Dale R. Hamilton
02-20-2007, 11:04 AM
So lads- I'm wanting to use Mercury's 3.0 liter stern drive package in my next 15' runabout. The Subaru mid ship install is just too much trouble to do again- although it is a really excellent engine and drive system.]
The Mercury just wont fit- its too tall and the x dimenion is too high up on the transom to fit in this boat. HOWEVER, I'm thinking- what if we separate engine and cavitation plate. Put the engine amidship where it actually would fit- and lengthen the drive shaft some 48" - add a differential, and connect with the cavitation plate at the recommended X dimension? This would actually fit- with the flame arrester sticking through the deck, and it would put the center of gravity over the center of bouyancy the way the designer actually intended. Could also stabilize the drive shaft with a captive bearing, pillow block or whatever.
Anybody got any experience with this sort of operation? What problems would I run into besides lengthening the drive shaft.
Breathlessly awaiting......
The Mercury just wont fit- its too tall and the x dimenion is too high up on the transom to fit in this boat. HOWEVER, I'm thinking- what if we separate engine and cavitation plate. Put the engine amidship where it actually would fit- and lengthen the drive shaft some 48" - add a differential, and connect with the cavitation plate at the recommended X dimension? This would actually fit- with the flame arrester sticking through the deck, and it would put the center of gravity over the center of bouyancy the way the designer actually intended. Could also stabilize the drive shaft with a captive bearing, pillow block or whatever.
Anybody got any experience with this sort of operation? What problems would I run into besides lengthening the drive shaft.
Breathlessly awaiting......