Looking for thoughts on converting a boat from Inboard power to Outboard power. The transom is pretty close to vertical. I know it would be somewhat unsightly but moves the engine outboard and opens up more space inside the boat. Most noise and vibration would be moved back too. Biggest problem I can think of is it means an outboard of probably 24hp which in 4 stroke is like 175 pounds, not real easy to lift. This is a 29 foot Ericson of around 9000 pounds. Other thoughts???
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May not need that much power
Just my opinion, but I don't think that you'll need 24hp. My Pearson is around 5000 lbs, and I never really push my _8hp_ more than 1/2 throttle. Good Luck.
Just my opinion, but I don't think that you'll need 24hp. My Pearson is around 5000 lbs, and I never really push my _8hp_ more than 1/2 throttle. Good Luck.
TiM: A friend of mine made this conversion on a Newport 30. He did not want to spend the money to replace the diesel. The biggest problem he had was beefing up the transom. A inboard sail boat transom is not designed to support an OB engine. I'd check around to see what is involved before I went any further.
It is Done all of the Time
I will second the notion that you likely do not need that much motor. The only "negative" difference to this sort of setup is when it gets rough you are more likely to have the prop lifted out of the water as swells pass by. If you can tie in the motor steering in with the rudder it is amazing how tightly you can turn the boat.
I will second the notion that you likely do not need that much motor. The only "negative" difference to this sort of setup is when it gets rough you are more likely to have the prop lifted out of the water as swells pass by. If you can tie in the motor steering in with the rudder it is amazing how tightly you can turn the boat.
15hp can move her OK ,I think
I only use 9.9 OB on my 30fter but it is 6000lb,maxed out loaded. I never liked oily,stinky inboards. Here some help to; http://www.sailmag.com/boatworks/bwholes/ All but one thing for me is good about OB's,that is if the waves get big(you should be sailing anyway)and you motoring,it can get prop out of water to much.
I only use 9.9 OB on my 30fter but it is 6000lb,maxed out loaded. I never liked oily,stinky inboards. Here some help to; http://www.sailmag.com/boatworks/bwholes/ All but one thing for me is good about OB's,that is if the waves get big(you should be sailing anyway)and you motoring,it can get prop out of water to much.
Which do you trust??
When the weather gets a little rough do you put in a reef and keep sailing or drop the sails and motor??? If you tend to motor then a bigger motor but if you are mostly a sailor who only uses the motor when there is no wind or to get in and out of the dock a smaller outboard might be better overall. I believe that outboards do best when ran at higher RPMs. It seems like they are designed for fishermen and water skiers who tend to run flat out most of the time. Plus less weight on the transom can't be a bad thing.
When the weather gets a little rough do you put in a reef and keep sailing or drop the sails and motor??? If you tend to motor then a bigger motor but if you are mostly a sailor who only uses the motor when there is no wind or to get in and out of the dock a smaller outboard might be better overall. I believe that outboards do best when ran at higher RPMs. It seems like they are designed for fishermen and water skiers who tend to run flat out most of the time. Plus less weight on the transom can't be a bad thing.
CAVATATION!!!
I have a 26' trl sailer w/ 9.9 ob. Cavatiation is my number 1 problem. I dont dare go out of port everglades on a outgoing tide, with winds from east (which is 90% of time). The cut is narrow, with rocks on each side. With any kind of breeze and traffic, the waves are 5', and the motor lifts out of the water. (about every wave). very hard to make headway, and its pretty easy to loose steerage control. ask someone where you sail if they have this problem... otherwise, you can add some plywood and epoxy to beef up the transome. I think a 15 hp is all I would want to put on bracket... if thats not enought, you probably need an inboard. imho...
I have a 26' trl sailer w/ 9.9 ob. Cavatiation is my number 1 problem. I dont dare go out of port everglades on a outgoing tide, with winds from east (which is 90% of time). The cut is narrow, with rocks on each side. With any kind of breeze and traffic, the waves are 5', and the motor lifts out of the water. (about every wave). very hard to make headway, and its pretty easy to loose steerage control. ask someone where you sail if they have this problem... otherwise, you can add some plywood and epoxy to beef up the transome. I think a 15 hp is all I would want to put on bracket... if thats not enought, you probably need an inboard. imho...
A bigger motor won't solve that problem!!!
I have sailed with an outboard on a 1988 Macgregor 26. Never had a problem keeping it in the water. It was a 7.5hp long shaft. But my brother had an outboard on his boat that came out of the water a lot. Without a doubt a inboard is superior in waves if for no other reason than the center of mass being closer to the center of the boat. But in big waves I'd much rather have less weight on the stern.
