Outboard Pods

[Homer_Jay]

Just wondering who is good at making outboard pods.

I have a V19C with a sterndrive and I am looking to convert it to an outboard.

I would prefer a fibreglass pod that I can just bolt on.

Has anyone had any experience with this? or know who to go to?


Aaron

[Roughasguts]

Think you can buy them all made up just bolt on.
Mind you they ain't cheap.

[Brejen]

Aaron give the guys at Edencraft a call; they do them, made from glass; and they will bolt straight onto your hull.

Brett

http://www.edencraft.com.au/

[Homer_Jay]

Brett,

I have already talked to them. But the only one they have that might work doesnt sit far enough out. As on their boat they have a recess on the top of the transom.

Thanks for the idea, but they were the first ones I contacted.

[seameter]

Hi.
We used to own a V19R that had been converted to a pod with an outboard and whether it was due to faulty work or whatever the boat was a real dog in choppy seas compared to what it should have been like. I found that the pod seemed to majorly change the center of gravity of the boat and this made it really slam in a rough sea. My main point would be that if you are certain you want to have this work done make sure whoever does it really knows what they are doing as a pod can really turn a good boat into a dreadful one.

Regards
Seameter

[jimbo59]

I have a pod mould and have fitted one to a 19c,it went very well the customer is very happy with it.The only drawback is the motor will not be able to reach full tilt as the pod is 600 mm out from the transom. cheers jim

[BM]

What?? ditching the merCruiser Aaron???

A bloke down here in Vic does a non bouyant pod for approx $700. What are Jimbo's worth?

PM me with what you are after for your complete 485. Be handy to have it as a spare power package.

Cheers

[jimbo59]

Same money,comes with bolts,bung ect.

[BM]

With bolts. Thats a good deal Jimbo. As you would know, the stainless bolts cost a bit on their own.

[jimbo59]

Yeah my cost price is about 15 bucks each!:'(

[BM]

Aaron,

Just be aware from the outset that your boat is not likely to ride as well as it presently does. A full depth pod (hull extension) would be the proper way to go. A compromise using a non bouyant pod will have questionable results on most hulls. Some will be ok, but many others will not.

Just want you to be diving in eyes wide open.

Cheers

[Homer_Jay]

NIck,

yeah I am aware that the boat wont be as nice with the pod. I dont even like the look of an outboard on them.

But I have got to a stage where I never use my boat cause I have no confidence in it anymore. Not that there is anything serious wrong with it. Just always seems to be something small.

Also the fact that no one around here knows how to work on these things. I am getting to a stage where I know more than the mechanics I go talk to. The local Mercruiser dealer wont even touch it.

Not sure what I want for it yet. I will have to look into it.


Jimbo, yeah I am interested in one of your pods, cause im guessing your a local. Do you have any pics???


Aaron

[Spaniard_King]

Pics of a pod that was fitted to a haines 213C, the guy who makes them is mid GC-Brissy, PM me if you want his number. He even made recesses to take QL style trim tabs

[Chimo]

Hi Garry

Does the entire hull drain thru the pod or is the hull separate from the pod on that 213C?

Thanks

Cheers
Chimo

[Spaniard_King]

Chimo,

The hull drains through that pod. He has his bilge pumps mounted in the pod.

[BM]

So whats presently wrong with the merCruiser? I don't understand why there are not some knowledgable guys up there?? Are there hardly any merCruisers in QLD or something??

Cheers

[jimbo59]

Here are 2 different ways to go i prefer the moulded in version , the bolt on one while cheaper isn't as efficient.

[Spaniard_King]

Here are 2 different ways to go i prefer the moulded in version , the bolt on one while cheaper isn't as efficient.

Jimbo, what do you concider the one I posted pics on to be??

[Homer_Jay]

NIck,

There is nothing atcually wrong with the Mercruiser (at the moment) but I have spent over $4000 on it in the last 2 years (and that was fixing alot of things myself with your help, as you know) all of that for about 30 hours use. Its got to a stage where I just keep throwing money at it and it doest seem to stop. But like I said I think the biggest thing is the fact the I dont trust it anymore. NO, it has never let me down out on the water but it feels like its only a matter of time.
I am not silly enough to think that boat maintainence doesnt cost money but if it was reliable then it woudnt bother me.

As for the local mechanics. The local Mercruiser dealer told me he doesnt want to touch it (he only wants to do basic sevices on the new ones) I was ripped off by one shonk. One mobile guy I spoke to who said he knew everything about them, well he looked at me blankly when I tried to tell him that the shift interupt switch was cutting it out. When I explained how it worked and why it was there his response was "of have never heard such rubish in my life" needless to say I didnt let him touch it. I spoke to another guy on saturday about it and he didnt wasnt too interested in looking at it and said if he did he would have to charge big bucks.
So, I have decided to ditch it once and for all.
Atleast with an outboard if anything needs to be done I can take it anywhere to be serviced.

Spaniard King,
Thanks for the response and thats a great looking design but I dont want to spend too much.

Jimbo,
yeah the bolt on one will do the trick. Can you PM me your number so we can the details and maybe get something happening.


Cheers
Aaron

[Spaniard_King]

AAron,

That pod was $1600 fitted

[BM]

I wonder if the lack of knowledge on merCruiser in the Bris area is to do with a lack of sterndrive boats up that way?? Yes? No??

