Planning the Wild Finn rebuild

[Slightly_Twisted]

Hey guys looking for some help planning the Finn rebuild/restore.

First I'm looking for used bracket to replace the old seadrive. From what I have read max is a 36 inch set back and min is about 18 inch. Is that correct? For the guys that have added a bracket what setback did you use? I'm going with an add buoyancy bracket so if anyone has or sees a 36 inch one out there PLEASE let me know. I haven't been able to find much online.

Second this is more of the opinion question. I have a Mercury dealer 2 miles from my house that I'm good friends with and they do great work. Most other dealers or shops are a hour plus drive, so I would like to go with a Mercury. I'm going used for cost reasons. What Mercury models and years 150 HP - 200 HP should I look at and what ones a crap? boat usage is lake fishing, floating, wake-board/tubing with the kiddos. what size shaft works best with the bracket? there are TONS of bass boats out here, but they all have 20 inch shafts.


Thanks

[Destroyer]

I have a 1993 2.5L 200 HP Coffin-Cowl Merc on my V21 and I love it. The only thing I woulds say is make sure you disconnect the oil injection and go with premix. if you can find one the 2.4L 200hp engine is better than the 2.5L 200HP engine for fuel economy, but both are great engines. I can't help you with the shaft length because I know nothing about brackets. :head:

[phatdaddy]

'I think your going to need a 25" shaft. With the 20", motor wil get swamped when coming off plane. You should be able to get a kit to lengthen to 25"

[spareparts]

a 25 inch shaft will require you to mount the motor and bracket very high on the boat. Just about every conversion Ive seen never benefited fully because the engine couldn't be mounted high enough. I just re powered a 24 Contender(older one) that everyone said it needed a 30 inch motor on it, I put a 25 on it and could have gotten away with a 20 where it was mounted. A local shop just did a 23 Mako and mounted the bracket per the manufactures suggestions, they had to raise the engine all the way up and it still throws that V shape spray off the ventilation plate

[Slightly_Twisted]

Thanks for the info!
The 20 inch shafts are a lot more available out here.
I've looked through a lot of the old threads here about the conversion. Anyone have any good sources of info about the planning and mount? Just want to make sure I what I'm doing!!

Thanks!

[phatdaddy]

Macojoe did an i/o to outboard several years ago, maybe he'll post a link. Turned out real nice

[spareparts]

next time Im at the dry stack, I'll get some pictures of outboards on brackets showing relationship the the hull. My buddy with the Sea Vee has 20 inch Mercs mounted with the prop shaft an inch above the bottom on a Stainless Marine bracket. How ever, the boat blows out with any prop other than a chopper, and doesn't like to run on plane below 25 mph, It will hit 70 though:party:

[Slightly_Twisted]

Phat, I'm kind of basing my rebuild off his. I've looked at his conversion so many times it did come out real nice!

Spare, when you do conversion for others where do you/they get the bracket. I've looked at gil, stainless, and Armstrong, but damn they are pricey! Just seeing if you a more cost affective source? I've herd great things and sea vee, Good build quality and ride.
It crazy out here you see 17-20 ft bass boats with 200-250s FLYING. One of my favorite things to do out on the lake is just cruising around watching the bass boat pounding the sh$& out of themselves at 50-70mph!

[spareparts]

my friends usually find a used bracket, got to be patient, they still aren't cheap. The boat shops usually sell a new one to their customers when they redo a boat.

[spareparts]

you can see where the motors and bracket are on the Sea Vee. Its higher than you want
edit: I went back and looked at the photo, this was very early after he built the boat and he was worried about getting enough water flow, the motors are in the lowest holes. He has the engines all the way up now(wants to raise it another inch). He could have probably run Laser or a similar prop and been a little more user friendly at this height. Those choppers don't like to run deep, they run best at the surface. Notice the platform cant be mounted any lower on that transom without protruding below the hull. Sometimes you just mount it where it fits


http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n175/spareparts_photos/Marcs%20stuff/P8082816.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/spareparts_photos/media/Marcs%20stuff/P8082816.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n175/spareparts_photos/Marcs%20stuff/P8082817.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/spareparts_photos/media/Marcs%20stuff/P8082817.jpg.html)


but, it will do this

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n175/spareparts_photos/Marcs%20stuff/th_PA040022_zpsad18beb5.mp4 (http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n175/spareparts_photos/Marcs%20stuff/PA040022_zpsad18beb5.mp4)