Big Queston

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Ok guys, what do ya think of this boat for parts for the price? No motor but it does have a 2nd Gen Mercruiser Alpha One Outdrive with a nice BIG good prop. And I am thinking that I could get a few other items off of it like the trim/tilt units since mine is shot. Maybe the bow rails as well would work good on the Islander. Just a few thoughts that I thought I would throw out at you guys and see what you thought?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Big Queston

Did you forget a link?

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Well see what happens when you are running on 4 hours sleep for 3 days. What, you are not a mind reader or what? Man this bites, I thought I had it in the post when I closed it and even read the post and well duhhhh.:redface:
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/boa/2063986163.html

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Big Queston

Keep in mind, when going to a generation 2, there is more to the conversion. That is a good looking outdrive though. And everything is there for the conversion.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Well how big of a job would it be if I was to go the route of the new outdrive. Was kind of thinking that it would just be a plug and play type of thing, but then I was doing my own thinking as well. Have been told that is not a good idea and always get myself into trouble that way.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Big Queston

You would be better off asking in the I/O forum. But I believe you would have to change the transom ring and all of the accessories on the inside of the transom. But it is doable and from the pics you have everything there that you would need at a decent price. If the engine you currently have turns out to be good, you could even reuse it with the correct flywheel combination.
If it was me, I would do it. At least you would then be able to use more modern parts from then on.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Ok, will post some questons in the I/O forum and see what they have to say there. I was thinking about it for the same reason, it is newer and easier to get parts for as well.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Well I did not really see any help from the I/O forum, they just said that I could do it is all. Not sure as to how hard it would be to put that newer outdrive in my old tub. Just dont know if it is something that I could do or not, this is really my first boat and have never taken on something like this.

 

[barato]

Re: Big Queston

Kelly, i'm in the same boat as you in terms of never having replaced an Od before. my concern would be compatibility of ALL the parts between your gimbal housing, flex drive, engine and OD. i think you'd be better off to find a complete boat you could pull all parts from so you KNOW they will all talk to each other.

if you do that, the only hurdles i see are 1. cutting the transom hole larger (use the gasket from donor for template, shouldn't be too tough); 2. aligning motor to outdrive....from what i can gather from reading about it, this is similar to aligning the clutch assy when doing a clutch on a car and not too tough cept for anteing up the $75+ for tool (i'm gonna see if i can rent one from someone locally); and 3. interfacing the wiring harness between the motor harness and the boat harness (shouldn't be insurmountable with a multimeter and some patience).

FWIW, i've had same feeling abt the I/O forum....not the caring "want to help" sort of folks we have here in the 'mada. oh well.....since the days of Don Quixote and later the Wiz, the tin men have been the good guys.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Kelly, i'm in the same boat as you in terms of never having replaced an Od before. my concern would be compatibility of ALL the parts between your gimbal housing, flex drive, engine and OD. i think you'd be better off to find a complete boat you could pull all parts from so you KNOW they will all talk to each other.

The add is for the whole boat for $500, maybe even less if I can talk him down. It is for the boat and trailer, just the engine is bad in it and it is a 4 cylinder which I just happen to have in my boat now. Just don't know if it runs just yet.

if you do that, the only hurdles i see are 1. cutting the transom hole larger (use the gasket from donor for template, shouldn't be too tough); 2. aligning motor to outdrive....from what i can gather from reading about it, this is similar to aligning the clutch assy when doing a clutch on a car and not too tough cept for anteing up the $75+ for tool (i'm gonna see if i can rent one from someone locally); and 3. interfacing the wiring harness between the motor harness and the boat harness (shouldn't be insurmountable with a multimeter and some patience).

Yea that is the part that worried me is cutting a bigger hole in the transom as I have no freaking idea what I am doing in that respect. Not to worried about aligning the engine, that looks pretty staight forward and am hoping that it is not to hard to do. I may buy an alignment tool so I have one or I may borrow a friends. Wiring should not be an issue with me either, at least I hope not. I am good at wiring as that is part of my job as a field service engineer. Work and trouble shoot mulit million dollar equipment. So I have very good knowledge of a multimeter and how DC voltage works.

FWIW, i've had same feeling abt the I/O forum....not the caring "want to help" sort of folks we have here in the 'mada. oh well.....since the days of Don Quixote and later the Wiz, the tin men have been the good guys.

Yea it does not seem like that really want to help at times. I think that it depends on what the project is. I know when I did say something about my 67 boat when I first got it someone made the comment I should take it out and sink it and not mess with something that old.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Big Queston

Well I did not really see any help from the I/O forum, they just said that I could do it is all. Not sure as to how hard it would be to put that newer outdrive in my old tub. Just dont know if it is something that I could do or not, this is really my first boat and have never taken on something like this.

