REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

[nhhockeyplayer]

Hi Folks,

I am a first time boat owner.

a 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 landed on my lap.

Its in nice shape and the engine and outtake are completely cleanly missing. ok off to the side in pieces... and I know I cannot get parts for it.

What can I do with this thing.

Should I convert it to OUTBOARD ? If so... what are steps and what engine should I get and where.?
Should I repower it with rebuilt inboard engine ? (alot fo work) I am hoping for simple solution.

The wife might spot me some cash to repower it.

Whats trhe best reliable most simple way to go.

Will she ring my neck later ?

Thabnks

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Why do you know you can't get parts for the engine that was in the boat?

Is the outdrive assembly present too?

You are looking at a fairly large investment in an outboard (OB) large enough to push this boat. Not to mention making fairly substantial modifications to the transom to accept an OB. Find & price some 230+/-hp OB's, even used probably $5-10K.
Iboats has a 2013 225hp Yamaha on sale for $19K

I'd start shopping for a thrashed fiberglass boat (donor boat) that has an inboard/outboard engine & outdrive (I/O) in operable condition that you can remove from that boat & install in your boat.

Iboats boat specs show your boat rated for the following I/O:

200 hp
230 hp
260 hp

You can get lots of serviceable parts off that donor motor, and if necessary even buy a new marine long block w/ all new internals for $1.5-2K, do NO major remodeling to the boat, w/ misc parts & pieces for the motor & outdrive and the price of the donor boat still be at or BELOW the $5K mark.

A 1987 low cost boat, of any kind, that has had it's motor & outdrive removed for some reason, is likely to need a good bit of work to the hull & boat superstructure to be sea worthy & sound enough to put time & effort into it being water ready.

 

[Bondo]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Hi Folks,

I am a first time boat owner.

a 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 landed on my lap.

Its in nice shape and the engine and outtake are completely cleanly missing. ok off to the side in pieces... and I know I cannot get parts for it.

What can I do with this thing.

Should I convert it to OUTBOARD ? If so... what are steps and what engine should I get and where.?
Should I repower it with rebuilt inboard engine ? (alot fo work) I am hoping for simple solution.

The wife might spot me some cash to repower it.

Whats trhe best reliable most simple way to go.

Will she ring my neck later ?

Thabnks

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... The thingy that usually hangs off the back of the boat is known as an Outdrive, not outtake,...

What motor,..?? What outdrive,..??

Atleast the Brand, if not the Model, 'n Horsepower of the motor, or how many cylinders,..??

 

[tpenfield]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

First time boater owner, no engine, etc

what is your budget? Probably could get a working boat for the cost of buying engine and outdrive.

do you have a neck brace?

 

[greenbush future]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

If you would post some pictures of your boat and the power plant and out-drive, I would bet you will get a bunch of good opinions about the best way to handle this. You haven't offered enough information for anyone to really see what you see. Why is the engine no good? out-drive?

 

[Slip Away]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Does not sound like a legit post to me. No such thing as a Four Winds either.

 

[oldsub86]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Does not sound like a legit post to me. No such thing as a Four Winds either.

Four Winns Boats : Runabouts, Deck Boats, Sport Boats and Cruisers

 

[nhhockeyplayer]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Thanks Folks for replying/...

It is a Four Winns Boats : Runabouts, Deck Boats, Sport Boats and Cruisers boat

I just got it and taking it off the hitch now.

Here are the details

4WNML382G788

LG 5.7LITRE GM

Engine Serial # V07247AB
11062714

A Sundowner

Here are the specs I dregged up

The engine and outdrive is completely out. I guess one of the pistons is bad and it had a bad head gasket.

Not sure what to do at this point. I wuold hate to rebuild it all back and have something else fail.

What would you do with this thing if it were yours ?

NADAguides.com Price Report
Suggested List Price Low Retail Average Retail
Base Price $23,670 $3,260 $3,630

Engine: 301-350 HP (5.7L - 8.1L ##) $1,390 $1,390

TOTAL PRICE $23,670 $4,650 $5,020

Standard Equipment Details
Length: 22'
Model Name/Description: 225 SUNDOWNER - 22'
Boat Type: Stern Drive Power Boat
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Beam: 8'8"
Engine: 1 - 200 HP-Gasoline
Net Weight: 3415


I will post some photos soon.

