swimmin' for shore
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2004
- Messages
- 490
I've done a few boat projects, but going to start something completely out of my line of experience and looking forward to a 15,000 dollar plus project that will take quite some time. I thought I'd weigh in here to start out and I'll try and keep updating this post as we go. So, here goes.
First of all, I'm reasonably well set up to do this. I own an outboard parts business and have for some years, so I have some amount of help with this project...as time allows and money dictates. I also have a great source for various pieces, parts, outboard engines, etc...
I've recently purchased a mid-70's houseboat. I don't have the title sitting here so I'll repost with the brand later, but it's 12' wide and 43' in length. This is an all aluminum hull and all aluminum frame. It came on a trailer that's in good condition, and I paid 1500 dollars for the whole package. Getting it here cost me another 900 dollars, so I'm 2400 dollars deep thus far.
There's very, very little wood in the boat at this point, and no steel, aside from the engine and generator currently in it. It's a very light boat, as 43 foot houseboats go, and I purchased this completely gutted. The guy who towed it down here estimated that the boat alone doesn't weigh more than 3000 lbs. as it sits right now. I'd guess that it will be 2000 lbs or less when I pull the engine and generator, so that'll be the starting weight. The original engine is sitting in it, but is locked up. It has a direct drive engine and essentially, someone took most of the parts off of it, but the shaft, prop, and block are still there. There's a generator in it that I'm quite certain won't run at this point so essentially, we're going to pull the engine, Paragon transmission, shaft, prop, and generator out of the boat first off. We'll go through the Paragon tranny and sell it in short order. We'll probably pull and polish the crankshaft and sell it, and I'd guess that the rest is going to the scrap yard. Beyond the engines, the boat has been completely gutted down to the framework inside (the tanks are still installed), which is what makes it such an intriguing project. I like the possibilities.
I have an idea that since I'm an outboard parts dealer that I'd prefer an outboard, or even twin outboards, on this boat. Given how light the boat is, I was hoping to get someone with experience to weigh in on what I could expect with a 200 HP engine, twin 200's, and whether or not we'd be better off with 4-stroke engines in this case. 2-strokes will be cheaper, of course, but I just sold a set of twin 200 Hondas that would have been suitable, as well, and that kind of set will come up again before this boat is done, so I have options. Your thoughts and opinions will be greatly valued throughout this process.
First of all, I'm reasonably well set up to do this. I own an outboard parts business and have for some years, so I have some amount of help with this project...as time allows and money dictates. I also have a great source for various pieces, parts, outboard engines, etc...
I've recently purchased a mid-70's houseboat. I don't have the title sitting here so I'll repost with the brand later, but it's 12' wide and 43' in length. This is an all aluminum hull and all aluminum frame. It came on a trailer that's in good condition, and I paid 1500 dollars for the whole package. Getting it here cost me another 900 dollars, so I'm 2400 dollars deep thus far.
There's very, very little wood in the boat at this point, and no steel, aside from the engine and generator currently in it. It's a very light boat, as 43 foot houseboats go, and I purchased this completely gutted. The guy who towed it down here estimated that the boat alone doesn't weigh more than 3000 lbs. as it sits right now. I'd guess that it will be 2000 lbs or less when I pull the engine and generator, so that'll be the starting weight. The original engine is sitting in it, but is locked up. It has a direct drive engine and essentially, someone took most of the parts off of it, but the shaft, prop, and block are still there. There's a generator in it that I'm quite certain won't run at this point so essentially, we're going to pull the engine, Paragon transmission, shaft, prop, and generator out of the boat first off. We'll go through the Paragon tranny and sell it in short order. We'll probably pull and polish the crankshaft and sell it, and I'd guess that the rest is going to the scrap yard. Beyond the engines, the boat has been completely gutted down to the framework inside (the tanks are still installed), which is what makes it such an intriguing project. I like the possibilities.
I have an idea that since I'm an outboard parts dealer that I'd prefer an outboard, or even twin outboards, on this boat. Given how light the boat is, I was hoping to get someone with experience to weigh in on what I could expect with a 200 HP engine, twin 200's, and whether or not we'd be better off with 4-stroke engines in this case. 2-strokes will be cheaper, of course, but I just sold a set of twin 200 Hondas that would have been suitable, as well, and that kind of set will come up again before this boat is done, so I have options. Your thoughts and opinions will be greatly valued throughout this process.