Alot of the guys over there are more interested in padding there post count than actually helping somebody. There are a few good ones though. Bond-o and Don S are about the best for help, but you have to be pretty specific on your questions. They are not much for chit chat and long explainations. I think alot of your answers are over there if you read through all the sticky's. Thats a good idea anyways before asking questions. They get a little irritated if you ask a question and the answer is already in the sticky's.
I would look for the dimensions of the gimbal ring with the transom bolt spacing or the gasket part #'s. Maybe the newer one will bolt right to the transom? In your post in the I/O forum, Bond-o mentioned that it looks like a Alpha and not a generation 2. I can't tell the difference from a pic, but he probably could. If that turns out to be true, that might be a good thing. Easier conversion with the benefit of modern parts and your existing lower unit is usable as a spare. I think.
Let us know what you find, I have been contemplating this conversion myself too.
If you have access to a lathe, you can make your own alignment tool. I made mine with this.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Bond-o mentioned that it looks like a Alpha and not a generation 2. I can't tell the difference from a pic, but he probably could. If that turns out to be true, that might be a good thing. Easier conversion with the benefit of modern parts and your existing lower unit is usable as a spare. I think.

Yes Bond-o did say that and I do believe he is a good person as well as Don S, they seem to know what they are doing as I have read thier posts before and was quit pleased with the info that they had for that person. And from what I have read you are right in that the lower that I have now would fit and that would be way cool. I had to haul gravel today for a buddy so am going to try and go check out the boat tomorrow if it is not to far away. The ad says south west washington and that could be anywhere. As for the alignment tool, I don't have access to a lathe, wish I did though. Then I would prolly be making all kinds of things I don't need.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Big Queston

Kelley Have you ever priced a Stern Bracket in your area?? You can see why I no longer have any boats with OLDER Inboard and outdrives. To costly and so much down time A guy has to be able to use his boat once in a while. 1-- 150 hp outboard is all you would need for your boat, Trust me. Plus added room inside your boat. My friend two blocks from me has a 19 Islander with a 120 OB and it is safe and moves his boat very well .even loaded.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Kelley Have you ever priced a Stern Bracket in your area?? You can see why I no longer have any boats with OLDER Inboard and outdrives. To costly and so much down time A guy has to be able to use his boat once in a while. 1-- 150 hp outboard is all you would need for your boat, Trust me. Plus added room inside your boat. My friend two blocks from me has a 19 Islander with a 120 OB and it is safe and moves his boat very well .even loaded.

The only info I could find on stern brackets were on the net and it was $1200 I believe. Then have to have it installed if it requires welding, then you have to get an OB which is not cheap either. So am guessing that it would cost me in the neighborhood of at least 4K to do it. Just seems a lot for going this route but would be cool as well.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Big Queston

As you know, I'm not an I/O fan. However, you're in the same situation Jas was in only you're further ahead because you at least have a complete Mercruiser system where he had a beat up old OMC. Even in his case I voted to stick with the I/O as the more reasonably priced option. I think your $4k estimate for the outboard conversion is probably very close to reality. I don't think you'll need to drop anywhere near that to get that boat going with an I/O.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Big Queston

Yah, it's a tough call bro. If you take a look at the front part of my thread you'll see how much I wrestled with that decision.

In the end, for me, finding that 4.3 V6 in that sacrificial Baja for a steal of a deal dictated my decision. I am glad I grabbed that as I haven't seen nearly as good of a deal since I found that one.

If I had the cash I would have surely gone the OB on a bracket route. The $4 to $5 K initial investment really didn't (doesn't) make a lot of sense for me.

For half that cost (or maybe less even) I bet you can pick up a complete, decent running V6 or I6 or 3.0 in a trashed glasser.

It is a tough call for sure though.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Yea I agree that staying with the I/O is the most practical at this point. Was just wondering how hard it would be to put that different outdrive in my boat. The sacrificial boat I found has a bad engine but the outdrive is supposed to be good and is also newer than the one that is already on my boat. It also has better trim system than mine does, which is pretty sad since both rams are bad and betting pump is as well. It also has some fairly nice bow rails that would also fit as mine does not have any. There are also some other things that may fit as well. It is a glass starcraft with an Alpha 1 outdrive and Bond-o said it was not a gen 2 though, just from looking at the pics. Can get whole boat adn trailer for max $500 and maybe even talk him down. I have no idea the difference other than one is newer than the other. Just did not know if it would be a big thing to transplant outdrive parts or not. Like I said I have no idea how to go about all this. I am willing to try about anything as long as I have a good idea as to what to do. I am very mechanically inclined but have not done anything that would require rebuilding something like this. The transom would not be a big deal if it was just to copy the old one to a new one, but to completely redo one like Jason has done. Well just not sure I could do that, kind of scarey for me to take that much on.
And just in case anyone wants to check out the add again, here it is.
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/boa/2063986163.html

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

But I do think that putting an OB bracket on it would be cool as all get out. But it is not going to happen any time soon. Hmmmmm dual 100's or 150's in it would be the bomb that is for sure. Maybe bigger and get me a go fast that is a fisher

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Big Queston

OK Kelly, remind me where we are at with your motor?? Have ya got that up and running yet? Running well?

I think that might be the first step if ya haven't yet crossed that bridge.

Rock on!

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

OK Kelly, remind me where we are at with your motor?? Have ya got that up and running yet? Running well?

I think that might be the first step if ya haven't yet crossed that bridge.

Rock on!

Have not been able to get to the motor to try and start or do a compression test. Yes I agree that the motor needs the attention but when I found the boat with the outdrive was just trying to think ahead. But after thinking I should really get to the motor to see if I really need to replace it or not. If so then try and find a whole boat with the stuff that I need. Thinking that I am getting ahead of myslef as usual.