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.

[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