Questions about I/o to outboard conversion

[1224bret]

Well after deciding not to sell my boat earlier this year I started some repairs on it then as luck would have it I blew the engine last week.... Damn the luck.... Well I've decided that the main reason I wanted to sell it earlier this year is that I'm a outboard guy and now I have the perfect reason to make the swap to outboard and keep my boat. So I'm now trying to get things together to add a bracket. My budget for an engine is going to be around 3k or less. That leaves me some room in my buget for the bracket and rigging. Want my total cost to be less than 5k and 4500 would be even better. My question is for that kind of money what engine would you choose? I've found some ox66 yamaha in the 150-250hp range but I'm worried about the weight. I know I can find an older mercs or johnnyrude for that or less but I'm kind of worried about trusting the older engines and most around here have seen an exstinsive amount of saltwater use especially those with a 25" or 30" shaft. I guess I'm just wondering from those that have worked on outboards a lot should I keep looking at later (as in the 97-2003ish models in my budget) such as the ox66 or merc efi or should I look for a older and probably lighter motor such as a 2.5 merc and just try to find one that has the least amount of salt corrosion? As far as weight goes how important is it really? I don't have a self. Bailing deck since it was a I/o and I will be pulling a v8 chevrolet that I'm sure with outdrive and all has to weigh over 1000lbs. Is it a concern of the transome not being able to stand up against the weight? I've got some time as it will be a few weeks before I have all the cash together. Until the ill be digging up all the old posts on this site where others have done the same conversion.

[1224bret]

Also I noticed in looking at old threads that some including mj replaced the transome to seal the outdrive hole I've seen others where a plug was made for the hole and the transom was left intact otherwise. Is there a reason on these hulls to replace the transom or will just plugging the hole and adding reinforcement suffice? I've done fiberglass work in the past so either way I'm confident doing it just wondered if I could save a little time and money plugging it...

[smokeonthewater]

A few months back there was someone selling a project V with IIRC an outboard bracket
Would be the cheapest and easiest way to get it done.

[smokeonthewater]

Well I found the one I was thinking of.... It has been sold.

[1224bret]

Yeah I've thought about just buying another boat with the money but my boat is in pretty good shape and around here for less than 5k your not getting much especially this time of year. The boats I've seen lately for 3500-5000 have been pretty old with old power as well. Just figured I'd get a newer engine ( late 90s early 2000s) and have a decent boat to hang it on. To get a boat with an engine in that year range seems to be going for around 7000ish.

[smokeonthewater]

Personally unless you are REALLY set on an outboard I'd just put another 260 in it

[phatdaddy]

if mj checks in,he did an i/o to ob conversion on his. came out nice.

i'd say you have to factor in weight. you are not too far from ferm, he might have something laying around or know of .

don't blame you for wanting to get out of the i/o, never liked running hot salt water through a car motor and too many right angles

[1224bret]

Agreed! Just never really been a huge fan of I/o boats I bought this one because the wife liked it and the price was right. Since then I've put a lot of money in it and with this set back I figure I might as well make it the way I want it. Would be awesome if ferm or any of the other fla members had a good used outboard laying around!

[SkunkBoat]

less tripping, more fishing...

of course, with the bracket outboard you'll need 8ft rods

[1224bret]

Well I'm making some progress. Old transom cut out and new wood already cut to go in. Going to use 2 layers of 3/4 inch ply laid up with several layers of csm and 1708. Also going to run 2 small knee braces from the outer stringers up to the new section of transom and 2 more larger knee braces running from the old motor bed to the transom. Now if I can get a run of several days without rain I can get it all laid in. Don't really have a shop or barn to pull it into to do the work so it's very weather dependent.

Picked up a good used stainless marine bracket Saturday

Hopefully get this thing back on the water soon!

[1224bret]

Got the new transom installed today along with the knee braces. Hopefully on the down hill end of the project now...

[RidgeRunner]

Motor Ho! Yes I think that will hold a 250 EFI. :party:
You work fast.

Met Bret in person at the shop a couple weeks ago. Another boat nut.
Enthusiasm to spare. Catchy too, got me off my backside and interested in boating again.

