Single Engine Conversion

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thesaintlyone

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In my quest to find a Project 31/ Senior 31 I have been informed of suitable project Boat in need of some TLC which I am viewing on Friday the boat has currently twin perking 4108's. I am aware that Princess converted their project 31 Boat to a single Engine and wondering what would be the main considerations if considering this on a project.
Whilst I am no new comer to project boats my experience is generally with single Engine inboard sail boats hence the query

Regards
 
When I was young I remember someone doing as you describe with a Pilgrim 25, if I remember correctly he followed something like the following approach.

https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/transom-dual-to-single.28015/

Sealing up the transom holes is the easy bit I think however, you will need to tie in the existing stringers into the new transom, possibly have to cut down the exiting engine bearers (certainly the inner ones) and glass in new engine bearers for the single engine.

Then you will have to find a single engine that will fit into the existing engine bay and still give the required power (4cyl TD like a KAD32/ Yanmar 4LHA) and you will need a new sterndrive as the enfields will not take more than ~60hp. Also the weight of a new engine and drive would have to be considered, will it negatively affect the trim of the boat?

At the end of all that will the boat be manoeuvrable? Single powerful sterndrives can be difficult to berth - you might need a bowthruster.

If it were me I'd rebuild the 4108's and enfields instead. Either that or try to find a 2nd hand twin sterndrive package from someone like http://www.marineenterprisesltd.co.uk/ . AFAIK Princesses rebuilt 31 had a petrol engine in it - Volvo 4.3??
 
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