Re: OMC Seadrive replacement? Adaptation?
I *think* you could fit a different Johnson/Evinrude up to the seadrive if you really wanted to - it would require pulling the powerhead on both engines, alot of disassembly/assembly, creativity, and likely some pain/aggravation. I'm pretty sure it could be done though.<br /><br />A much better idea IMO is to just install a bracket. It shouldn't cost you $5K for a bracket unless you just show up at a dealer and bend over. They'll order the bracket and then charge you double for it.<br /><br />I'd say though, either buy a rebuilt powerhead for that (about $2500-$3500), or take it off completely. <br /><br />The cost for standard sort (custom built) of twin engine bracket is between $1200-$2500 depending on if it's got an additonal swim platform, who builds it, and/or what other custom items you might want. Single engine brackets are about 1/2 the cost.<br /><br />Mines gonna run me about $1500 shipped from D&D marine - a twin engine bracket for a pair of 150's. It's custom built to match the angle of my transom, but is just a standard basic sort of bracket otherwise. In the process of having it built now, Don over there at d & d marine has really been unbelievably helpfull - I reccomend at least talking to him before you do anything, but haven't seen the bracket yet, so can't give you a full report.<br /><br />It's very common to yank sea-drives and add a bracket, all the shops are going to know just what you are speaking of.<br /><br />Other than d&d marine (they are online by the way).. "stainless", "gil", and "armstrong" all do brackets too. "stainless" is a good bet if your transom is 13-14 degrees, they actually stock brackets for the purpose, between $750 (single/no platform) to $2600 (twin/platform).<br /><br />What I did is bought a boat w/ a set of sea-drives with the intention of repowering. Picked up a set of used mint condition 150's for $4000, brackets gonna run me $1500, steering about another $1000. $6500 for the repower to a very common, solid, dependable, and widely used/known engine. Plus, now I'll have the added performance benefit of the bracket and still have miles of deck space and a closed transom.<br /><br />There is another option, you could have the transom modified to fit regular outboards. Depending on the boat you've got, it might be very easy, some are probably as simple as just cutting a little and sealing it back up again.. I liked the way it was, it was a little tricky to pull off, and decided and am going with the bracket instead. Some boats though wouldn't need much modification.<br /><br />Jon
