdrive. The thread is moved.

We don't have many Bertram restores. You should to start a resto thread in the Resto section.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you still need to cool the drives

 

[kenny nunez]

The best thing to do is to connect the incoming water from the drives to the incoming water from the hull pickups. Mercruiser recommends this arrangement. Especially if the exhaust is routed through the drives. IF the boat is out the water then a drive flush out will be enough to run the engines.

 

[freedive]

so what you are saying , is the outdrive water has to be tee taped into the through hull pickup ?

 

[freedive]

when i pulled this mess apart , i noticed in the gimbal housings the water hose was plugged with a chunk of rusty steel . would this cause an outdrive to self destruct ? the previous owner had told me he blew up the one gen 1 outdrive , they replaced that unit with a gen 2 .

 

[kenny nunez]

Very possible if the exhaust was going through the drive. All the water going through the drive was hot. While the lower was in the water the upper was roasting.

 

[freedive]

yes the exhaust was out through the drive . i think the marina that installed these diesels just didn't know what they were doing .

 

[tank1949]

doing a total restore on this boat . took out the engines and drive units the outdrives are mercruiser . one is an alpha gen1 the other is an alpha gen2 . transom plate and gimbal assy. are 100% off and apart i'm repainting it all . my question is , i'm using through hull raw water pickup for cooling i'll be putting a block off plate kit on the gimbal housings . can i delete the outdrive water pump and the rest of the hoses , plumbing up to the gimbal housing . the gen 1 assembly is being replaced with a gen 2 assembly . the engines that will go back in are steyr 164 diesels ,thats why i need through hull raw water for cooling .

Diesels on MC ODs? I didn't think that they could handle the torque???? News to me.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Diesels on MC ODs? I didn't think that they could handle the torque???? News to me.....

Good point. Even CMD paired the bravo up with the baby diesels. With low enough output, the A1G2 should suffice. Will need an elastic drive plate

 

[freedive]

i checked the merk outdrive specs. , and kiekhaefer mercury says yes for diesel application on the alpha gen 2 outdrive

 

[Scott Danforth]

i checked the merk outdrive specs. , and kiekhaefer mercury says yes for diesel application on the alpha gen 2 outdrive

I would like to see those specs.

 

[achris]

the previous owner had told me he blew up the one gen 1 outdrive , they replaced that unit with a gen 2 .

How? You can't just bolt a Gen II drive to an Alpha One bell housing. Doesn't fit. Some 'modifications' have been made, and that will present problems down the track.

Chris.....

 

[freedive]

yes i know that . i purchased a used one on ebay for $350 , from the inner transom plate , through the bell housing . tore it all apart and is ready to be painted like the other one i did . ive already drilled out the 2 holes needed in the transom for the top of the gimbal housing and now fits on the transom perfectly . i'm getting ready to start assembling them , but don't know to much about mercruiser outdrives , thats why i need to ask questions . i've had and designed and built boats since i was 12 , now im 75 i'm an FOG .built drag boats ,1 SK hull (135in the 1/4) , 2 flat bottom ( 170 in the 1/4 ) all 3 used cassal V drives out board and inboard boats , 72 31" bertram FB sport fisher , 70 28" bertram FB sport fisher . 24" seabird twin i/o and a couple others . i just don't know anything about mercruiser outdrives . im in the dark with mercruiser and have to get a lot of answers . doing a lot of research on line

 

[freedive]

I found someone to give ma an answer on the plumbing problem . outdrive pump has to remain to cool the outdrive . where the exits the bell housing , in the gimbal housing put a 90 degree hose on the bell housing cooling nipple and direct it down and out near shifter shaft

 

[Scott Danforth]

I found someone to give ma an answer on the plumbing problem . outdrive pump has to remain to cool the outdrive .

covered in post #3, 4, and 7

 

[freedive]

yes but it does not have to go into the boat through the gimbal housing and tee into the raw water pickup for the engines . im going to try this way and let it run out alongside shifting shaft , on the right side ok the bell housing . you guys are rite , it does need that water flow , it just has to be redirected with the block off on the gimbal housing . thanks again guys for your help with this small problem of mine

 

[freedive]

here is where i found the spec for an alpha gen 2 outdrive beeing able to handle diesel engines up to 150 HP and its a mercury site attached below

 

[tank1949]

here is where i found the spec for an alpha gen 2 outdrive beeing able to handle diesel engines up to 150 HP and its a mercury site attached below

Amazing! 150 diesel HP is a bunch!