Motor Installation......

[duckluv26]

i'm planning the boat i wanna buy, however, i have a 383 i wanna put on it. i think i would spending a lot more money on a lesser quality engine if i bought it from the dealer. if i buy a kit boat, how difficult will it be to take off the prop guard, install the motor, reapply the prop guard and set the boat up. keep in mind i'm not a stranger to boats but by no means a mechanic. procedure, tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated. also, would you recommend this or spend 10,000 more and get the boat turnkey..........thanks

 

[marshmaster pat]

Removing the cage/prop guard on most boats is fairly simple. Most of them you can remove the cage with 3 or so guys help. Most of them have 4 or 6 nuts on the sides of the cage, 2 on the back, and between 2 and 6 around the front of the motor. Just make sure you have room to clean the top of the motor. A chain hoise will work if you have a shed high enough.

The wiring for lights and steering cable are typically attached and not an issue. The wiring on the motor is fairly typical or standard.

 

[duckluv26]

so, if i buy a kit boat from d-back, the cage will just be bolted on. pull it off and mount my motor. stinger gear box will just bolt to the motor and one in the engine stand. wire my starter-alternator and hook up all the wires to my instrument panel. i don't know. sounds too simple. are these engine stands made to a perfect fit with the motor mounts usually?

 

[marshmaster pat]

You will have to tell them what brand motor and whether SB or BB. They usually have a block that they attach the mounts to and weld the stand up to the mounts.

You need to ask a question to whomever is going to by that kit boat. I was my understanding that those come completely unassembled. In other words, the stand and cage are not attached to the boat yet. You just get it in pieces, bolts and all, and get after it with all of the assembly. However the ribs of the hull should be predrilled for the stand and cage.

I could be wrong, but ask or you might be surprised.

 

[barhopper]

duckluv26
I bought a kit boat from GTO and it came with the seat stands, motor mount, and cage attached. I had to mount seats, steering, motor, beltdrive, and wire it myself. I had my old boat to use as a reference and saved a lot of money doing it this way. It takes a lot of time, but there is a lot of satisfaction when you're done.

 

[duckluv26]

when you say wiring, what exactly does that include (as far as the motor goes) not running lights, bilge, etc.......

 

[barhopper]

wiring to the starter, distributor, fuel pump, lights, sending units,gauges, key switch, bilge, fuse block, and lights.

 

[duckluv26]

thanks

 

[Croc1]

duckluv dont forget all the little stuff add up like change in a jar ,flex ,mufflers and clamps, seats and cushions, steering and throttle cables, trailor, bilge pump nad bracket ect.you may want to get a list of exactly comes with the kit and make a list of every thing you will need then go to say http://www.classicairboats.com because they have a good online catalouge of all the little $50 -$100 things with pictures and prices to give you a real comparison you may keep on saying oh! I forgot Im gonna need one of those ! suprises are only good when your huntin !!

 

[rick]

That's good advice croc1. I've been using the Classic catalog a lot lately. I've uploaded the ".pdf" version to this site compliments of Bud Bell. He also gave me a Panther catalog or brochure on disk, but I haven't had time to open it yet.

I'd like to create a reference area containing various online catalogs & maybe some technical articles, compliments of Airboat World Magazine, soon.

Here's the Classic catalog: http://www.southernairboat.com/pdf/Classic2005.pdf

 

[duckluv26]

i've done that and it ended up a list like 25 lines long and i'm still adding. i'll definitely check out that website so i can actually see the parts i'm gonna need....thanks