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Outboard i/o conversion

HobieHernandez

Active member
anyone ever try to drop a v8 into a starflite??any pics out there??My friend is going to cut up his starflite and drop in a 350 with a blower,,we are considering all types of ideas,biggest problem is at what height to cut out the hole for the outdrive..and building the transom up..our winter project,,We are going to bring the old clamming boat back to life,,Our frankenstein project..
 
Ah first question is why?? I would look into where you would be sitting in such a project. The entire rear and prolly into the back of the front seats would be taken up by motor.
 
Never seen anyone do it...

but good luck with the project.

I hope it won't bother your friend when he puts all that time and money into making a starflite I/O and you blow by him with your O/B Starliner. ;)
 
JUST FIND A OUTBOARD TO PUT BACK ON IT
PLEASE

I have an 19' I/O Eluder, and I was actually contemplating going the OTHER way with it. Pull the motor and outouboard and EBAY them. Then find an outboard bracket somewhere.
Think of all the extra storage space you would have! I just don't need another damn project on my hands...
 
Not sure if that is a good idea.:confused: The Starflite hull is designed with a small step in the bottom and the location of the step is engineered into the bottom based upon weight leverage and running surface at speed. The outboard motor places the weight aft....an I/O will place the weight forward; not sure how the step would react to the new balance. Also, you will wind up building new stringers, knees, transom reinforcement, motor bulkhead, etc etc to support your conversion. It's an awful lot of work!!
 
i dont know if there will be enough room to mount the outdrive. there is only about a foot of space from the floor to the splashwell. A jet may work but is still alot of labor to get it going. :bigthumb:
 
He is trying this route,because it is the cheapest way to go,,He already has the checkmate and it is a little rough around the edges and he already has 2 good running v8s with blowers,out of his 76 31ft scarab that he is going to cut up..It is the low budget Racer..I am trying to find close up pics of the enchanter and senator I/O to get a better idea,,It is going to be his Frankenstein,,I will give him a hand anyway I can...

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Bets bet, sell the 2 V8's, use the money to buy a good outboard and restore the boat. It will be a lot less work and he will end up with a much better boat. The more power you put inside of that boat and the faster it goes with all of the weight in front of the step, the more unstable and dangerous it will be. That boat with a good 250 outboard will run mis 70's and be driveable. Save all of the hard work and headaches and don't waste a good restoeable Checkmate! boatman:cheers
 
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