Converting a sportfish style to outboards

Timbo615

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Dec 17, 2009
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My uncle is looking at getting a bigger boat. He would like a boat with sleeping quarters, living room, A/C, etc. Something like most sportfish have. There are two major concerns. 1) He would like a boat with a large area in the back for fishing(bottom fishing not trolling) because we usually have 6 people fishing at a time. 2) It must be able to be converted to outboards. The reason is because he has a house on a river which leads to the gulf but the river is to shallow for an inboard. So with all that, i would like some opinions on which boats meet those standards. The boat needs to be bigger than or equal to 30ft. Thanks so much.
 

Home Cookin'

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May 26, 2009
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Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

"converting" a 30' inboard to an outboard is a major operation, not something for the back yard. I'd tell him to just go directly to the outboards.
But to be realistic, study what a 30' draws, whether OB or I/O or IB. At that size, OB might not be the advantage.

Instead, he will have to dredge or rent a slip in a place appropriate for 30' boats. Any boat problem can be solved; it just takes money. And you can't own and operate a 30' fishing boat for cheap.
 

Reel-hip

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Jun 1, 2012
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Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

My suggestion is to stay with a vessel that already had outboards then. I understand that the way it was designed before (outboards) will change the way it rides or floats. I personally like my inboard better than one of my last boats with outboards for fishing. Nothing is on the stern. I can trim up my outdrive the same as a outboard. Inboard outboards may give him more options or just give him more problems trying to decide what way to go. Either way keep helping him so you will be fishing with him often.
 

dingbat

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Nov 20, 2001
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16,900
Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

No need to convert. Just buy one

360_1024x768.jpg


http://www.gradywhite.com/360/
 

Colorado_Boater

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May 15, 2012
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Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

I would kill for a boat like that, imagine how much the running costs are.
 

jigngrub

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Mar 19, 2011
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Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

Bottom fishing off of a 30' with outboards with 6 people will be very crowded compared to inboards.

Typically 2 fish from port and starboard and 2 fish from the stern, but you'll lose your stern fishing spots with the outboards... I can also see a big AJ wrapping line around one or both of the outboards.
 

Home Cookin'

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9,715
Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

Bottom fishing off of a 30' with outboards with 6 people will be very crowded compared to inboards.

Typically 2 fish from port and starboard and 2 fish from the stern, but you'll lose your stern fishing spots with the outboards... I can also see a big AJ wrapping line around one or both of the outboards.

I disagree. experienced fishermen often choose outboards, take a crowd, no problem. A true inboard has the props under the boat, outof the way but if you wrap one there, getout the scuba gear. I/O is as exposed as an OB just harder to get to.

On a 30' boat, bottom fishing, you can easily have 3 on each side, 2 at each stern quarter and one on the bow.
 

Timbo615

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Dec 17, 2009
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Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

We fish 6 people on a 25ft parker with twin outboards no problem. I usually fish right off of the swim platform right by the outboards with no problems. Now I know the question i posed is possible. Many people in Florida have made Bertrams run with outboards. I was just trying to see if any else knew of any other hulls which can do this. Looking for one type of hull is very hard to find and getting the right one is very tough. We need one that has blown motors or is just the hull. Not many of these exist. I will just keep looking. We understand the work and the cost. Thanks for the help
 

Fireman431

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Sep 17, 2007
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4,292
Re: Converting a sportfish style to outboards

Everyone is missing the point. A convertible boat with inboards cannot easily be converted for use of outboards. Removal of the engines and sealing up the shaftways/rudder shaft holes are a big enough job. The biggest issue is the transom. If you can find a boat without an integrated swim platform (which places the transom 2-3 feet inward), the problem is that most boats of the inboard design have no structural stability built into the transom. It is a few layers of fiberglass & gel coat. Assume 1/2" thick...max. No way would it be strong enough to support outboards. You would have a HUGE supporting structure, fiberglass, & gelcoat job ahead of you to be able to support the weight/thrust of outboards.

I second on finding the right boat to begin with.
 
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