Motor and out-drive help please!

[catfishwoman83]

Hi, I am new to this whole forum thing... i just bought my first boat.. 21 ft (i think or maybe 18 ft) 1988 Sea Sprite... it needs a motor and alpha 1 out-drive.... i dont have alot of money, so is there anywhere I can get a good deal? My dad has an old bass boat.. it has an out board... can i take it from my dads boat and put it in my new boat? I really dont no anything about boats.. but i fish my *** off... which i will show you the pictures.. but i need some "professional" help here so i can get this boat running, LOL... anyone, please? help me!!! lol

(if you need a picture of the boat, i got some... trying to figure out how to post em.. like i said i am new to a "forum" lol)

And thank you so much for puttin up with my ignorance about all this

 

[Pete104]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

Use dads bass boat!
Send pic's of boat you bought.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

How do you say "Lost Cause?" That's what you have if you don't have plenty of $.

Sorry, but it's the truth. You cannot easily mount an outboard on an inboard outboard hull without major fiberglassing.

 

[catfishwoman83]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

How do you say "Lost Cause?" That's what you have if you don't have plenty of $.

Thanks... its my first boat... just lookin for some luck.. i'm used to my dad's bass boat.. the sea sprite is like a whole new language to me... and i'm just so da&m happy i got my own boat now (so it wasnt a "lost cause" to me!!!) I love catfishin and now (if i can get the 2 parts i need) i dont have to get permission from my dad to use his boat!!!

 

[catfishwoman83]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

Use dads bass boat!
Send pic's of boat you bought.

tried to send a pic...? still aint used to this yet.. but i did send them as files... hope u get em

 

[catfishwoman83]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

ohh they did upload! yay!

 

[achris]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

That looks more like 18' than 21'. How much of the original power plant is still there?
If the gimbal housing, gimbal ring and bell housing are still good to go, then a new SEI drive would be the best option. As for engine, look for a cheap donor boat with a 3 litre Mercruiser, rob the engine out of that, and if the engine is shot, all the better, as you can get it even cheaper and find an old truck 3 litre and 'marinize' it with the bits from the donor boat....

Just be warned, boat is expensive. You may have bought an engine-less boat very cheaply, but it will be the last thing you get cheap.

Chris.........

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

i just bought my first boat.. 21 ft (i think or maybe 18 ft) 1988 Sea Sprite... it needs a motor and alpha 1 out-drive.... i dont have alot of money, so is there anywhere I can get a good deal?
And thank you so much for puttin up with my ignorance about all this

Does it need a motor and outdrive because they are missing, or just in non-working condition? Needing a 'new motor & outdrive' and 'don't have a lot of money' don't really work together. :facepalm: Sorry to say. what you seem to have is a "project boat", so it would be good to know how much money you plan on spending on this project and some more details about what the boat currently has and its condition, etc.

Are you able to sell some of the fish that you catch?

The outboard would not be readily transferable to the Sea-sprite, so that is out. (anyway, your Dad might notice that his outboard is missing) If you have an engine and outdrive to work with, then that might be your best approach, i.e. try to repair it. But, still not enough info that you are giving us so that we can provide good guidance.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

Welcome to the Iboats drydock, catfishwoman83...

Like has already been mentioned, this stuff ain't cheap, but anything is possible with determination.

Let's get you started...

For the posting of pictures...it is best if you get a free Photobucket account, load your pics there, then when you post here, just click on the IMG tag on photobucket and paste it here...

We are all hooked on pictures here, because they let us see what you see and try to provide you with the best possible guidance on how to proceed.

Next, let's clear up the engine details...does the boat have an engine and drive in it or not?

If No, you could possibly scrounge up a donor boat for free or cheap...

If yes, we'll get you the info you need to figure out what's wrong with it and whether or not it is salvageable...

Then, you need to find out what kind of condition is the hull in? Is it solid or does it, too, need a complete gut and rebuild?

Lastly, even though you don't have a lot of money...the beauty of this crazy thing we do called boat restorations, is that it can be done because the money that needs to be spent, can be spent as it becomes available, over time...

Some of the restorations here are still in progress after several years...

This is a project and needs to be understood as such...

If we all had bookoo dollars, we would all go out and buy new boats, or at least water-ready used ones...

Some have decided after looking into the hours of blood and sweat required to restore a boat, that they would rather save up some more money, or even get some financing, and buy that water-ready boat...


Now, don't get me wrong, this will cost some serious green and time, but the amount of knowledge and pride you will gain, when you "splash" your boat for the first time after you restore it, will be priceless...

Best of luck and know that whatever you decide, the iboats community will back you up...

Regards,
GT1M

 

[catfishwoman83]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

haha yeah i know it isnt good to that i dont have much money LOL.. but i'm expecting it to be running anytime soon... I'm going to take it one step at a time.. and now to answer your question... yes the motor is still in, but someone wanted the out-drive- the bottom gear worked but the top did not.. he was willing to sell it back to me for $150 and said it sould be cheaper to just buy the top gear.. but he is a very sketchy person so i told him i'd wait on that... (do you think that would have been a good idea to buy it back?) he said i could get a new top gear for cheap... dunno how much i believe him... but yes the motor is still on the boat.. just not working.. and thank you so much for replying on my question... i need all the advice i can get. to me the boat is worth it cuz it was probably my only chance to get one anytime soon... and i know it might be quite expensive to fix, but i like i said, its definitely worth it to me! Hope to hear back from you and let me know what you think! thank you so much!!

