Sharkcat 560 centre console

[lee560]

I have a 5.6 sharkcat centre console and thinking of chopping the engine wells out to get more deck space . Was planning on ally pods that follow the hull right through. Any hints? How do they handle once modified ?

[Noelm]

There is a few things to look at here, first up, adding pods will move the weight of the motors further back (what motors do you have?) and in the centre console, there is no cabin to add weight to the bow, so weight further back will be worse than in a "standard" runabout model, I have some pictures of the pods fitted to the later model original 560 if you want me to send them to you. I sort of tossed that around when I rebuilt mine, but decided to move the console forward and leave the rear as it was, I did get some input from a guy that builds cats near me, and his sugestion was a bit of a compromise, that being, leave the motors as the are, but cut 50% (or more) of the motor wells away, and cut the rear 'seat" between the motors and manufacturer a straight transom setup, but still leave the motors as is, that would gain a lot of space, make the stern more "fisher friendly", but retain the balance/trim of the original design (if you get what I mean)

[lee560]

Hey Noel I have a pair of 05 merc 90's that I picked up 12 months ago that have 600 hrs on them but thinking of new 115 optis but they are probably 40 kgs heavier each and might be a bit snug in the wells. Apparently before I got it it had the original blue band mercs with only 400 hrs on them,not sure what they would've weighed ? I have seen a couple over here flat backed and podded but they are forward steerers. The tanks are 160 l each and the cab and crew are gonna already put weight slightly rear of centre. Not sure if it's this centre console model or just an age thing but I noticed doing the floor that the floor height is different to my dads one which was a late 70's rescue boat over here and his hulls are different shape to mine and even his transom is shorter,must have been a few variations.
Lee

[Noelm]

There was a lot of different hulls made over the years, some changes easily picked, others not so easy, I almost got 90HP 2 stroke merc for mine when I got new motors.

[lee560]

What engines did you fit

[Noelm]

90HP Suzuki 4 strokes, took months to decide, looked at every 90HP on the market and decided on them for a variety of reasons, but it was a difficult choice.

[lee560]

What sort of top speed do they give?

[Noelm]

they are heaps of power, and will hold a good clean plane at quite low RPM, I have all the speeds written down at home and will let you know tomorrow, at around 3,600-4,000 the boat runs really well, the fuel use is bugger all at that speed too, it has really amazed me how little fuel they use, I seem to remember that 4,000 gives me 50KPH, but I could be wrong, I will need to check, the motors are really good at around that RPM, they will hold a nice cruise without fooling around with the throttles all the time and do not die off if you are running up a bit of swell either. But they are still heavy 4 strokes (even though they are the lightest in that HP range) did you have a look at the photo I sent you? it does not sit too low in the water, but a pair of really light Yamaha 90HP 2 strokes would be great I reckon.

[Noelm]

hey, Lee, empty your inbox.

[MyWay]

lee560
have look this posts
everything is possible
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...cat-once-again

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...getting-fatter

[lee560]

Hey thanks for that myway that fella has done alot of work didn't read all cos my iPhones annoying to scroll through it all will look properly tonight at home ta

[lee560]

Yeah Noel still trying to work out how to shift messages from inbox

[lee560]

Hey Noel is it the suzukis that also have a different drive shaft set up so the weight is closer to the transom

[Noelm]

yes, they have what they call "offset driveshaft" it serves two purposes, one is to moved the weight closer to the transom, and the other is to provide another gear ratio to enable bigger props to be used. How much benefit the offset provides is anyones guess, but my thoughts were that any help is a help, no matter how small.

[lee560]

Even yours tho with that extra weight sits good. Would your tanks be central mounted and what size, I think mine will hold bout 160l