I have sailed with an outboard on a 1988 Macgregor 26. Never had a problem keeping it in the water. It was a 7.5hp long shaft. But my brother had an outboard on his boat that came out of the water a lot. Without a doubt a inboard is superior in waves if for no other reason than the center of mass being closer to the center of the boat. But in big waves I'd much rather have less weight on the stern.
Horrible idea
Ugly as sin. Too much weight too far aft. Boat not designed for it. Can't keep the prop in the water in rough going. Been there. Our Dawson 26 suffered total engine failure that required removing the engine for rebuild. So I attached a bracket to the stern and bought a Cruise'n'Carry 2.7HP engine. That's right, 2.7HP. It worked, but was strictly take-home power that would move the boat at about three knots. When the main engine (Yanmar YSE8) was reinstalled, the outboard went to the dinghy where it remains on our present boat (O'Day 37). The mount, however, stayed and did get used once in a difficult situation where it once again got us home. But an outboard simply is not a replacement for an inboard.
Ugly as sin. Too much weight too far aft. Boat not designed for it. Can't keep the prop in the water in rough going. Been there. Our Dawson 26 suffered total engine failure that required removing the engine for rebuild. So I attached a bracket to the stern and bought a Cruise'n'Carry 2.7HP engine. That's right, 2.7HP. It worked, but was strictly take-home power that would move the boat at about three knots. When the main engine (Yanmar YSE8) was reinstalled, the outboard went to the dinghy where it remains on our present boat (O'Day 37). The mount, however, stayed and did get used once in a difficult situation where it once again got us home. But an outboard simply is not a replacement for an inboard.
I'm with Peter
You're going to have other issues to consider besides the prop lifting out of the water...What about charging batteries? Distributing weight aft will effect the sailing performance, too. What about how the boat looks? What about resale value? Personally, when I look at "outboad conversion" boats I say to myself "there's an owner who wasn't afraid to cut corners to save a buck". as a prospective buyer, I wonder if maintenance was done properly. I wonder what else didn't get fixed to original specs. Maybe stuff that isn't as obvious as an outboard bolted to the transom. Maybe stuff that will come up as one of those "surprises" 3 months after I buy it. I'm not saying it's an easy decision. I bit the bullet and dropped $8,500 to put a fresh new yanmar in my C-30. I agonized over it before I did it, but I never regretted the decision. I figure I'll get a lot of it back when I finally get that C-42 I've been dreaming about. (Ok, it's probably going to be a C-34, but it's good to dream, right?!?) I never regret doing tasks right, especially when it comes to boating. Just my 2 cents. Good luck either way! Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
You're going to have other issues to consider besides the prop lifting out of the water...What about charging batteries? Distributing weight aft will effect the sailing performance, too. What about how the boat looks? What about resale value? Personally, when I look at "outboad conversion" boats I say to myself "there's an owner who wasn't afraid to cut corners to save a buck". as a prospective buyer, I wonder if maintenance was done properly. I wonder what else didn't get fixed to original specs. Maybe stuff that isn't as obvious as an outboard bolted to the transom. Maybe stuff that will come up as one of those "surprises" 3 months after I buy it. I'm not saying it's an easy decision. I bit the bullet and dropped $8,500 to put a fresh new yanmar in my C-30. I agonized over it before I did it, but I never regretted the decision. I figure I'll get a lot of it back when I finally get that C-42 I've been dreaming about. (Ok, it's probably going to be a C-34, but it's good to dream, right?!?) I never regret doing tasks right, especially when it comes to boating. Just my 2 cents. Good luck either way! Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Conversion
An inboard boat is designed and built for an inboard engine. You could do it, but it would be a tough job, and probably not all that safe...not to mention what it would look like. What about resale value, would anybody want to buy it after the conversion (I would't)? Could you insure it after the convesion?
An inboard boat is designed and built for an inboard engine. You could do it, but it would be a tough job, and probably not all that safe...not to mention what it would look like. What about resale value, would anybody want to buy it after the conversion (I would't)? Could you insure it after the convesion?
Outboard Backup !
