Retrofitting old Inboard with a new Outboard HELP

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raymarshall

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Oct 11, 2009
8
Hunter 27 Tall Stcokton Sailing Club, Stockton, CA
The 8 HP Diesel Renault transmission on our 1980 27' Hunter finally kicked the bucket. We're told it needs a clutch cone and thrust washer/gaskets. Good luck on us finding that, as the rarity of parts is the challenge, and the price reflects that!! :eek:

Our next step...in order to enjoy our Hunter without breaking the bank, is to retrofit the old Renault Inboard with a new Outboard. Has anyone had experience doing this, and what motor would you recommend for delta and possible SF Bay sailing?:confused:

Heads up...Looks like we may have to part out the Renault if we are not able to find a reasonable clutch cone/thrust washer.:doh:The engine itself is a great running engine!
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,081
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Assuming you can fit it properly on your transom, most 27 footers use the ubiquitous (there's that word again today!) 9.9 hp outboards. They're made by many vendors. For reliable outboard engine information, I recommend you ask this question on the C25 Association website, these guys are experts at engine selection, size and makes. The C25 and C27 share many characteristics, but the C25 guys really know outboards, since ALL of them have outboards, while the 27s split inboard and outboard propulsion. You'll be wanting a long or extra long shaft, especially for motoring from the Delta to The Bay. I had a C25 and Suisuin Bay in a chop can leave your engine way out of the water if you don't have one.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
If your transom was not designed for an outboard, you may have to beef it up.
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
Get a 9.9 four-stroke, long shaft. I can't recommend the Merc unless they've changed from being a rebadged Tohashu. Everybody likes the Yamaha (and the price reflects it!), or the Honda, although I think the Honda's pretty heavy.

You CAN just bolt on a kicker bracket (I have one for sale at www.bcboatnet.org!), but make sure you're bolting it onto something strong - as Dave pointed out the transom may not be designed for it. A 3/4" plywood backing plate may be all you need.

I mounted my 8hp 2-stroke this way when my 40-year-old Volvo packed it in 2 days into a 2 week vacation. It worked OK, but ATE fuel! Between gas and oil, I spent $500 in fuel on that vacation. And despite having 2 tanks, there were a few times I barely made it to the next fuel dock. I beleive a 4-stroke would be MUCH better in this regard, especially if you get a proper prop for it.

Two other disadvantages of an outboard are that the prop tends to come out of the water when you're hobby-horsing through waves, and it makes your boat longer - don't be surprised if your marina starts charging you as a 28 or even 29 ft.

Oh, and get an electric start: not only will it mean you don't have to lean over the transom to start it, but it usually also has a rudimentary alternator that charges your battery (a little...)

druid
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
pacificsk8r said:
The 8 HP Diesel Renault transmission on our 1980 27' Hunter finally kicked the bucket. We're told it needs a clutch cone and thrust washer/gaskets. Good luck on us finding that, as the rarity of parts is the challenge, and the price reflects that!! :eek:
Click to expand
Don't give up too soon on that tranny. Have you had more than one opinion on it? Those things are usually rebuildable. Also, yacht diesel specialists who have been around for a while often have a yard full of written-off but rebuildable engines and transmissions, so one might have a good tranny (or parts) on a blown engine.

If you can post the specs of your engine and transmission (make/model of each) maybe something will turn up.

In the meantime, yeah an outboard will get you around, but maybe you only need one for the short term. Hopefully...
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,712
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
You hate to give up an inboard as they are so much better than an OB, but for you, it may be the way to go if all else fails. I think Stu has good advice. If it were my boat I would see if the transom flexed. If it did, i would beef it up. Otherwise, i would hang the bracket with good solid mounting plates. I would also spend the money for an electric start, alternator, and cockpit controls. Maybe once your done doing this, you could find a used inboard replacement.

Rather than curse your fate, I think you need to look forward to meeting a lot of people you have never met before. You are going to run into a lot of interesting people on this one.
 
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raymarshall

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Oct 11, 2009
8
Hunter 27 Tall Stcokton Sailing Club, Stockton, CA
I agree, I hate to give up the inboard. I am dealing with the Renault Couach distributor in the UK and not having much luck. Not looking forward to having to fit the outboard and all it entails. Thank you for your sound advice.
 
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raymarshall

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Oct 11, 2009
8
Hunter 27 Tall Stcokton Sailing Club, Stockton, CA
I have a repair man looking at it. I am also talking with the distributor for Renault in Eurpope/UK who has reconditioned tranny's. The distributor sells only the complete reconditioned tranny AS16 Reverse Gear as he referred. I thought we were in luck until I sent the picture of it to my mechanic and was told that it has a different input shaft and won't work according to the picture we sent. We need an RC8D...which is what the UK distribor has! I'm so confused now. Mechanic states we need an RC8D, and according to the distributor, that is what he has and claims that RC8D engines were fitted with the same AS16 transmission as we have as per his photo???
 
Snotter

Snotter

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Sep 25, 2008
615
Morgan 415 Out Island Rogersville, AL
I've seen RC8Ds on ebay. Get the outboard and watch ebay for what you need. It will show up. In the intrim, you have a great platform for a generator. The RC8Ds were originally used in portable military generators.
 
redhead78

redhead78

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Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
I had a renault 2 cyl, 30 hp, it was a rc30d,I had been using it for the last 20 years. I believe it was a hurth or a borg warner tranny.I gave up trying to buy parts, It ran like a tank, but towards the end ( last season) it was overheating, leaking, just too much to repair in an engine that old, It powered that boat all over the world.I ended up repowering with a 35 HP beta, it was expensive, I changed every mech system, but so far I have 16 hrs on and its great. Try the jeanneau owners site, they used the renaults for a long time in earlier boats. Also try the used diesel engine site.I took that french anchor to the scrap yard. Good luck, Red
 
LordNelson

LordNelson

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Sep 20, 2006
367
Oday 20 Seneca Lake
i don't know much about inboards on sailboat having never owned one but have heard alot of positive comments about yanmar desiels. might be worth looking into.
 
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