This is my first post on here, all the way from Auckland New Zealand. I thought you may be interested in my 2006 Signature which has had a pair of 250hp Evinrude ETEC gen 2s strapped to its stern. Photos show it moored in the river behind my farm, the motors, getting a waterblast before putting it in my barn for winter and dash showing 48 knots, at which time she starts getting a bit hairy. Very few Chaparrals in NZ.
Outboards on my signature 29
- Thread starter outboards
- Start date
Starting to warm up a little. Day temps around 65 so nearly time to apply the antifoul and relaunch the boat.Temp will slowly creep up to around 80 in Jan/Feb and we will leave boat in water until May so I guess we get 7 or 8 months of reasonable weather.We only get down to 32f for a few mornings and the frost is always gone by 8am
I have considered doing the same for my 1992 Signature 28. It has been in three different shops in the last four years trying to isolate a transom leak around the starboard VP sterndrive(caused by the first shop fixing a raw water leak). It is probably due for a repower as the 4.3L engines show 600+ hrs each. The benefits are numerous including easier winterizing/maintenance and gaining hold space where the engines now reside. My concerns were primarily related to moving the center of gravity that far back. Did you add some ballast forward(it appears to float very flat)? Another concern is providing appropriate structure to the swim deck. If you could PM me or respond here with more details, I would very much appreciate it. Our boating season starts in April at Lake Powell, and I would like to have enough information to move forward with current repair or outboard repower before the new year.
I have no forward ballast and as you can see the boat sits perfectly.The engines are 2strokes and I believe alot lighter than 4 strokes.I never drove the boat with the original inboards and therefore can not help with ride angle etc.I almost never need to use the trim tabs unless I am cruising under maybe 20mph with full fuel and say 6 persons seated outside.With 10 adults sitting out side,as you would expect it points skyward for a few seconds and likes a little trim to keep the bow down.The no 1 reason I bought this particular boat was because of the outboard conversion and 100/cent happy with it.The mounting pod was manufactured locally.I will take a touch tomorrow and see if I can get detailed photos of the construction and post here in a few days time
Attachments
Photo 1Transom /engine room 2 rear mount plate 3 buoyancy assisting pod 4 looking inside water tight pod 5 close up through the hole looking at the fibreglass frame which goes through the pod 6 mounting bolts in pod 7 just a little of New Zealands history. I was in Auckland (NZs) largest city last week and this old gaff rigged sail boat was tied up. 54 feet long and launched here in 1905.Beautiful
With regards to sitting level,I guess the sealed pod helps
Sorry,I dont know what is in the sealed frame which goes through the pod to take all the weight and strain
Hope this helps
With regards to sitting level,I guess the sealed pod helps
Sorry,I dont know what is in the sealed frame which goes through the pod to take all the weight and strain
Hope this helps
Thanks, it does help. I wondered about structural support between the transom and rear of the swim deck. I had considered some aluminum/stainless struts down to the lower hull, but internal structure looks far better. Adding a mounting/block plate to the transom makes a ton of sense for distributing the load and sealing the original openings. My boat was essentially salvage(purchased at auction for $6500 with freeze damage on both exhausts, one seized engine, one stern drive stuck in gear and a ton of electrical nightmares throughout(no trim/tilt, minimal gauges, etc). Starting over has a certain appeal. Thanks again, and enjoy your boating season, we're still a few months away.
My swim deck is now the top of the pod and also has two ss struts supporting the outer edges.Pod is 950mm long x 500 deep x1.450 wide
I bought my boat from a local marine dealer(who was also the master agent for Evinrude).At that stage it had a single new 300hp Verado and was lacking in power. Also their comment was that a boat this size needs two engines,meaning a single 500hp is not suitable.Not sure why,but may pay to check on their theory
My boat is completely rewired as they say its quicker,safer, and easier to start from fresh and of coarse the motors come with their own digital dash
Let me know what you decide to do
Towed my boat from its winter home (barn) today and now have it parked at my ramp ready for the fun to begin
Cheers