V-20 I/O - Outboard Conversion

[BigMike]

Blew the coupler and had to pull my 470.....decided not to put it back in....I'm a commercial fisherman out of Northern California....This is function not fashion for me....I fish my V -20 for Halibut 4-5 months out of the year....I have also fished salmon on it...at one point in time I had hydraulics and salmon gurdies / and poles on this little boat....built an aluminum top for her back in 2002... I just got an outboard last week...Im still looking for the Gil bracket... but in the meantime I gutted and rewired the boat.....I found a bracket near me for $800....I might just buy it tommorow...I need to get this thing done asap....it hasd been 1 1/2 weeks since I broke down....here4 are some pics as requested....
P.S. I really need some Johnson Control cables ...and a longer steering cable...the boat I am taking the outboard off is only 16' so none of the cables are long enough....but I do have the Lever control etc...
Thanks...
mike

 

[macojoe]

Good Glass work!!
I took a while to decide but I left the old I/O cover in the boat, it was great for cutting bait and such, also for sitting while jigging.
Also I added a 25 gal gas tank which increased my 40 gal to 65!
Also keeped my bait well under there unless I wanted to use it, I just take it out and I was ready.

Not sure what year yours is, but the old 75 had saddle bags and the boat would list to the side with the most gas, By putting the tank in there it kept the boat level all the time.

I got my bracket as a take off from a marina $400

It came off a Seacraft which has a straight transom and the wellcraft has a curved one, so I made shims out of PT 4x4 worked great

 

[BigMike]

I'm removing the box

I want to the deck space...my box is butchered up anyhow to make room for the hyd pump that used to be in there....as far as fuel goes...my main tank holds 48...that will run the mixed fuel ...and I have a saddle tank 20 that will run the 4 stroke kicker The cooler that sits port side is a live well plumbed to a through hull jabsco...it hold 35 - 40 gallons....and its heavy,,,but with me (250lbs and my saddle tank sitting starboard it counters it..) I keep alot of my halibut alive for the asian market they bring a better price......I'm doing the fuel system tonight...One concern I have is my steering for the outboard... The bracket I think I'm buying tommorow is a single armstrong without a step I think it will look goofy to have my steering cable coming out of the corner of the transom floating in the air for 32 " back to make the turn etc.... whats the tightest you think I can make the 90 degree turn with the steering cable>? that or I am considering making the linkage so that the cable can run straight down the bracket....not sure if it will have the power that way...also I use an old auto pilot and the steering can be touchy...what length steering cable did you need for your conversion>? BTW nice bracket and motor and boat...Also I am wondering if my throtle cable and shifter cable will work with the johnson outboard and control unit>?
Thanks,
P.S. mine is a 79

 

[Bonita Dan]

Ifn it were my boat I would be considering installing a seastar system along with teleflex extreme cables. Just sayin. Good luck with the project. Looks good so far.

 

[macojoe]

I use an old auto pilot and the steering can be touchy...what length steering cable did you need for your conversion>? BTW nice bracket and motor and boat...Also I am wondering if my throtle cable and shifter cable will work with the johnson outboard and control unit>?

It has been 6 or7 years since I did it and 3 years since I sold it. So I have no memory of the sizes??

whats the tightest you think I can make the 90 degree turn with the steering cable>? that or I am considering making the linkage so that the cable can run straight down the bracket.

With a bracket all you need to do is run the cable threw the transom a bit to one side and it will go in the motor just fine, no need to get picky about it.

 

[BigMike]

hhhhm ok

well you see I have no swim porch or step etc... so I didnt want to have the steering cable way out in limbo...I have a kicker so no step.....btw got the bracket today its an armstrong brand new....marine shop going out of business...I paid $800 ouch....I mached it up tonight it sure seems low...but I checked 4 times!!!!! I have a 20" shaft OB thats why I suppose....Cav plate is 2 1/2" above hull at 32" aft the transom.
Ill post some pics soon,
Thanks,
Mike

 

[RidgeRunner]

well you see I have no swim porch or step etc... so I didnt want to have the steering cable way out in limbo...I have a kicker so no step.....btw got the bracket today its an armstrong brand new....marine shop going out of business...I paid $800 ouch....I mached it up tonight it sure seems low...but I checked 4 times!!!!! I have a 20" shaft OB thats why I suppose....Cav plate is 2 1/2" above hull at 32" aft the transom.
Ill post some pics soon,
Thanks,
Mike

Cav plate 2 1/2" above the hull sounds good for starters. For speed mine is 5 1/2" above at 30" setback. You may need to raise the motor a hole or two depending on where the cav plate is at planing speed.
BTW- I have had good luck burning pre-mixed gas thru 4-stroke engines. I have had several fuel injected Chevy's and all sorts of small engines that run without a problem on mixed fuel. They don't even smoke. Someone will prob rip me a new one but I see no problem running your kicker on mixed fuel if you needed/wanted.

 

[macojoe]

IMO, That 20" motor is not good for the bracket!! You will see when you have it done its going to be low on the transom and in the water all the time!
My 25" was low also and I always wished i had a 30"
My Sea Ox is a 25" and i still wish it was a 30, BS just did a boat and made it a 30 and wow is she real nice!!

 

[Skools Out]

with a 20 inch motor you can't slow fast or you will dunk the motor and fill the carbs with water. it's not recommended to use 20 on bracket min is 25 inch motor. good luck.

 

[cfelton]

Nice work BigMike! Whats your plans for the 470 you took out? Im looking for a spare block to rebuild and keep for future use.

 

[cricket]

out board cov

dude, idid the same conv 470-outboard i had to replace stringers transom,get bracket,the hole 99yards look like u going the right direction good job i set mine up with a 225 evrude