Thanks Brandon . . . I have 2 175 2.4L mercs ready to go, but the transom is solid, so I feel guilty not leaving it as original. Bracket sure would be a lot easier, but I learning something new . . . so I'm gonna putz along for a while and try to get it running as is.

Be careful putting too much time into the ford motor. I had the 188hp in a Searay that I dumped way too much time and energy into it.

Most time's besides alternator/starter I was able to use a 70's era mustang for parts. But often times parts were either expensive heavily used or hard to find. But I also was coupled to a 888 outdrive too which was hard to find parts. I think you said you were coupled to a TRS. I think I still have a few parts off that old ford motor I think valve cover gaskets and the alignment tool.

You are doing what others understand. Think, think ,and think some more. They are deep and skinny. You`ve read the book.

Got to disagree with my distinguished neighbor down the road. Outboards have their place but not on a 25. Raises the CG too much on a boat that is already tippy. I have a friend that owned one long ago. He put twin outboards and a (nuts)tower on it. Lightning fast, but he said it rolled something awful (including a bad snap roll, which the I/O boats don't have). His wife refused to go out on it.

Offer me a good price on mine and I will replace it with a 260HP Cummins/Mercruiser/VW TDI that is lighter than a 350 chevy in a heartbeat. Or a small home equity loan... :D

From what I learned working for a boat builder- it is all in the props. A 300HP 350CID engine doesn't make 300HP unless you can absorb full torque at that operating point. And prop efficiency can be from the 40s to 74% (or worse). So a 60% efficent 200HP drive goes as fast or faster than a 300HP 40% efficent prop. Engine power is input, not propulsive power.

A $600 prop and magic bottom paint could be the ticket with that engine.

Volvo IPS props are SO thin, you would think they couldn't be fully machined from NiBrAl (Bronze) on a horizontal CNC machine. But they are. And at thousands each, they still seem to be worth it. They are transmission and tires all at the same time.

Cut the deck and put a straight shaft in there? Where we live makes perfect sense.
Still spinning,
Us
Yikes

Little more cleanup and 15 minutes with a 320 grit on bottom paint :)

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...262_Medium.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...263_Medium.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...264_Medium.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...265_Medium.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...258_Medium.jpg

Wow, what an improvement! She looks very original. Nice to have a clean palette to work from.
Dave

That boat is way to clean to be yours ;) It looks awesome!

Shazaaam, that cleaned up nicely!