79 Crestliner Norseman 22 Cuddy in need of repower

[perigon]

Anyone with good advice on switching out OMC Stringer to Volvo or Mercruiser sterndrives...please pipe up.

I've done a pile of work and just gone backwards. Mostly my own fault as this time I left the plug IN! Working on it in the driveway had plug in so's not to have any fluids drain on to the asphalt...but unfortunately didn't remove it when away on many months expeditions.

For those interested just finished 6+ weeks as Master 500 ton on a 100' great lakes tug, previous to that went Chief Officer on Parks Canada's underwater archeology research vessel David Thompson up to Torngats National Park in Northern Labrador for a 7 week stretch)
Lots of fantastic voyaging, tho the supposedly leisure one at home is anything but leisure

I'm thinking a fairly new version of a 22 footer with cuddy and 200 hp will be anywhere from $30K - $150K soooo it seems to make sense to reload and refresh...though it's going to take about minimum $10 K but then should be shipshape for turnkey operation....too many great boating days and excellent fishing opportunities...

What do you folks think?

Cheers,
Cap'n Bob

 

[zool]

Welcome to Iboat's Capt'n
You will need a new transom core, once that is complete, you will cutout the new template for the drive you choose. In the 90's they standardized the keyhole, before then, templates were specific.

An AQ series VP will be larger than a Merc. Figure out your proposed drivetrain, and rig accordingly.

 

[Scott Danforth]

OMG stringers have a hole big enough to crawl thru

Only way to change is to replace the transom and rebuild

 

[perigon]

Thanks for the input. I was planning on reinforcing the transom, with knee brackets to the stringers.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks for the input. I was planning on reinforcing the transom, with knee brackets to the stringers.

no need. knee braces only needed on outboards

you need to replace the transom with the giant hole and re-fiberglass the aft end of the boat. then you need to repair the rotten stringers you most likely have and run them to the transom

then cut out the proper key-hole, mount the transom shield. install the motor, and align it while its hanging. then you need to build motor support boxes that line up with the new engine mounts of your mercruiser or volvo motor/drive

 

[76SeaRay]

I am still in process doing this exact conversion on my 76 Sea Ray SRV 220 (see profile pic) from original OMC drive with Ford Windsor 351 to Mercruiser drive with GM 5.7L Vortec. As was mentioned above, the OMC is one big hole in the back of the boat. I don't see that there is anyway to "patch" the OMC hole safely. I started by cutting back the floor and stringers back about 10 inches from the transom, removed the transom wood, and replaced the transom. I cut the new key hole for a Mercruiser Alpha One in the new transom.

What I found was that the lower third of the transom wood was rotted and so were the stringers. So, my project has continued after the transom rebuild with removing all the floor and running new stringers from the transom to the bow. I didn't think it was going to be that bad but had my mind prepared for it to be as bad as it was. This is what you may have ahead of you and very likely will with the age of the boat unless you are lucky. You have to love the boat and/or the restoration work to make the change.

 

[perigon]

I am still in process doing this exact conversion on my 76 Sea Ray SRV 220 (see profile pic) from original OMC drive with Ford Windsor 351 to Mercruiser drive with GM 5.7L Vortec. As was mentioned above, the OMC is one big hole in the back of the boat. I don't see that there is anyway to "patch" the OMC hole safely. I started by cutting back the floor and stringers back about 10 inches from the transom, removed the transom wood, and replaced the transom. I cut the new key hole for a Mercruiser Alpha One in the new transom.

What I found was that the lower third of the transom wood was rotted and so were the stringers. So, my project has continued after the transom rebuild with removing all the floor and running new stringers from the transom to the bow. I didn't think it was going to be that bad but had my mind prepared for it to be as bad as it was. This is what you may have ahead of you and very likely will with the age of the boat unless you are lucky. You have to love the boat and/or the restoration work to make the change.

Well one thing is on this model, and I think all Crestliners, is that the stringers are welded aluminum

 

[76SeaRay]

That sounds good but you might want to check for corrosion then.

 

[kenny nunez]

I remember working on one of those years ago. All you need to do is make the transom 2” thick and weld up the hole. If your OMC drive was the high profile model you will have to lower the stringers 4”, if it was a low profile you are in good shape already. Try to post some pictures of the out drive and engine. It is most likely to be a low profile style, what engine is in the boat,Ford or Chevrolet?

 

[KJM]

Anyone with good advice on switching out OMC Stringer to Volvo or Mercruiser sterndrives...please pipe up.

I've done a pile of work and just gone backwards. Mostly my own fault as this time I left the plug IN! Working on it in the driveway had plug in so's not to have any fluids drain on to the asphalt...but unfortunately didn't remove it when away on many months expeditions.

For those interested just finished 6+ weeks as Master 500 ton on a 100' great lakes tug, previous to that went Chief Officer on Parks Canada's underwater archeology research vessel David Thompson up to Torngats National Park in Northern Labrador for a 7 week stretch)
Lots of fantastic voyaging, tho the supposedly leisure one at home is anything but leisure

I'm thinking a fairly new version of a 22 footer with cuddy and 200 hp will be anywhere from $30K - $150K soooo it seems to make sense to reload and refresh...though it's going to take about minimum $10 K but then should be shipshape for turnkey operation....too many great boating days and excellent fishing opportunities...

What do you folks think?

Cheers,
Cap'n Bob

Find anything interesting up in the Torngats?