Here's why I did it:

1. I don't intend to sell this boat for at least 30 years. She's all aluminum, built like a tank, and has classic lines.

2. The original engines were toast, and rebuilding 31 year old diesels was not an option.

3. Routine engine maintenance is easy and convenient. No need to be a gymnast or a contortionist.

4. Catastrophic outboard engine repair will require that I unplug the gas hose and wiring harness, disconnect the shift and throttle cables, and remove four engine mounting bolts. In an hour I can have an engine ready to pluck and on its way to the Honda shop.

5. Ease of prop replacement and lower unit inspection (with power tilt and trim).

6. Huge gain of storage space for additional water/waste tanks, anchors, tools, oils and lubricants, spare parts, fishing & hunting equipment, etc.

7. Four stroke outboards are very, very quiet and quite reliable.

8. Peace of mind. I now have a 31 year old boat with brand spankin' new power plants.

9. Less hull penetrations below the waterline. I now have four: head intake, depth finder transducer, generator coolant seacock, and corrosion monitor sensor. I eliminated 24: rudder shafts, propeller shafts, V-drive & engine coolant seacocks, prop shaft support strut bolts.

10. Less appurtenances below the water line susceptible to damage from river debris e.g. shafts, struts, rudders.

11. Ease of winterization and spring commissioning.

12. Diesel fuel stinks.

Good sumation about the good points as to why you did it. You fail however to supply a proper list of all the negatives so that a good decision can be made. On your list so are eroneous, a stretch or just plain wrong however. On number 9 you appear to count each and every bolt as a hull penetration, as if this is a problem. I would say that ocean going trawlers do NOT use outboards so these hull penetrations are not an issue. Again if I am heading into the ocean I would rather have a 30 year old diesel than an outboard. Realistically some house boats don't even have engines. I guess my main point is one must show pluses and minuses in order to make a proper judgement. Given the reliability of an outboard compared to a properly setup inboard it is no contest. A local commercial crabber tried outboards. He went through a pair a season. The diesel across the creek is 25 years old and still goes out each and everyday. To my knowledge it has the original Detroit diesel. Again I say good luck if you do try. Honestly I mean it.

Rob

Rob,

My list of reasons why I converted to outboards was in response to your question: "Of course Cap'n Jeff suggested it can be done the question is why?". The only negatives I can think of is cost, and as Old Houseboater sez, impact on resale value. As far as my list being "....erroneous, a stretch, or just plain wrong.....", I simply stated the facts as I know them. Maybe you could point us in the right direction if I'm way off track. Please remember, we're talking about houseboats that are used on lakes and rivers, not ocean going trawlers or commercial fishing boats.

Cap'n Jeff

Are the diesel setups you took out available?

OHB,

Yes, the setups are for sale. I have two 80 HP Ford 4 cylinder natural aspirating diesels with Velvet Drive transmissions and Walter V-drives. I also have the prop shafts, support struts and propellers.

Cap'n Jeff

I posted a long reply two days ago that seems to have gone in the byte bucket, oh well. I'll sum up. Make sure that outboards suit your application well. On my 50 Ft burns they would be worthless. Fuel mileage would stink and they would be greatly underpowered. Underpowered means they would work harder and surely would be far more unreliable. Is there something wrong with your existing engines?

If you do go outboards you can buy diesels here http://www.jetpac.us/default.htm Diesels obviously will be much more fuel efficient

Some Floridians like the idea of outboards. This picture is of a 39' HM in Ft Lauderdale. I feel one of the largest advantages outboards have over a block of iron is their corrosion resistance. There are two more Holiday mansions that I know of in South Florida with outboards.