Time for a Clearout

[dave36]

You know you have one, or know someone who does.
My 12 foot 1950's marina speedboat rebuild now 75% complete and I still have not found a suitable outboard - got to be 25hp or over, got to be old, got to be possible to restore to good condition, (Don't know if short or long shaft, transom 18" deep, if that is any use).
Go on have a tidy up and let me know what you have - and how much you want for it!
Also would like to get my hands on 3 sq yards of hardwood strip suitable for the deck, must be thin and ok for novice to use.
looking forward to a veritable flood of usefull replies

ps I live in Somerset.

 

[rich]

Engins, there is a boat yard in paimpol,\france/it has at least 200 evinrude outboards, old ones,stacked up on the walls all round the yard...

rich )

 

[jfm]

Re: short/long shaft

Measured from top of transom to the cavitation plate a short engine is 15 inches and a long is 20. Not sure about your 18 inches, maybe the transom is sloping and you measured along the slope, so it is only 15 inches if measured "vertically", I mean perpendicular to the keel?

You need to get this right. If you put a longshaft on it when it should be short, there will be 5" too much outboard leg in the water, the drag will be massive and have a big impact on your top speed. Obviously if you get it wrong the other way round the engine won't reach!

I would strongly expect a short shaft is needed. Most boats of that size/era were short shaft. But worth checking. If you buy an old outboard it will be uneconomic and maybe impossible to convert the shaft length

 

[dave36]

Re: short/long shaft

thanks very much for the informative reply. My rebuilt transom is at yet untrimmed and unshaped at top edge, vertical height of Grp - scoloped out at centre is 15.5"
What is a cavitation plate - there used to be a small marine ply sheet covering the top half of hull sandwiching the grp and transom, is that what you mean? Have not looked at that yet, as I though that to be a poor attempt at shoring up a rotten transom.
thx again
Dave

 

[dave36]

That could be of interest, thank you.
A little more info, could be even more helpful, thx

 

[jfm]

Re: short/long shaft

Anti cavitation plate is the flat metal surface that projects backwards from the outboard leg and makes a "roof" over the outboard propellor. The measurement from the bottomwards surface of this plate, to the face of the clamps that sit on the top edge of the transom, is 15 or 20 inches.

The cavitation plate is level with the keel of the boat, in a normal set up. Sometimes 1 to 3 inches higher in a very fast boat, but level normally. Hence the transom height, measured from keep to top edge of transom, and measured vertically or at least perpendicualr to keel, is also either 15 or 20 inches.

(Actually, there is also 25 inch called extra long, but rare)

 

[rich]

Old engines in Paimpol

Sorry Dave, I'm not sure of the name of the place, but it had a big Envinrude banner on the wall outside, the nearest chandlers was across the road, a really big one that seems to have the agencies for most things, whether they are the owners I don't know, but if your French is up to it they are Lionnais Marine on 0033 296 20 85 18 or you could try the very helpful staff at the Captinerie on 0033 296 20 4765
Good luck,
Rich
PS We may be there in August, can check it out then, otherwise see if you can find someone going that way.

rich )

 

[dave36]

Re: Old engines in Paimpol

Thanks, could be just what I need - the lingo, well its a rusty as an old engine! but I have a pal who is native french speaker - and he owes me one!
Another one into the melting pot, while preparing more timbers today it came to my notice that the keel is curved! ie about 1" higher in the centre, than the bow and transom is that normal or just another sign of old age?

 

[rich]

Re: Old engines in Paimpol

sorry,old age i'm afraid,good luck,,

rich )

 

[boatone]

Re: Droopy Ends..............

ref your observation that keel slightly curved (up in middle or down at ends whichever way you look at it !) has boat been chocked up ashore for a long time and possibly 'drooped' a little at ends due to uneven chocking?

' shouldn't cost much to put that right....or is it a v*lv*? ;-)'

www.boatsonthethames.co.uk

 

[jfm]

Re: drooping ends/wonky keel

Some small speedboats were made that way deliberately. Otherwise it's caused by poor support of the boat on its trailer or wherever, or occasionally with small time builders it is caused by poor support of the mould, so the mould droops, then of course the boat is made with a permanent droop from day 1. But an inch or 2 is nothing, wouldn't worry at all.

 

[Chris771]

Dave

I have an old short shaft four cylinder Mercruiser in the back of my garage. I think it is 35 hp. Also have the original but tatty fuel tank and new hoses and a set of remote controls for it.
It was a runner, last run and flushed in fresh water about 12 years ago. I only used it once for a test in river. It was for one of those projects that never happened. It has been up right on an engine stand since last used and should still be ok, maybe points/condensors will need replacing but otherwise should be ok.

Can't tell you much more about it. Presently on a Drilling Rig in Equatorial Guinea till the end of the month. I will be doing the M6/M5 from Lancs to Plymouth when I get home if you are interested

Regards

Chris

 

[dave36]

Thanks Chris,
look forward to talking to you on your return
Dave