Hello All,
I bought a 1983 Thundercraft Citizen with a OMC 3.0 with a Stringer outdrive. I have completely redone the deck, stringers, transom and glass the whole thing. I found that the outdrive is blown and finding a replacement is next to impossible. I bought the boat and trailer for $500 and the cost of redoing all the wood.
I have been strongly debating on junking the boat and trying to part the engine and the trailer to try to compensate my lose.
I have done a lot of work and learned a lot on this project but got a tad screwed on the engine and outboard due to not knowing.
What could I do if I don't junk this boat? I have read about converting it to an outboard engine but that involves rebuilding the transom, or patching enough of the transom to strengthen the old outboard hole. ( no problem doing that) But read doing that can jeopardize the boat performance and safety. Has anyone done this and how do you feel about going that route? I could slap on pretty much any outboard motor and make it work couldn't I? I know that would be work but willing to do it.
I have even thought about putting a different inboard engine and stern but worry about the motor support not being correct in dimensions.
I am looking for opinions on this and what I should do.
Thanks for your time on reading this.
I bought a 1983 Thundercraft Citizen with a OMC 3.0 with a Stringer outdrive. I have completely redone the deck, stringers, transom and glass the whole thing. I found that the outdrive is blown and finding a replacement is next to impossible. I bought the boat and trailer for $500 and the cost of redoing all the wood.
I have been strongly debating on junking the boat and trying to part the engine and the trailer to try to compensate my lose.
I have done a lot of work and learned a lot on this project but got a tad screwed on the engine and outboard due to not knowing.
What could I do if I don't junk this boat? I have read about converting it to an outboard engine but that involves rebuilding the transom, or patching enough of the transom to strengthen the old outboard hole. ( no problem doing that) But read doing that can jeopardize the boat performance and safety. Has anyone done this and how do you feel about going that route? I could slap on pretty much any outboard motor and make it work couldn't I? I know that would be work but willing to do it.
I have even thought about putting a different inboard engine and stern but worry about the motor support not being correct in dimensions.
I am looking for opinions on this and what I should do.
Thanks for your time on reading this.