How much does it reasonably cost to put two sterndrive engines in a motor Cruiser

[thesaintlyone]

I'm currently looking for a Project 31 Motor Cruiser and have seen a few listed on various sites. I am looking to use the boat as a liveaboard with a view to Cruising up and down the Medway River as far as Chatham on the odd occasion but mostly sticking to the Medway below Allington (Freshwater) One particular boat I have seen which is in good condition has got everything I need and is in reasonable condition I could get for about £2000 only downside is both sterndrive engines have been completely removed so how viable is it to put in a couple of freshly serviced likely used engines back into the boat good enough to use the boat for my limited requirements. Or could I look at alternative power options. Mostly looking for a liveaboard and not really fussed if the boat is out of the water for a while ?

 

[Freebee]

As it happens I am just going through this, I am removing a couple of very low hours volvo penta petrols to be replaced with diesels, There is no problem with our engines its just that I would like diesels.

In your case I would say its very viable but You have not stated petrol or diesel or the amount of HP you are looking for, so you may need to think about your requirements. a bit more

My engines are available by the way!!

 

[thesaintlyone]

To be fair River Cruising is new to me I know there are speed limits on the river so just to get around I'm not going to need too much ? I have a sailboat and the general concensus was don't do it but tbf I bought a 31ft sailboat with an old engine for £4000 alot less than I could of saved up and the engine after fettling was fine just needed a new gearbox which I've sourced for £150. I suppose In awnse to your question diesel because that's what I'm use to on the sailboat but again not really experienced in light River Cruising to know what I need

 

[Seastoke]

Well two grand and two freebie engines off you go

 

[Freebee]

has the boat your looking got the outdrives, if so what are they??

 

[thesaintlyone]

Nope all engines removed

 

[Tranona]

I'm currently looking for a Project 31 Motor Cruiser and have seen a few listed on various sites. I am looking to use the boat as a liveaboard with a view to Cruising up and down the Medway River as far as Chatham on the odd occasion but mostly sticking to the Medway below Allington (Freshwater) One particular boat I have seen which is in good condition has got everything I need and is in reasonable condition I could get for about £2000 only downside is both sterndrive engines have been completely removed so how viable is it to put in a couple of freshly serviced likely used engines back into the boat good enough to use the boat for my limited requirements. Or could I look at alternative power options. Mostly looking for a liveaboard and not really fussed if the boat is out of the water for a while ?

As usual the boat is worthless without engines as the coast of installing two engines would way exceed the cost of buying a similar boat with functioning engines. You are unlikely to find a pair of functioning engines and drives at all that would go straight in. Outdrives are a totally different concept from sailboat auxiliaries and notoriously unreliable if neglected and expensive to fix.

 

[thesaintlyone]

Yep heard all that before and got a Longbow 31 for £4000 I'll takes me chances. info about installing would be much easier to help make the decision. No offence but these generic awnsers presume one has £10000+ to buy a similar boat outright. Which many including myself do not

 

[petem]

What's your budget for the engines?

 

[BruceK]

Want a precise answer, speak to this guy who is doing exactly the same... https://www.facebook.com/TheLadyMuc...obZ_XixWbsdHR3D2oLY&fref=nf&hc_location=group

 

[thesaintlyone]

That's what the original post is asking:
Clarification on the options not is it worth it questions such as
I could say MD21 at £2000 a piece as seen on another similar boat but more specific are questions like

1) What size engine is required for the use suggested???
2) Beyond the the Engines what other parts are required
3) for the simple uses I suggested seeing this boat will be primarily my Liveaboard on the Maidstone stretch of Tonbridge and is chosen because of the size/space considerations could it say be feasible to use an alternative power source given that the speed limit on the Medway below Allington is not high say an outboard bracket etc???

 

[simonfraser]

if you just need propulsion to pootle about inland, seal up the holes and fit an outboard.

 

[Tranona]

That's what the original post is asking:
Clarification on the options not is it worth it questions such as
I could say MD21 at £2000 a piece as seen on another similar boat but more specific are questions like

1) What size engine is required for the use suggested???
2) Beyond the the Engines what other parts are required
3) for the simple uses I suggested seeing this boat will be primarily my Liveaboard on the Maidstone stretch of Tonbridge and is chosen because of the size/space considerations could it say be feasible to use an alternative power source given that the speed limit on the Medway below Allington is not high say an outboard bracket etc???

You don't need two engines for your intended use. A single 60hp would be more than enough for what you want.

There are no low HP sterndrive engines on the market. The propulsion systems are designed for high speed planing boats - not for what you want. In the "old days" the solution if you wanted outdrives in displacement boats was to fit a Perkins with an Enfield drive. There are still some of these running. However, they are (relatively) crude and almost impossible to find used in working order.

So, basically, what you are proposing is simply not a practical proposition. As I suggested earlier it is very different from finding a used engine for a Longbow and that is why old MOBOs that originally had outdrives are so cheap - you can't get them functioning cheaply!

Look for a single engined boat with shaft drive, then even if the engine is past it you have plenty of used alternatives to consider. One with a single outdrive might work if the drive is in good condition and it has a Perkins or a Ford diesel as these can be rebuilt or found used. Of course such a boat will cost you more - because it has a value to others, which a twin outdrive boat without engines does not.

 

[Freebee]

I think the other poster is right just plug up the holes and fit an outboard to pootle up and down the river!!

 

[fred247]

Project 31 would probably have had volvo
penta 270 outdrives,
Outdrives and transom shield = £2- 2.5 k each,
Engines petrol £2k, diesel £2-3k
Outdrives have to be correct gear ratio for engine, petrol engines rev higher.

 

[Murv]

A pair of recon 270 drives would be around £3K.
A pair of lightly used engines will be a big challenge, lightly used will mean trying to get something from a salvage yard and then you'll have all the modern electronics to deal with and possible difficulties finding marinisation parts (have a look at Lancing marine to get an idea of prices for those parts but another couple of thousand at least) Personally, I'd be looking at a couple of marinised transit engines for that project.
Only I wouldn't, as I'd prefer a decent, used 50-60hp outboard for a lot less money, fitted on a pod which will be nice and quiet for pottering around on the river and free up some valuable storage space for your liveaboard requirements.
Good luck!