I too am comtemplating adding an outboard to the stern of our '77 Catalina 30. Yes it has a Yanmar diesel, which only has 155 hours on a complete rebuild however I ran into three problems on a recent 17 day adventure. 1. Blaine Washington to Anacortes on day 5 diesel slowed up for awhile and then stopped. Added extra fuel that I carry even though tank was full the previous day. Engine starts but only partial power and short time later stops. Drift into a shallow mud bay and ground. (No wind) Check Racor filter and note crap floating in it. Drain, prime and bleed system and away at decent throttle. In short alea growing in the tank due to moisture. Changed filters and away OK. (Next project remove tank and boil out) What IF: A Yamaha 9.9 high thrust on a bracket attached to the stern? 2. Departed the dock at La Conner Washington (Wife now aboard so no longer alone)and about 600 feet down the channel against a 2.5 kt current the transmission goes "clunk-clunk". Current turns us around and we almost make it right back into out previous docking spot but zip across the channel. Anchor out and stopped. Long and short of it is we had to cut the rode and buoy it and get a quick tow back to the wharf. Found I had reverse but no forward so after pondering checked the Morse cable to the shift lever on the trans and sure enough the clamp had loosened a bit and moved an inch. Five minute fix and OK. What IF: I had a 9.9 Yamaha on the stern? 3.Day 17 from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island back home to Oak Bay. Southern tip of San Juan, beautiful sunny day (no wind) and see a BIG fog bank coming in the Strait of Juna de Fuca. Sit, wait, watch and chance it. Trouble is sit and wait was about an hour and a half. Just as we got to the south end of Discovery Island the ebb tide was at its peak and that week the tides were probably the hightest we have had in a long time. Normally get about 4.5 kts motoring along and GPS says 0.0 kts. and we are getting further away from the light house. Zig/Zag and find a lesser current area and manage to get along side the Island after an hour and into a small marine parks cove and anchor. Fog passes by a few minutes later and wait for the slack tide and home. What IF: I had a 9.9 Yamaha on the stern? I have to make a decision in the near future. 1. Re pitch the Campbell Sailor Prop. 2. Re-power with more HP diesel. 3. Add an outboard to the stern for those little "unexpected" things. I have a feeling that it will come down to two out of three. 1 and 3. Just my thoughts on the matter. Cliff Carter C-30 #598 PlusOne Oak Bay Marina, B.C.
I too am comtemplating adding an outboard to the stern of our '77 Catalina 30. Yes it has a Yanmar diesel, which only has 155 hours on a complete rebuild however I ran into three problems on a recent 17 day adventure. 1. Blaine Washington to Anacortes on day 5 diesel slowed up for awhile and then stopped. Added extra fuel that I carry even though tank was full the previous day. Engine starts but only partial power and short time later stops. Drift into a shallow mud bay and ground. (No wind) Check Racor filter and note crap floating in it. Drain, prime and bleed system and away at decent throttle. In short alea growing in the tank due to moisture. Changed filters and away OK. (Next project remove tank and boil out) What IF: A Yamaha 9.9 high thrust on a bracket attached to the stern? 2. Departed the dock at La Conner Washington (Wife now aboard so no longer alone)and about 600 feet down the channel against a 2.5 kt current the transmission goes "clunk-clunk". Current turns us around and we almost make it right back into out previous docking spot but zip across the channel. Anchor out and stopped. Long and short of it is we had to cut the rode and buoy it and get a quick tow back to the wharf. Found I had reverse but no forward so after pondering checked the Morse cable to the shift lever on the trans and sure enough the clamp had loosened a bit and moved an inch. Five minute fix and OK. What IF: I had a 9.9 Yamaha on the stern? 3.Day 17 from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island back home to Oak Bay. Southern tip of San Juan, beautiful sunny day (no wind) and see a BIG fog bank coming in the Strait of Juna de Fuca. Sit, wait, watch and chance it. Trouble is sit and wait was about an hour and a half. Just as we got to the south end of Discovery Island the ebb tide was at its peak and that week the tides were probably the hightest we have had in a long time. Normally get about 4.5 kts motoring along and GPS says 0.0 kts. and we are getting further away from the light house. Zig/Zag and find a lesser current area and manage to get along side the Island after an hour and into a small marine parks cove and anchor. Fog passes by a few minutes later and wait for the slack tide and home. What IF: I had a 9.9 Yamaha on the stern? I have to make a decision in the near future. 1. Re pitch the Campbell Sailor Prop. 2. Re-power with more HP diesel. 3. Add an outboard to the stern for those little "unexpected" things. I have a feeling that it will come down to two out of three. 1 and 3. Just my thoughts on the matter. Cliff Carter C-30 #598 PlusOne Oak Bay Marina, B.C.
Back up now Cliff!
It seems to me that all the problems you had could have been prevented with routine maintanence. But that's easy for me to say! I wasn't there. Another iron jenny; inboard or outboard would just look like a dog's breakfast and be another thing to break down.
It seems to me that all the problems you had could have been prevented with routine maintanence. But that's easy for me to say! I wasn't there. Another iron jenny; inboard or outboard would just look like a dog's breakfast and be another thing to break down.
someone who has done it with success
Check out this site for information and pics on Cal 29 conversion.
Check out this site for information and pics on Cal 29 conversion.
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