1978 222 rebuild

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I am new to the forum - have made Few posts and really appriciate the help so far. I just bought a 1978 ff to convert to a center console. It has a 12 degree deadrise- so it is modified v. I really want it run shallow and be as light as possible. There is no rot or soft spots at all in the floor. I am replacing part of it to install a new fuel tank further forward than the old one. The fuel tank in the ff was actually under a removable hatch. Can I put a short shaft motor -20"-out on a porta bracket and expect it to preform well? I was thinking of putting 140 on it to save weight and fuel. The original transom height was 25". What about cutting a tunnel into the back few feet? Has any tried this? I really only want it to cruise about 28- 32 mph.  Also, if I use a porta bracket, will I need to install a low water pick up on the motor?
Thanks
Oliver

[kyle19kenyon]

I am new to the forum - have made Few posts and really appriciate the help so far. I just bought a 1978 ff to convert to a center console. It has a 12 degree deadrise- so it is modified v. I really want it run shallow and be as light as possible. There is no rot or soft spots at all in the floor. I am replacing part of it to install a new fuel tank further forward than the old one. The fuel tank in the ff was actually under a removable hatch. Can I put a short shaft motor -20"-out on a porta bracket and expect it to preform well? I was thinking of putting 140 on it to save weight and fuel. The original transom height was 25". What about cutting a tunnel into the back few feet? Has any tried this? I really only want it to cruise about 28- 32 mph.  Also, if I use a porta bracket, will I need to install a low water pick up on the motor?
Thanks
Oliver

You could make a tunnel but it will make the boat a little slower, but if your not concerned about speed I wouldnt worry.
You dont "need" low water pickup but if you want to run shallow all the time I would recomend it. I didnt have a low water on mine and I could run shallow briefly until I got the low water alarm. Tunnels are a funny think and could really mess the boat up if not done correctly. You can put any shaft motor on it with the Porta since it allows for so much verticle movement.

Here is a boat I saw on craigs list with a tunnel in it maby you should give him a call  http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/1308836581.html

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I read up a little on tunnels and that sounds about right. I really do not need a tunnel- just thought it might make the hull perform better with motor at a higher position. But, that looks to be false.Does anyone have a 20" shaft engine with a jack plate or porta bracket on a on 222 v back? My dad used to have a 20'sportcraft with an omc seadrive- that was a short shaft. The engine was so low that when coming off a plane -especially when it was rough- water would wash all around head of engine- some times even washing over it. This lead to alot of corrosion issues. The sportcraft was a deeper v than than my as 222  therefore a 20" shafted engine would set lower on the transom on the sportcraft. I just want to explore these issues before i purchase an engine. What about other options for lift and bracket than the porta bracket. Porta bracket looks awesome  but is expensive. What about a para lift? I have seen a few of these on boats , but none for sale anywhere??

thanks Oliver

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I bought a paralift last week for 400$. It is in good shape. I have been looking for info on what shaft length engine would fit the best. I have seen one 222 like mine modified v 12 degree deadrise with 150 Suzuki on it. I could not tell from the pictures whether it is a 20" or a 25" shaft. The pictures did not show the engine tilted all the way up either. My question is this. Will a short shaft 20" - tilt all the way up with para lift all the up? What about a 25" shaft? The paralift contracts to an 8" setback at all the up from a 12" set back at all the way down.
I have seen a few mounted on flatbacks, but the transom is not as tall as the 12 degree hull. Does anyone out there in aquasport land have paralift mounted on 222 12 degree hull?

I will try to post some pictures of rebuild in progress later this weekend.

[LilRichard]

You can run a 20" shaft on it, but you will have to mount the porta bracket very low (5" lower) to do so... and when you come off plane the motor will be very low in the water - like the cowling will probably be almost at the waterline.  Additionally, you will not be able to tilt the motor much without it hitting the transom.  I also would worry about the porta dragging in the water a little bit.  

So yes, it can be done... but WHY?  If you had a motor already I could understand you asking... but what are you trying to accomplish with a short shaft?  The extra 5" might add 30lbs... so that is a non issue.

Everybody usually goes the other way and takes a 20" height to 25" - for the reasons above.

[slvrlng]

I am sure this is a 25" on this 19-6. Not the same boat, but the same deadrise and shape.



Not sure what the setback is but looks to be more than 8" at the upper limit. Maybe this will help, if in doubt call Tommy at Hammerhead or Mr. Gause or listen to Lilrich cause I think he's right.

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I was going to try to find a 140 hp engine, and those typically are 20" shaft, I think, or the ones I have seen for sale are 20". But I will probably go with a 25" shaft engine to avoid the problems lilRichard described. A 150 only weighs slightly more than a 140. The picture there shows a porta bracket, which has a greater set back than the paralift.

This is a picture of a paralift
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... 500/page/3
See how close it pulls the engine to the boat when the paralift is all the way up- and that hull is a flat back - so it does not need to travel as far down as mine does.

So, with a 25" shaft will be able to tilt correclty with the paralift all the way up?