27 Flybridge conversion from I/O to Outboard

[captbone]

Great project and I am looking forward to pictures.

I have a 25ft Bertram FBSF with a single 225hp Optimax. I cruise at 25mph and top out with a light load at 40mph. I think that you will be able to match those with your hull and a 300hp easily. Its all about set up and propping.

I have fished with 6 adults, 80 gallons of fuel and full gear without problem and that is on a 25ft boat with 10ft beam and a flybridge.

The engine will be fine and last just as long as any other engine. An outboard does not know if it is on a 40ft barge swinging a 11pitch prop at 4000rpm or a 20ft speedboat swinging a 25pitch prop at 4000rpm. As long as your treat your engine correctly it will last just as long. If 4000rpm = 24mph then so be it. The only reason that engine dies quicker on a heavier single boat is because the owner tries to go faster and cruises at higher rpm to make up for the lack in power.

I have seen a water taxi in the carribean, a 28ft Bertram flybridge with a single 250hp Yamaha that ran just fine, day in and day out.

The only downside that you need to be aware of is low speed handling. It will not back down well and turning takes more room.

[3rdday]

captbone,

Thank you for your input and valuable insight and experience..
I hope it works ok, like I said the 300 v8 will be for experimenting and short term, if it does well i know the etec 300 will. In any case it wont be a big deal to reset for twins.
Im going to be adding knees to the stringers and transom and a longitudinal beam across the transom. I re cored the transom last year with composite, eglass biax and epoxy......
Its easy work as long as its not in the dead of summer- my only complaint is grinding glass in the summer.

EDIT+=Sorry for the thumbs down at the top of the post - meant for it to go at the end of"grinding glass in the summer"

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by 3rdday

captbone,

Thank you for your input and valuable insight and experience..
I hope it works ok, like I said the 300 v8 will be for experimenting and short term, if it does well i know the etec 300 will. In any case it wont be a big deal to reset for twins.
Im going to be adding knees to the stringers and transom and a longitudinal beam across the transom. I re cored the transom last year with composite, eglass biax and epoxy......
Its easy work as long as its not in the dead of summer- my only complaint is grinding glass in the summer.

EDIT+=Sorry for the thumbs down at the top of the post - meant for it to go at the end of"grinding glass in the summer"

Always thinking outside the curve...good for you. Called Monty and Gordon said you will be happy with the big E tec. Twins are a bit heavier depending on choices, but in the middle of the panel, may be happy, balanced, and neutral through the controls.

Cheers
Us