 

[nhhockeyplayer]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Ok this linbk is not my boat but it looks identical to this.

I have nt found out how to post my own photos.

http://www.arneysmarina.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/P6043966.jpg

but thats the baby what it looks like...

not too small not too large... just right... for all the boat trouble comin

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

welcome aboard.

do you have the engine and outdrive? if so, there is half your battle.

If you do not have the motor and outdrive, as many have stated, get a running boat with a trashed hull as a donor.

if you do have the motor and outdrive, the motor can be rebuilt for under $1500 from any local machine shop. depending on whether it was in salt water or not, you may or may not need to replace the exhaust manifolds and risers. if you get a salvage yard motor from a similar vintage truck, you can take your marine cam, new gaskets and new brass core plugs and get the boat motor back together for about $800 (not really a savings)

The cheapest way to get the boat on the water would be to use the existing driveline if you have it and repair it. the next cheapest way to get the boat on the water is a donor boat. the most expensive way is to convert to outboards.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

one quick question for the 27 year old boat. what condition are the stringers, floor, and transom in? if there is any rot, that needs to be fixed. Add about $2k for hull restoration on top of your driveline restoration.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Still don't know what kind of Drive. OMC, Volvo Penta or MerCruiser?

If it's a V-P or MerCruiser, you can re power it.

If it's an OMC, get familiar with ebay. You'll find plenty of buyers for older OMC outdrive parts.

 

[nhhockeyplayer]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Thanks Guys

Everything is OMC... grey painted... engine and out drive.

Fiberglass and all other deck structures are mint... no rott

Yes I have the original engine and outdrive.

The older owner said a gasket blew in the engine and one of the pistons was broken.

So the engine block is down to the bare bone. He also got two valve heads that need valve job done to them. I assume they are compatible with the GM engine. * cylinder Fourwinns SunDowner 225.

I like this boat for restoration due to its not too small not too big... just right. A cuddy cabin.

I would like to know what the best approach would be for me. I dont have alot of bucks.. and borrowing off of the old lady who could bite my head off at anytime.

Is this ship possible or will I be goin down with her?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Yea, I think you should mothball it for the next 6mo +/- & work on finding a good (or rebuildable) Mercruiser driveline, and getting it running right. That will NOT be cheap, inexpensive perhaps, compared to buying a brand new marine driveline by Mercrusier.

Then in 6months when you've saved a few thousand, order some fiberglass supplies & get to work redoing the transom to fit the new driveline. A relatively low cost boat that has it's driveline removed, is likely to NEED work to the boat's superstructure, and needs to have new motor mounts fab'd to accommodate the Mercruiser driveline, as I noted before.

Everything is OMC... grey painted... engine and out drive.

Fiberglass and all other deck structures are mint... no rot

I would like to know what the best approach would be for me. I dont have alot of bucks.. and borrowing off of the old lady who could bite my head off at anytime.

Is this ship possible or will I be going down with her?

The 1st bold text ^^^ isn't a good sign, the 2nd will make this rebuild troublesome.

There is likely LOTS of places you can't yet see or touch that are wood encased in fiberglass, that once left to sit out in the open, can become water logged.


Details are important, but so are PIX

How & where EXACTLY did you test the boat's structure to be sound & having no rot?

 

[nhhockeyplayer]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

Ok ill say it.....There is no way that boat in the picture is rot free...let alone in mint condition. The only way a 27 year old boat would be in mint condition (Rot Free)...... it was sitting in a barn covered up all it's life!

Not to be harsh..... but you have alot more work than just the motor and outdrive to get that boat in a safe running condition.

Id step back and make a list with prices and see where you are at before spending a dime.

Sorry but i have to be honest....and it's only my opinion

Good luck!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: REPOWER - 1987 FOURWINDS SUNDOWNER 225 - heeellllpppp

being an 87 puts it in the OMC Cobra outdrive. this is good because you only need to drill 2 holes to mount a mercruiser outdrive and motor.

the bad, as many have pointed out is that you will most likely have rot on the boat. if you can, post pictures of the bilge. also you may want to drill some core samples.