inboard to outboard conversion

Seakr25 said:
Disconnect prop shaft at the coupler and slide back as far as you can. You likely won’t get enough clearance to pull the tapered coupler off but if you can that might get an extra few inches … If you have the zf25a gearbox there is not much room. Unbolt mounts from stringers and slide engine towards stern and it will need to go tail end up out of compartment once you can hook both lift points. It’s a PITA ….. there is little to no clearance for anything. I don’t think could personally get the starter out with it in boat. I had a hard time just changing the raw water impeller. Cummins sold the engine with mercruiser hence the smart craft control screen but branded Cummins at boot up. Mercruiser still sells the diesels in a small capacity if you look online … but I’m sure the engine has changed a bit. You can source some parts through some dealers but last time I tried was a few years back …. And I had to find a lot of numbers myself as the serial I had didn’t always pull up in their system for searches. Not all parts however were available even if I found the numbers I needed , but I managed a timing belt, drive belt, filters, various seals, hoses, injector parts ,etc … so there is hope. There was a Detroit diesel place in Florida I got a lot of internal lower end parts ordered factory direct through but that was via a local shop with the hookup located here in Alaska. Most if not all the parts came right from Italy and I waited months … If I remember the name of the place I’ll post it but I was always working through a middle man. I have a partial or maybe full shop manual also… I will see if I can dig up the PDF tomorrow and send a link if I find it. My vm engine is sitting on a pallet in storage now just waiting for me to do something with it. Eventually I suppose but I’d like to enjoy the repower for a season of fishing first I suspect. Good luck in your project.
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Another great reply. it is always helpful to consult with someone who has been there and done that. I will be pulling out $20,000 of brand new engine /transmission and exhaust parts this week end. You have confirmed what I see with my own eyes with this engine. It is extremely hard to work on, parts are hard to get and stupid expensive. After I have removed the cylinder head and oil pan, I will know if any significant damage has occurred from the likely scenario the engine took a big gulp of water from hurricane Helene. If there is no significant damage or easily repairable ones, I will reassemble the engine and put it up for sale to someone who has the need for a VM Motori MR500 and move forward with a pair of smaller Yamaha outboards.
 
Niels Hansen said:
Another great reply. it is always helpful to consult with someone who has been there and done that. I will be pulling out $20,000 of brand new engine /transmission and exhaust parts this week end. You have confirmed what I see with my own eyes with this engine. It is extremely hard to work on, parts are hard to get and stupid expensive. After I have removed the cylinder head and oil pan, I will know if any significant damage has occurred from the likely scenario the engine took a big gulp of water from hurricane Helene. If there is no significant damage or easily repairable ones, I will reassemble the engine and put it up for sale to someone who has the need for a VM Motori MR500 and move forward with a pair of smaller Yamaha outboards.
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I like the counter rotating Yamaha 115’s for the boat. I like the idea of only using one at a time for slower/cheaper running. Are you going to get an architect or engineer to look at moving the weight to the back?
 
BigSir said:
I like the counter rotating Yamaha 115’s for the boat. I like the idea of only using one at a time for slower/cheaper running. Are you going to get an architect or engineer to look at moving the weight to the back?
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I am an engineer by trade. I have not yet run the numbers. However, just applying common sense to the equation, one has to say that removing the diesel from 3/4 of the way back in the boat and replacing it with an outboard a little more than half its weight would be pretty close to no change in weight distribution. there is also the comfort of knowing the new Rangers have essentially done the same. I don't know the exact size of my fresh water tank which as you know sits at the back of the boat. At 50 gallons it would weigh about 350 lbs. that is a considerably weight shift all by itself which does not seem to cause any issues for anyone. the outboard mount will be also be a pod style providing its own lift. I would not be surprised if the net effect is less net weight instead of more in the back of the boat.
 
Niels Hansen said:
I am an engineer by trade. I have not yet run the numbers. However, just applying common sense to the equation, one has to say that removing the diesel from 3/4 of the way back in the boat and replacing it with an outboard a little more than half its weight would be pretty close to no change in weight distribution. there is also the comfort of knowing the new Rangers have essentially done the same. I don't know the exact size of my fresh water tank which as you know sits at the back of the boat. At 50 gallons it would weigh about 350 lbs. that is a considerably weight shift all by itself which does not seem to cause any issues for anyone. the outboard mount will be also be a pod style providing its own lift. I would not be surprised if the net effect is less net weight instead of more in the back of the boat.
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The aft tank is black water holding tank. The fresh water tank is forward near the helm under the floor. They are both aprox. 35 gallons I believe.
 
