Converting 290TM to outboards

[bcnucs]

Has anyone done this?  I have seen these hulls for good deals and was thinking of beefing up the transom and adding a Armstrong bracket for twin 250 or 300 suzuki four strokes.  Would like to hear what you guys think before pulling the trigger.  I will be trailering the boat 3 miles to ramp each way with a Dodge cummins so that will not be an issue.  I have seen that the 270tm comes with outboards on a bracket, and it got me thinking.  Just hard to find a boat with this layout in the cabin and cockpit.  Thanks in advance.

Bill

[seabob4]

Well, those who know me here, know that is EXACTLY what I would do with a 290!  300 Zukes or Vrods on a bracket.  I'd also probably raise the helm to incorporate a mid-cabin as well...

[SaltH2OHokie]

Has anyone done this?  I have seen these hulls for good deals and was thinking of beefing up the transom and adding a Armstrong bracket for twin 250 or 300 suzuki four strokes.  Would like to hear what you guys think before pulling the trigger.  I will be trailering the boat 3 miles to ramp each way with a Dodge cummins so that will not be an issue.  I have seen that the 270tm comes with outboards on a bracket, and it got me thinking.  Just hard to find a boat with this layout in the cabin and cockpit.  Thanks in advance.

Bill

You sure you won't need at least 8 cylinders to pull that thing?   :twisted:  In all seriousness, she's a wide boat...like well beyond legal to drag down the road.  3 miles shouldn't be a problem if its a route that allows for 11-12' wide loads.

[Disclosure: I'm an owner of (3) 3/4 or 1 ton Fords]

[FULL Disclosure: If I could afford it, at least 2 of them would have already been swapped to 24v Cummins   ]

[seabob4]

Ryan, not saying it's advisable, but when I was at Proline, we dragged our 35 Express from the plant to Fort Island Trail boat ramp, probably around 12 miles one way, without a permit...for years.  12' 6" beam.  Yeah, I'm sure the local PD knew it was oversized, but Homosassa is a small burg, they knew who we were...so never a problem.

Got a little skittish when a truck was coming the other way.  Her rubrail DEFINITELY was in the other lane...  

[SaltH2OHokie]

I see it all the time...and would probably do it if I had a trailer that would handle my 290...but I've also seen what the DOT man can do if he catches you (BIIIIIIG money in tickets).

[seabob4]

I see it all the time...and would probably do it if I had a trailer that would handle my 290...but I've also seen what the DOT man can do if he catches you (BIIIIIIG money in tickets).

Got away with one dragging the Doc's 28 Pursuit behind me, came over a rise on 41...there's DOT in the median.  Watched him in my mirrors, guess he got some excellent doughnuts that morn...    

[Aswaff400]

we had a permit for a couple years to pull our searay, never renewed it the last 3 or 4 years, have never been stopped, even with no lights or working brakes on the trailer...

about the outboards, im with bob, a pair of 300's, would do good, or even a pair of 350 yammy's if you want that extra oomph, the weight is the downside though... ive been trying to convince my parents into hanging a bracket and outboards on the sea ray, they like the idea but dont want to spend that kind of coin...

[SaltH2OHokie]

My personal opinion on the outboards:  Why ruin a perfectly clean transom?  As it stands you can back down on a fish, watch the sunset (all the way till it dips in the water, without seeing "Yamaha"), sit on the swim platform with 3 or 4 friends with your legs in the water, etc. etc.

I'm (for some unexplained reason) a huge fan of the simplicity of inboards.  My old 115 on the 19-6 is baffling to me.  The 350's that have been in the past 4 boats I've had with inboards:  Cake.  Napa is everywhere and they have literally EVERY replaceable part on that motor in stock.  Might not be the "right" marine version, but it'll get you back on the water.  Something to be said for that.

On the other hand, when the tide leaves unexpectedly (yeah...it happens...beer usually helps for some reason), I sure wish I could just trim up and plow on.  OR, when you drift through a crab pot line and have to jump into jellyfish infested, zero visibility, muddy water with a knife and cut yourself free, I sure wish I could just trim up and work on it topside.   OR the WORST I've had: Trolling for spanish mac's and blues just behind the breakers, 3 lines get tangled up, kill the boat to work on that mess and drift back over top of the lines that weren't tangled up.  Had to jump in the ocean, stand on the bottom and cut a bunch of spanish surgical tube daisy chain rigs free of my running gear, while the boat steadily got closer to shore.  The waves were 3-4', which meant I went from over my head cutting to crouching to keep from getting hit in the head, then pushing to the surface for air and to cuss, then back down to do it again, all while realizing the water was steady getting shallower, which meant the dry sand was getting closer...that one made me wish I had an outboard.  [and in hindsight, that made me realize that step one in any "crisis" like that should be: TOSS ANCHOR].

So like I say...unexplainable, but I just don't like outboards.  To me they clutter up the transom, detract from the lines of a boat, cut your fishing line when you're fighting a big ole fish and decides that the other side of the boat is better, force you to do creative things with a ski-rope, make boarding from deep water more difficult, cost like 5x as much per HP, etc. etc.

My long-winded $0.02

[seabob4]

Ryan, there are 80 gazillion I/B powered fishboats out there, so can't be all bad.  The underwater gear issues?


Goes with the territory...

[SaltH2OHokie]

Ryan, there are 80 gazillion I/B powered fishboats out there, so can't be all bad.  The underwater gear issues?


Goes with the territory...

Oh I'm on the I/B train. For all the cussing I do about the various straight drive boats I currently or previously have owned, I love em.  If not for the skinny water at the new house  I'd have been eyeballing another inboard center console to complement the 290.