Hi Chris,
well as you said it, it's probably more practical to just get another
boat but if you decide to start a project like this.
Here a few thoughts.
1. you're right a 1/4 thick transom doesn't cut it, the idea to just
sandwich the area where the new stern drive is going to be installed
is not good enough.
If you sandwich the hole transom and also give the hull more
stability at the connections bottom and sides you would be better off.
Make sure you build it tough, it would be to bad if you get stress
cracks in your gel coat after a few seasons. There is a lot of force
to be dealt with.
I guess you're looking at something like the alpha one.
2. Since you are in for a major upgrade, at least structural. I would
look into getting a stern drive where you have the option to install
duo props.
My neighbor in the marina upgraded his 28' Bayliner twin 270hp and
it is a huge difference in the performance. He rebuild his engines but
kept
the hp rating. If you think about doing something like this make
sure your engine has already enough power to turn the duo props
efficiently.
Otherwise you will have to get an engine with enough power. Well
at this point depending on your budget and in which shape your engine
is
you are probably at the point what everybody calls to re-power a
boat. This is expensive and you usually get not your money back if you
want to
sell the boat. Just think it through because in this case you have
a keeper and probably a real nice performing one, it all depends what
you're intend is.
3. You talked about welding some gussets. Is the structure where you
want to attache these gussets strong enough? I think it can be done
but involves
structural upgrades at these points and keep access for
maintenance and repair in mind. It is usually already pretty tight.
I bought 4 boats last year, funny the first one was a 23' Bell Boy
with an sized engine and a f.... OMC electric shift, pretty similar
to yours. I research a lot of options outboard, change to an alpha one
but ended up to buy another old aluminum 21' which was leaking like a
sieve but had the same drive and engine in a nice shape. Worked for
me.
The last boat I bought was/ is a 31' Uni. Nobody in the Marina thought
it would go back into the water without pulling the engines, she was
sitting for 8+ years
and wasn't winterized. Well it took time but now she works just fine.
I guess, since the ratio is 80% working and only 20% being on the
water in my case,
you could say I count the the working part into the boating experience
and enjoy all the monkey wrenching. Happy camper.
If you start a project be repaired that there is always something that
screws up the schedule and it always takes a lot longer than you
anticipate.
Keep us posted as it is always interesting to follow a project along.
Oliver
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