 

[catfishwoman83]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

To tpenfield: haha yeah i know it isnt good to that i dont have much money LOL.. but i'm expecting it to be running anytime soon... I'm going to take it one step at a time.. and now to answer your question... yes the motor is still in, but someone wanted the out-drive- the bottom gear worked but the top did not.. he was willing to sell it back to me for $150 and said it sould be cheaper to just buy the top gear.. but he is a very sketchy person so i told him i'd wait on that... (do you think that would have been a good idea to buy it back?) he said i could get a new top gear for cheap... dunno how much i believe him... but yes the motor is still on the boat.. just not working.. and thank you so much for replying on my question... i need all the advice i can get. to me the boat is worth it cuz it was probably my only chance to get one anytime soon... and i know it might be quite expensive to fix, but i like i said, its definitely worth it to me! Hope to hear back from you and let me know what you think! thank you so much!!

 

[carribbean soul]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

down here in florida you can get alpha drives for $200-500 on craigs list and another $300 can get you a used 3.0 engine.

 

[CTJeff]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

CW-
If the boat floor and transom are determined to be good move forward. If your Dad is not available to help you, Cat you need to read alot on here and be willing to get dirty & learn. Try to get everything free put an ad in or read craigs list ads to haul boats away free & be prepared to work hard. Find a place to dump boats legally or take your parts and put your own ad in to give it away. Then it will be possible to do this job.

If the lower unit is good $150 is a good price. Ask the seller to do this in front of you. Or take a regular or flat blade screw driver and a bucket over to the outy and unscrew the drain plug on the round part of the bottom of the drive. Then find the vent screw at the top & remove it. You are now draining the oil from the drive. Is the oil milky or clear colored oil ? You must know how oil looks when clean. While there, inspect the lower unit. Is the skeg chipped or broken? That is the upside down fin on the bottom of the drive near where you removed the drain plug. You need to find the shift lever on the drive, mid way up on the inside of the drive. Does the prop turn the ujoint in forward & reverse? can you get in & out of gear & nuetral? (while someone holds it or lying on the ground) Is the upper shot because of ujoint failure which was caused by bellows failure?

Now inspect the trasom assembly, stick two fingers through the belhouse into the gimble bearing, turn it, is it grimey or sandy or sticking in any way? if it doesn't seem smooth it must be replaced. Put you hand back in the bellhouse and run you fingers around the bellows. Are ther any holes? You must be sure. Seeing the way the boat looks and the year made it's typical that it needs a whole new "Transom repair kit" and while your in there repairs like water pump impeller, maybe shift cable & seals. If the lower was determined to be good you can buy a used (fresh water only) Alpha 1 Gen 1 upper drive off ebay just make sure the seller has 100% rating. This time of year around $300 is worth it for a good one. This is a good way to bond with Dad even more. Get a used repair book or borrow one from a friend or the library.
Good luck,
Jeff

 

[oops!]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

hi cat......

welcome to iboats.....

first off.......the idea of taking your dads outboard and putting it on your boat can be done.....but with a major amount of work.
this includes pulling the motor in the boat....taking off the drive and housing both inner and outer, stripping all the harnesses and wires, and replacing them with an outboard set up.
then you will need a jack plate and other structural items to make it work.

a few people have done this, and have not been happy with the results.

so......scrap that idea.

now ...lets look closely at your boat.....

that boat has been in the weather for a long time.

im willing to bet the floor is soft, and so is the transom.
that means the stringers are most likely rotten and the foam is wet.

now......when we decide to do a restoration project, the first thing we do is to make sure that the motor and drive are working and in good shape. this is due to the costs of replacing them with good or rebuilt parts.
you want reliability on the water....if you cant get back to the dock.....you are stranded floating....and if a storm blows up...it is a very real possibility that you sink.

ok....so.....we have a shot motor and drive, rotten decks (ill bet the farm on it) and bad upholstery.
as well ....the gellcoat will need serious re surfacing to bring it back to good.

hows the trailer?

i would highly suggest that you part out that boat, sell the trailer, drag that sucker to the land fill....and look for a working water ready boat.

im sorry this is not what you want to hear.....but from a logistical standpoint....it will need 60 hours of pro labour to repair.
300 hours of do it your self.

the motor and drive, will be around 6k.....if you find a good doaner boat, you can do it for 1200.
then the hull will require 2000 worth of fiberglass, resin and gellcoat.

if you sell the trailer for 500....and look for a boat for about 2k...you will be much farther ahead, and in the water very soon !

 

[catfishwoman83]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

thank you so much for ur advice... and i will get down and dirty, read this sight and learn... i know everything about catfishin, actually just caught one about 15 min ago LOL... i just aint too familar with boats.. so i appreciate all of ya'lls advice (and not lookin at me like a dumbass-LOL) Again, thank u so much!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[catfishwoman83]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

Thank you all for your help and advice!!!!!!!!! I've learned so much from all of you!! Thanks so much for helpin me out!!!

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

Hi CW83,

If you really want to "get down and dirty"...here's a great place to start reading up on what you can expect...


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288451

Especially numbers 11 and 15...these two guys have literally done it all...you will definitely see and learn everything you need to decide if this is really the direction you want to go...

Like I said before, whatever you decide, the iboats gang will help you out with whatever info you need...

Don't be afraid to ask any questions...most of us here started out dumber than a rock when it comes to boats...but thanks to all of the helpful folks here...we all learn and share...

GT1M

 

[carribbean soul]

Re: Motor and out-drive help please!

So... are we going to see pictures of the boat?