[1224bret]

Thanks Ridge! I was hoping I braced it up enough! I ended up using 3 pieces of 3/4" plywood with glass in between for the transom with 4 3/4" braces

It was good talking to you at the shop. You have a lot of knowledge on these boats. Your boat looks amazing man! Kinda inspired me to keep going on this project. Glad your getting back out on the water with yours again!

[1224bret]

Well I made some progress today! Got the outside of the outdrive hole filled and everything coated with epoxy primer. It's really coming along!

[1224bret]

Project progress

[1224bret]

Bilge primed

[1224bret]

Not sure why it won't let me post more than on photo at a time and can't get them rotated right either

[RidgeRunner]

Cell phone?

I will try to straighten it out for you.

[RidgeRunner]

6057

[RidgeRunner]

Whew! if you only knew how difficult that was for a Puter Illiterate Mo Fo Like Myself...

[bradford]

Whew! if you only knew how difficult that was for a Puter Illiterate Mo Fo Like Myself...


You're tellin me, I've never been able to see a RidgeRunner Pic ever!


This is what I get when I click on Ridgerunner, or 000's pics:



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[1224bret]

Thanks Ridge! Yeah I had several other pics but it kept telling me they failed to load and after trying for an hour I gave up. Everything I do is from my cell phone. I even tried uploading them from photo bucket.... Still no worky.

[1224bret]

Finally got the engine hung today! Big thanks to Ridgerunner for parting with his old 250efi and helping me with getting it hung. I'm loving the new look for the boat. Tried to post a few pics but I still keep getting the failed to upload message. I'll try to post them again when I get to work tomorrow. Now just have to get her wired up and tie up the loose ends on things.

[RidgeRunner]

6072

IDk what to tell you Bradford, if it is something I have done, I would not be surprised, it is absolutely dumb luck on my behalf.:embarsed:


Bret and his dad are good people. Nice to know both of you. No the motor did not make smoke yet but I agree, It looks good on there. Vic

[RidgeRunner]

Well??? What is the progress report say YOU???

Harness? Controls, Steering, you gotta be close now..

[1224bret]

Progress has slowed some havnt had the money to order the steering yet. Got my swim platform back on. Harness is ran but not hooked in yet. Have the lower unit at the shop but they've been slow on getting to it. And with all the rain we've been getting its been tough to work on it since I don't have shelter to get it under. I'm still making some progress but it has slowed down. Drilled the hole for the rigging hose last night still waiting on the engine side of the rigging hose to come in. Hopefully this weekend I can get it all wired up and cables ran to the engine....

I can say that I at least go out and admire the boat daily with its new look!

[RidgeRunner]

Do like me, climb on up and sit at the wheel, make motorboat sounds until someone catches you...:hide:

[1224bret]

Lol! I make my best motorboat noises when my wife is in the boat! We live on a small lake and If I turn it around in the yard and get the tongue at just the right height it almost looks like your on the water while sitting at the wheel..... Don't ask me how I know....

[1224bret]

Getting a little closer to getting this thing back on the water... Got the lower unit back from the shop Friday and installed it yesterday they were very reasonable on the price for putting the new shaft in but I've been burned so many times on lower units I'll wait to pass judgement on the quality of the work until it's on the water. Got all the rigging done on the engine side except for water pressure hose for gauge. Still have to wire everything in the dash since I've changed so much up there. And still collecting penny's for the hydraulic steering. Hoping to be done towards the end of next month but we shall see I said the same for getting it done by the end of this month and now I know I won't make that happen.... So far really happy with the way it's all coming together!!

[RidgeRunner]

Progress sometimes takes a little time.. Just in time for Scallop season, or some kind of season, somewhere...:thre:

I had to say it... Get that phone out... snap a few pics and post them

[1224bret]

Not the greatest pic but taken just after installing the lower on the engine

[1224bret]

Dang it! Of corse the pic is sideways! Why wouldn't it be!!!!

[smokeonthewater]

:-)

[Striper80]

I've found if I email pics that I've taken on my phone to myself, and resize them to medium, I can post them here without issue. You can still only post one at a time though.

Looking good.

[smokeonthewater]

I saved your pic to my phone, opened it, clicked edit, rotated it, and reposted it, all from my iphone....

[1224bret]

Thanks Smoke! And thank you Striper for the tip! I'll besure to try that next pic I post.

