Volvo-Penta (Honda 7.5hp) SailDrive: Convert to Electric Start?

[greatvizier2003]

I have a Tanzer 26 sailboat with a VolvoPenta SailDrive. This is basically a shaft from VP fitted to a Honda 7.5 outboard and mounted inboard, in my case, under the cockpit. This boat has spent most of its life laid up, and the motor in consequence is in great shape. Replacing it would kill $6 grand. The problem is that it is manual start, and since the cord only mounts forward, starting from the cockpit (the way it was when I bought it) involved a jerry-rigged and complicated system that didn't work very well. So, I now start it from the cabin--fine if there are no distractions or you've got help on board. My question--what would it take to turn this to electric start? A starter unit and geared flywheel, obviously, but is it possible at all? What else would I have to do? And is there a place to get the parts I need used? A starter alone seems to be in the $250 range. I use this signature because I formerly lived on<br />GrandTurk

 

[hondon]

Re: Volvo-Penta (Honda 7.5hp) SailDrive: Convert to Electric Start?

I am trying real hard to recall a b75,100 or even current 8 classic with electric start .I doubt it is an option but I have never really checked it out.I will now do so and get back to you.

 

[greatvizier2003]

Re: Volvo-Penta (Honda 7.5hp) SailDrive: Convert to Electric Start?

Thanks for checking, Hondon. I was inspired to do this by my supplier of parts for V-P Saildrives, his comment was that the basic Honda block used has been in production a long time, with only changes in stroke and perhaps bore to acheive various horsepower increases. His comment was that the big question was whether there was a change in the block to accommodate attaching a starter. I did a little looking around and what he says makes sense--but I don't work on these engines, so don't know which ones were available with starters and whether indeed the block is the same and could accomodate a starter--or even be made to do so.

 

[hondon]

Re: Volvo-Penta (Honda 7.5hp) SailDrive: Convert to Electric Start?

A standard 7.5, 100, 8 will not accomodate electric start and is not an option.Here,s the rub.Honda is in the buisiness of making engines ,and if a contractor comes to them and asks for a project with money out there ,that experiment will go ahead.I ca'nt say that electric start is not a possibility with this engine .I'dd be really surprised if it was available.The folks you really need to talk to are the people at Volvo.

 

[greatvizier2003]

Re: Volvo-Penta (Honda 7.5hp) SailDrive: Convert to Electric Start?

Well, maybe Volvo-Penta is the logical avenue, but they have not made SailDrives for quite a while and they have neither interest in this unit or even much to share with me, just from a documentary standpoint, which is why Ive pursued this as a purely Honda-related question. There is now a company on the west coast called Jonsson that sells a new version of the SailDrive that they advertise as a "drop-in" replacement for the one I have. It's an electric start, but they couldn't give me a contact at Honda--they don't deal with Honda directly. They are--understandably--interested in selling new SailDrives, not helping my retrofit my 22 years-old one made by another company. This one from Jonsson is the one I alluded to that goes for six grand--why one would even want a new one with that price tag is a mystery to me, since an OB on a stern bracket is cheaper, easier to get at, and can be raised to eliminate drag while racing. Maybe it's a weight distribution thing, although for a small OB in a sailboat I would think that this would be a simple matter of trim. Anyway, if this is remotely possible to do the only thing I can do is go see my local Honda dealer--even those are scarce hereabouts, show him what I've got and see what he says. Thanks for investigating, Hondon.<br />Grand Turk