Niels Hansen said:
I am an engineer by trade. I have not yet run the numbers. However, just applying common sense to the equation, one has to say that removing the diesel from 3/4 of the way back in the boat and replacing it with an outboard a little more than half its weight would be pretty close to no change in weight distribution. there is also the comfort of knowing the new Rangers have essentially done the same. I don't know the exact size of my fresh water tank which as you know sits at the back of the boat. At 50 gallons it would weigh about 350 lbs. that is a considerably weight shift all by itself which does not seem to cause any issues for anyone. the outboard mount will be also be a pod style providing its own lift. I would not be surprised if the net effect is less net weight instead of more in the back of the boat.
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Another interesting option ... have you considered going electric? Ive seen some very interesting conversions done ... albeit not on rangers. It was on my list but came in more expensive .... could have some interesting benefits though ... esp if you had a small diesel genset to recharge or a large cabin top solar array ... free fuel?? .... There was an article done a while back by some folks that did the whole inside passage on a fully electric trawler.

I seriously considered the Hybrid Diesel Electric but needed my boat fixed and didn't want to be down for longer than required ... next boat will most likely be a custom build for me however ... so an electric with diesel and solar recharge capabilities might happen.
 
Seakr25 said:
Another interesting option ... have you considered going electric? Ive seen some very interesting conversions done ... albeit not on rangers. It was on my list but came in more expensive .... could have some interesting benefits though ... esp if you had a small diesel genset to recharge or a large cabin top solar array ... free fuel?? .... There was an article done a while back by some folks that did the whole inside passage on a fully electric trawler.

I seriously considered the Hybrid Diesel Electric but needed my boat fixed and didn't want to be down for longer than required ... next boat will most likely be a custom build for me however ... so an electric with diesel and solar recharge capabilities might happen.
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I have not investigated going that route, but it appeals to me. I have essentially ruled out another diesel inboard. Eventhough it is not exactly where my experience and background is, I am going to do more investigation into the electric angle. if you have more details or links to the topic, I am all ears.
 
Niels Hansen said:
I have not investigated going that route, but it appeals to me. I have essentially ruled out another diesel inboard. Eventhough it is not exactly where my experience and background is, I am going to do more investigation into the electric angle. if you have more details or links to the topic, I am all ears.
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This was the trawler I spoke of that ran all solar up the inside passage. I’ve seen other conversions done also. This one just interested me the most since it was my back yard essentially.


Good luck. I’m curious to hear what path you take.
 
Niels Hansen said:
I am an engineer by trade. I have not yet run the numbers. However, just applying common sense to the equation, one has to say that removing the diesel from 3/4 of the way back in the boat and replacing it with an outboard a little more than half its weight would be pretty close to no change in weight distribution. there is also the comfort of knowing the new Rangers have essentially done the same. I don't know the exact size of my fresh water tank which as you know sits at the back of the boat. At 50 gallons it would weigh about 350 lbs. that is a considerably weight shift all by itself which does not seem to cause any issues for anyone. the outboard mount will be also be a pod style providing its own lift. I would not be surprised if the net effect is less net weight instead of more in the back of the boat.
Click to expand...
It's been a few months since last post in this thread. I was wondering if you've made any progress on this project and/or sorted out what's wrong with the existing diesel. I've been contemplating repowering and am on again/off again with the idea of converting to OB. No expectations of the boat performing like a deep vee but I'm getting too old to wedge myself into the engine space to work on the inboard and the idea of outboards is very appealing. I'd be happy with 12-15 kts which should be easily doable with twin 150s at comfortable cruise RPMs. Either way I'm stuck with this boat by orders of the admiral so am looking at some sort of repower.

I thought I was on my way with the OB conversion. Found a local shop with a good history of converting several I/O designs to OB/brackets. They sounded excited about doing my project and actually started down the path. They contacted Ranger who told them that the transom design won't support outboards. That was that. Now they won't touch it. That was a bit disappointing as I thought it was pretty obvious that the transom would have to be re-worked which is why I was talking to them to start with. I could buy a bracket and bolt it on myself if it was that simple. If I had a shop to work in it would make an interesting winter project. But that's not in the cards.

At any rate interested to here where you're at with your adventure.
 
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