I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

[snapperbait]

Anyone here ever do, or take part in, an outboard to straight shaft inboard swap?<br /><br />Here's the details.. Got me a little old 19' Mako c/c for little more than a song and a dance.. She's a total basket case... Completely gutted, so the slate is clean for whatever I can dream up...<br /><br />Started looking around here and realized that I have quite a few inboard "goodies" laying around collecting dust (engine, transmission, ect., even a v-drive).. Well, with my absolute disgust for outboards, the gears in my head started turning... Hummmm? Could I make it all work?... Could I convert and outboard boat to a straight inboard? Could I make it all "fly"? What about moving all that weight around and re-distributing it? <br /><br />Any and all thoughts greatly appriciated..

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

Commander Snapper,<br /><br />I'm sure it can be done. Anything is possible if one sets their mind to it and thinks each and every detail out.<br /><br />I first would do some research and find out other boats of similar layout that has an inboard. This might help aid you in figuring out your weight distribution and the horsepower that you will require.<br /><br />Keep in mind that your draft will limit you to shallow water areas. Inboards are not as forgiving as I/0's and outboards in shallow water.<br /><br />Good Luck, Keep us posted if you do follow through with the project. Sounds interesting.

 

[Bondo]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

Anything is possible if one sets their mind to it and thinks each and every detail out.<br />

I Agree.......<br />But,<br />What about the Differences in Bottom Design ?????<br />You Won't have the Pocket in the bottom, for the underwater gear......<br /><br />How about a Surface Drive, Sticking Straight Out the Back ??????

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

Bondo, anything is possible with a chainsaw to aid in a new design. The question is "How much work does Snapperbait want to do?"<br /><br />I think maybe two PWC engines/pumps would be cool to play with. Could be less work.<br /><br />I do agree that it would be the design of the bottom that would limit his decesion on converting to an inboard.

 

[Terry H]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

I think a Hamilton Jet hooked to a 454civ8 would be cool...

 

[flashback]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

Yea snap, do it like those river boats over in thailand. just a big v8 mounted on a u-joint with a tiller handle.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

A jet probably would be the easiest to retrofit. I would think the best idea would be to sell it and buy an inboard hull. Anything's possible - I'm currently looking for a good classic convertable to turn into a boat.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

I'm thinking a v-drive, with a very flat angle on the propshaft, to get some weight back aft... <br /><br />Don't need a "pocket" for an inboard, plus the boat already has a very shallow draft (8" at transom, 12" mid ship) so a pocket might cause problems... The boat actually has a very similar hull design to some other inboards i've had... Deep V entry with about 10 degrees of deadrise at the transom..<br /><br />Jet's out of the question...<br /><br />Well.. Out with the tape measure...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

Snapper, Are you concerned about how much space you will "Lose" to the inboard motor? It would seem to me in that boat you will have a motorbox that will use up a whole lot of space. Also, how about the weight differential between a 150 HP outboard or a V-6 inboard?

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

Not worried about loosing space... The engine would be inside the center console as it is on my 21' inboard c/c... The space and fishability you gain by not having that big outboard and splashwell on the transom is worth the effort, so as far as a loss of space, it's a wash... True, it does take a great deal of planning to gain back some useable storage space, but I've done a complete refit on my other inboard boat, so i've got a better grasp on it now.. <br /><br />The weight... Not worried about the extra 300-500 lbs at all... The inboard sits low in the hull so the center of gravity, being lower than the same boat with an outboard, creates a more stable boat...<br /><br />Anywhooo, I still have a great deal of thinking and measuring to do before i do anything.. As for the amount of time and effort (work), it's my hobby, so time and effort does'nt matter all that much.. Keeps me out of trouble...<br /><br />

 

[JasonJ]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

I don't see why you couldn't do it, you will have to reconfigure the stringers a bit, but otherwise, why not. Will the boat be a speed demon or a cruise vessel?

 

[Bondo]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

anything is possible with a chainsaw to aid in a new design.

Oh Ya.......<br />I'm moving my Engine forward 24",+ adding a jack-shaft under the floor, for better access to the transom,+ the Fish...............

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

Snapper, That is a neat idea to put the motor under the center console. It is mostly out of the way and should balance the boat well. You might be able to bolt the motor directly to the existing stringers. I presume the boat has the cut down transom. You plan to build it up and remove the spash well? Not so mad of a project as I had thought, at least what my feeble mind can comprehend of it. Let us know how you make out. Oh - after you get it done, don't run aground!

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I've gone mad! outboard to inboard swap?'s

I'm gonna do it.. Low budget too..(right)<br /><br />The plan is to first mock it all up in place and get the new stringers right... Once the stringers are glassed in, and i have a running engine with running gear in place, i'll put down a temporary floor and sort of halfway slap it all together for a test run or two... <br /><br /> If all goes well in the test runs, I'll tear the boat back apart and put the fiberglass, paint, and brightwork too it... If all does'nt go well, i'll look for an outboard to hang on it... <br /><br />It'll be a while yet before i really get started, but i'll keep the progress posted from time to time..