I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

Yes, then, it has the alternator conversion. I've got it at a mechanic right now, who is replacing the cables and servicing the outdrive. I wish I were a little handier in regard to such things.<br /><br />When it comes back, if it's running pretty good, I'll play with it a few months. I may make it a winter project to convert to the 4" heat exchanger. The whole heat exchanger concept is alien to me. I don't understand why they don't just use the external water for the whole cooling job, like outboards, but I'm sure there is a good reason.<br /><br />JasonJ, I really like what you did in the front of your boat. I'm thinking of something similar, with a removeable casting deck, in the front of mine. I fish more than people ride up there, but if the casting deck part were removeable, people could still ride up there. First things first, get it running, then modify it for my family.<br /><br />I wish I'd found this website before I bought the new boat, I'd have probably kept the old one and fixed it up to suit my families needs. The 18' tri-hull deck boat was really a better family boat for us, but I didn't know how to fix it up like we wanted it.

 

[DJ]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

hayhauler,<br /><br />The heat exchanger is no different than the radiator on your car. Except, it uses raw (lake/sea) water to cool the radiator instead of air.<br /><br />It makes for a much more efficient engine because it can run at a consistant and higher temperature. The consistant temp was very important to the Merc engineers because of the aluminum block and cast iron head. Also, corrosion from unknown water quality could play havoc with that set up.<br /><br />Many I/O owners wish they had "closed" systems such as yours. Don't fight it, love it.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

It will literally take minutes to swap the exchangers. All you are doing is unhooking some hoses, removing the exchanger and bracket, and attaching the new unit. I could do the swap in less than an hour, so it really won't be much of a "winter" project, but seeing as it is a boat, you will surely find other things to do to it during the winter months.<br /><br />As for the casting deck, my original plan was to keep my bow seating, and build a quick-release removable section that would affix in the center void. It would have had the pedestal seat socket and all of that, but I started doing the math and prefered the thought of just bolting a platform in place to cover the entire section. It has worked well as both the casting deck and a sundeck as well. I have no regrets...

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

Thanks again. The prior owner had built something that bolted into the middle, between the seats in the bow, it had a pedestal seat socket, but it was not removeable and replaceable. I'd like to do something there that I could remove when I've got people wanting to ride in the bow riding section.<br /><br />I said I wished I'd kept the old boat, but if people are right about the fuel efficiency of the 470 I'm sure I'll prefer that to the OB fuel economy.