seafari 25-engine beds

[GERRY]

Does anyone know the approximate height the engine bed stringers need to be, to install a mercruiser 5.7 or Volvo 5.7 engine? I do not have the engine yet just getting ready to replace original stringers that were altered from original height from previous chrysler powerplant.

[FishStretcher]

I can measure this weekend if you want. I have a 350 MAG MPI in my 25 footer.

[Islandtrader]

Originally Posted by GERRY

Does anyone know the approximate height the engine bed stringers need to be, to install a mercruiser 5.7 or Volvo 5.7 engine? I do not have the engine yet just getting ready to replace original stringers that were altered from original height from previous chrysler powerplant.

I know this won't give you the exact answer but this is what happened to me.

When I made the decision to go with mecruiser I hauled the boat down to the dealer that was going to do the install. He put a jig in the boat and told me the height the stringers had to be. So I just made some pads to raise the stringers to the height he wanted. For some reason he said that using a angle iron L bracket would not work....

See Post 153 on my re-build thread (around page 4) for a detail of the build.

[FishStretcher]

1-3/4" off the engine bed stringers. Pics to follow. I am in the boat now. If you need box stringer height, I will have to see how to measure that.

[GERRY]

box stringer height will be needed as well. Thanks for your time. much appreciated.Gerry

[FishStretcher]

Box stringer is 8" wide, and 3.5 to 4" above keelson 8" aft of engine compartment forward bulkhead. The shelf for the batteries rests atop the box stringers and probably sags a bit. I can't get my head down in there to read the measurement, so the photo will have to do.

[FishStretcher]

Pics of that to follow.

When measured careffully, the engine bed is really 1-3/4" high on the outside, including glass thickness. I tore up index cards to step the flat away from the tabbing on the engine bed to get the 1-3/4" measurement.

Note the 8" box stringers are offset from the adjacent stringer by 1-1.5". I neglected to measure that.

[FishStretcher]

Let me know if you need any clarification. I think going too tall with box stringers would make for even worse access to the starter and oil pan. I would err on the short side and build up the engine beds, if I was doing it.

All this assumes mine was installed correctly. But the short sea trial seemed ok.

[GERRY]

thanks! this will be very helpful. My concerns as you mentioned, was to build the stringers so that I get max. clearance for starter and performing maintenance on engine.

[FishStretcher]

No problem. Everyone here has helped me out many times, glad I can finally return a favor.

Now if I had only listened to Strick about drain holes for the cockpit sole...