O/B to I/O or I/B

[CDUX]

Hull deep into a rebuild of a 22-CCP O/B 200hp.
I have access to 2 Mercruiser 230s straight inboards w/ less than 50 hours on them since a rebuild, sitting in a hulk that won't see the water again.

Questions are:
-Can I mate one of those 230s up to a stern/outdrive I/O?
or
-Can I re-fit one to run as a straight inboard?

[gran398]

Hi, and welcome aboard.

Your  boat is ready to go and set up for a decent outboard. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Most folks with an old  I/O or inboard are looking to change to an outboard, or outboard on bracket, etc....exactly what you have now.

Considering resale value alone, would keep her as an outboard.

Just MHO. Thanks and welcome.

[seabob4]

Hull deep into a rebuild of a 22-CCP O/B 200hp.
I have access to 2 Mercruiser 230s straight inboards w/ less than 50 hours on them since a rebuild, sitting in a hulk that won't see the water again.

Questions are:
-Can I mate one of those 230s up to a stern/outdrive I/O?
or
-Can I re-fit one to run as a straight inboard?

Could be fun...hell, throw them both in there!

[Aswaff400]

Hull deep into a rebuild of a 22-CCP O/B 200hp.
I have access to 2 Mercruiser 230s straight inboards w/ less than 50 hours on them since a rebuild, sitting in a hulk that won't see the water again.

Questions are:
-Can I mate one of those 230s up to a stern/outdrive I/O?
or
-Can I re-fit one to run as a straight inboard?

Could be fun...hell, throw them both in there!

Bob, I like your thinking!! :twisted:  

thats a good amount of glass work that would have to be done. i'd pass and search for one of them rare aquas that are already setup as I/O or I/B

[GoneFission]

Hull deep into a rebuild of a 22-CCP O/B 200hp.
I have access to 2 Mercruiser 230s straight inboards w/ less than 50 hours on them since a rebuild, sitting in a hulk that won't see the water again.

Questions are:
-Can I mate one of those 230s up to a stern/outdrive I/O?
or
-Can I re-fit one to run as a straight inboard?

I don't think there's enough room between the stringers on a CCP to put twin engines in.  You could put one in a CCP and run it as either inboard or I/O - I/O would be much less work and more flexible than the straight inboard, but it's still a lot of work...  

The best setup for this is to put the engine under the console, with the console hinged forward to allow engine access.  This requires relocating (replacing) the gas tank and putting a driveshaft from the engine back to the I/O mounted on the transom.  This is a very nice setup - very well-balanced - and runs well.  A 230 is a nice engine on this boat and gets good performance and economy.  A Bravo III or Duoprop outdrive would be ideal for this to give better efficiency and performance.  You would want to close in the transom as well - the boat would look pretty silly as an I/O with the outboard cutout on the transom.  It's not a quick and easy job - you will be fabricating engine mounts, doing transom work, having a gas tank or two made and mounted, and the myriad of wiring and hardware items required.  But the result would be a pretty cool setup - especially for offshore or deep water use.  

Consider your options carefully - a 200-250 outboard may be easier and cheaper in the long run - but what's the price of cool?   8)

[seabob4]

Cap' John,
I like the idea of jack-shafting.  Best of all worlds, COG, trim ability of the outdrive, good suggestion on the DP or B3.  Saddle tanks would be the way to go in that application...

[John Jones]

or you could give my neighbor all of your money.  He is selling a ton of these to the Costa Rica government for river and coastal patrol boats.

http://www.simplicity-marine.com/smd1.htm


Jackshaft application


Actually I would not let him do anything for me.  He is a major butthead and if one checks the online court records he apparently never pays his bills.  Tons of lawsuits.  I only mentioned it because I think it's an interesting concept for an inboard that will run fairly shallow.

[CDUX]

Thanks for quick replies.  

Plans are to close off the transom.  Been looking into a jack plate or bracket for the old 200hp that came off her, then I remembered about those mercs and the gears got turning.

First thoughts I had based on some brainstorming & limited research were:

Straight inboard: less outlay in equipment, need a stuffing box, strut, prop, & whatever else I counldn't salvage off the other boat, but alot more engineering; plus limiting my abilitly to trailer, but there is the cool factor.

I/O: more in materials, seems like less engineering, keeps it trailerable.

O/B w/ bracket/jack: least engineering, but the most cost in the long run, as I not sure how much life that '89 Suzuki has left in her.

Got plenty of time to kick it around.