[smokeonthewater]

Here ya go

[1224bret]

Thanks man I've been sitting here trying to get it figured out. Relocated batteries into live well that I don't use. Trying to distribute a little weight.

[1224bret]

Trying one more time

[1224bret]

Finally!!!

[bradford]

Sweet engine, looking forward to hearing about the sea trial.

[1224bret]

Thanks Bradford! I can't wait to get it on the water!

[1224bret]

Got the engine fired up today! Sounds great on the hose at idle!!! Getting closer one tiny step at a time!! Still finishing up wiring does anyone know if there are several wires not used in the engine harness on these efi engines or are they repurposed? Like choke, magneto kill wire ect? I mean I can start it and shut it down but have a few wires that don't seem like they would go anywhere looking at a generic diagram.

[RidgeRunner]

Glad to see some good progress. It should run out at a fairly brisk pace. What prop are you gonna try first? 19 Mirage should be near perfect. Sounds good, post that video up...

[1224bret]

I'll put together a better vid and post it when I get back working on it! I've got a 21p prop right now and I'm gonna try it first... Hopefully it will be pretty close otherwise I'll be saving for a new prop also. What prop were you running on this engine when it was on your boat?

[RidgeRunner]

I ran a 21P Thunderbolt (Mirage Copy) and a 23P Tempest with vent holes for holeshot (signature picture) When I switched from your 250 EFI to the 250 XS I lost about 3 MPH. I took a old Tempest 25P and had it customized to get my MPH back. They knocked some of the pitch out and cleaned up the edges. I think I would try what you have first. It had ought to be close. When in doubt, trim it out...

[RidgeRunner]

Updates? You get this rig finished?

[1224bret]

Nah bud not quite finished yet... Had a lot of stuff come up I've had to take care of the last few months with family and work. I actually started back on it a couple weeks ago. Have the hydraulic steering installed and bled now. Bought a set of used Lenco trim tabs for $10 that I've installed all but the switch. I've started cutting the panels that will fill the area where the I/o once was. I really don't have much further to go at all! Just have wiring and reinstalling bilge pumps and things of that nature. Only thing I'm up against now is me and the wife are going on vacation at the end of the month for a week and a half to see her family in Cali. Going to work on it some more this weekend but not sure if the maiden voyage will be before the vaca or if it will have to wait till after. Once I get this thing on the water we'll have to meet up so you can see the finished product! I think it's coming together quite well!

[1224bret]

Pretty much same pic I posted befor but now with trim tabs and steering installed.

[1224bret]

Bella still isn't sure about it...

[RidgeRunner]

She doesn't like the big black Mercury Outboard from the looks of it. LOL! Yes I see progress. Glad to hear your still at it. It won't be long now. Have a good vaca. Cali is a long haul. Lots of free radicals...

[1224bret]

Finally got to take the boat out and run it today for the first time since i started this project. Have to say I'm pretty pleased looks like the hard work is paying off. Still have some stuff to do but at least I can say I know what it runs like. Top speed was 53 at 5700 rpm. So I think my prop is pretty much spot on since I think wot is suppose to be 5600-5800. :nice:

[1224bret]

A few pics

[1224bret]

Not sure why but this site only seems to let me upload one pic a day then all other attempts to upload a pic fail

[RidgeRunner]

A few pics


Let her eat. That is a good sign for sho. Bret I will try to get another pic uploaded for you. Spot on with that prop. That is cooking on water in a old antique boat.. LOL! :news::time::clap:

[RidgeRunner]

Best vintage by far...

[1224bret]

Thanks Ridge! Yeah not runnin too bad for a 32yo boat! Kinda reminds me of ole Shelby the swamp mans boat! Lol. Still have a few bugs to work out and loose ends to tie up but all in all I'm very happy with the outcome!!!


And tried to upload pics again and still won't upload so I don't know.......

[ocean pearl]

Thought about doing same could you email pics and part list [email protected] how she handle are scuppers still above water line

[1224bret]

No scuppers since it was a I/o originally. Handles about same as it did when it still had the inboard. I'm very happy with the set up as a whole. Still have little things here and there that need to be addressed but for a 30+ year old boat that's to be expected. I'll see if I can dig up any more photos and send them to you. Most of the ones I have of the swap are in this thread. I'm not the biggest pic taker just wanted to get it done. It's been almost a year now that I've been running it with this set up.