I like your mechanic who knew nothing about the shift interrupt :) :) I guess he hasn't really seen too many merCruisers then!! That would have been an interesting conversation to watch :) :)

Just on that, if your interrupt is cutting out the engine that is usually an indicator that the lower shift cable has gone tight and the mismatch in cable loading on the interupt plate will stall the engine.

Sometimes the interrupt spring needs a little stretch tweak too.

It would be interesting to know how many sterndrive boats there are around Bris-Sunny Coast.....

Cheers

[Homer_Jay]

Yeah your right about an interesting conversation to watch!!!!!! and these guys are supposed to know MORE than me!!!
Nah the switch is all sorted out now.

But I am sick of having to spend so much time learning the stuff so I can fix it myself...... I am a strong believer of me doing what I do best to make money and paying the EXPERTS to do what they do best...... seems that just not the case when it comes to sterndrives!!

Yeah.... I dont think we have anywhere nears as many sterndrives as what you guys have down there but there are still alot so im not sure what all the other guys do when it comes to repairs.....

[Vitamin Sea]

Hi Aaron

Have you considered a new mercruiser and leg? may be a cheaper and or better option than new outboard, getting pod fitted and the various other mods that you would have to make?

A new 175 - 200 DFI will cost 18 - 20K alone!

Just a thought

Cheers

Bill

[rocksberg6]

G'Day Homer Jay; The place i found up here that knew alot about mercruisers was spinaker sound marine workshop at sandstone pnt the boys there really know there stuff. i was in the exact same frame of mind as you and after speaking to them they promised to get my 454 humming and reliable, they certainly done that so maybe they are worth a call first.

[pilchardjones]

Murraycraft Fibreglass (call Justin) in Mackay have a mould for a pod that bolts straight onto a 213 or 19.
They have done loads of them in Mackay and I understand they are very good performance wise. The boats perform great and give loads of additional room. I have dealt with them before and they do top work.
BTW i used to have a 19R with a 470 mercruiser and I think it is a good idea to go the pod / outboard option. It has been done many many times and makes a good boat great.
steve

[Homer_Jay]

Bill,

yeah I have been down that road. But the new one to replace it is only 130hp and the next size up is the V6. The V6 wont fit into my existing engine cover, so there would be alot of stuffing around to get it to work.

I think I am 98% sure that I am going down the outboard conversion path.
I know the 4 strokes are around the $20,000 for a 175
But I can get a new Yamaha 2 stroke for quite a bit cheaper than that. I know it will use alot more fuel but as I dont do huge hours each year the extra cost isnt really a factor. The only thing that does concern me is the limited range with the 2 stroke as I can only carry 170lt of fuel.

Rocksberg,
If I do decide to keep it I might take it down to them for a look. I hadnt even thought about those guys. They have obviously looked after you.



Pilchard,
Thanks for the contact. I will talk to Jimbo first but if that doesnt work out I will give them a call.

[Vitamin Sea]

[quote=Homer_Jay;746269]Bill,

yeah I have been down that road. But the new one to replace it is only 130hp and the next size up is the V6. The V6 wont fit into my existing engine cover, so there would be alot of stuffing around to get it to work.

I think I am 98% sure that I am going down the outboard conversion path.
I know the 4 strokes are around the $20,000 for a 175
But I can get a new Yamaha 2 stroke for quite a bit cheaper than that. I know it will use alot more fuel but as I dont do huge hours each year the extra cost isnt really a factor. The only thing that does concern me is the limited range with the 2 stroke as I can only carry 170lt of fuel.

G'day again Aaron

When I was looking around, I could have bought a 200hp (I think ) EFI merc for around the $13500 mark, IF you want to go down the traditional 2 banger road.

170 litres would give you about 170km of running, bit less in shi%$y conditions with a 2 stroke.

Give Jason or Troy a ring at Wondall Rd Marine, good fellas.

One thing to remember, the cost of purchase is soon forgotten, sort of, filling up every other week is not, also resale.

Think hard about which pod you go for, a hull extension is the only way to go on these ( our ) boats, the pics Garry, SK put up look the goods to me.

Good luck on your decision, let me know if I can help in any way;)

Cheers

Bill

[Homer_Jay]

Bill,

that sounds like pretty good value for a 200 merc. Alot cheaper than the 4 stroke. Will be alot to think about.

That fuel usage is about what I get from my Mercruiser anyway.... and that has never bothered me. So looking at it that way it would be hard to justify the extra.

Will be looking into the pods abit more too. I was thinking the non boyant one, cause the mercruiser is really heavy and she sits nice in the water at rest, so I was thinking with the lighter motor I dont want her to float to high and be too tipsy.


Cheers
Aaron

[litenup]

Talk to Murray craft in Mackay. They made the one for my 19C. They make them from fibreglass for single or twin set ups. Yours is easy, back of boat ready to bolt the pod on. It doesn't go to bottom of boat, so easy to put tabs on. Can be set up for 20 or 25 legs. Cheers Pete.

[tropicrows]

Aaron,

If you can get hold of a copy of magazine by Jeff Webster called "Second hand boat workshop" their is a good article in it, about the pros and cons of converting a stern drive to a outboard on a pod system. One thing to keep in mind if the pod does not extend down to the original hull shape, your outboard motor is mounted higher than if it's was mounted on the transom. The ratio is 12:1, for every 12" back, the motor is 1" higher (roughly)