Lots of folks with old boats rip out the Atomics and replace them with
outboards. It gives back some stowage and is a cheap alternative if you
like to sail. Of course if you are a motor cruiser or you intend to
venture away from the coast the outboard option is less feasible. If
it's a free boat in good shape, I'd check out the various options. It
is a classic boat.

Yes, lots of people do this. Why not?

The boat is now 4 feet longer. That will cost you about $450 a year
more. EVERY YEAR. It may require a longer slip.

The boats designed as outboard models are quite different from the
inboard models. The outboard model that was designed so that the
outboard controls are accessable. They are not accessable on an
outboard bracket.

I watch people going out all the time who have no control of their
outboard. An accident waiting to happen.

Starting the engine on a bracket is a pain, the engine can get dunked in
a swell. A Vangard, with the overhang, just makes this aspect worse.

Is the transom strong enough for a bracket? You can't just bold a
bracket on any transom. Even though you see many done this way.

No, you can't "rip out the inboard and replace it with an outboard."
Even though there are many examples.

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 22:52:38 GMT, Jim wrote:

Is the transom strong enough for a bracket? You can't just bold a
bracket on any transom. Even though you see many done this way.

==========================

The transom on a Vanguard is darn near bullet proof, as is the rest of
the boat. If you are getting a really good deal (near free), and
everything else is in good condition, and you intend to keep it for
awhile, repowering might make sense. It will be far cheaper to put in
a rebuilt A4 but the diesel is a better long term choice. Repowering
with a new diesel, fuel tank replacement, new controls and guages will
probably run somewhere north of $12K. Rebuilt A4, might be less than
$3K.

Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 22:52:38 GMT, Jim wrote:


Is the transom strong enough for a bracket? You can't just bold a
bracket on any transom. Even though you see many done this way.


==========================

The transom on a Vanguard is darn near bullet proof, as is the rest of
the boat. If you are getting a really good deal (near free), and
everything else is in good condition, and you intend to keep it for
awhile, repowering might make sense. It will be far cheaper to put in
a rebuilt A4 but the diesel is a better long term choice. Repowering
with a new diesel, fuel tank replacement, new controls and guages will
probably run somewhere north of $12K. Rebuilt A4, might be less than
$3K.

If it's free, take without even worrying about the engine. Sail it and
tow it with the dinghy. Anything beats watching from the shore.

Gaz

Again, I'd recco rebuilding the A4 but you really can repower with a
diesel for less than 6K. I just looked on TADiesel web site and they
have a used 24 hp (Perkins I think) for $3950 guaranteed to work. It
has a new control panel too.
I repowered my 28' S2 going from a 6.5 hp Yanmar to a 13 hp Yanmar with
no problems. I also thought it'd be a drop in replacement but it
wasn't. I had top cut down the engine stringers but othetr than that
it went well and wasn't too hard.

wrote:

Again, I'd recco rebuilding the A4 but you really can repower with a
diesel for less than 6K. I just looked on TADiesel web site and they
have a used 24 hp (Perkins I think) for $3950 guaranteed to work. It
has a new control panel too.
I repowered my 28' S2 going from a 6.5 hp Yanmar to a 13 hp Yanmar with
no problems. I also thought it'd be a drop in replacement but it
wasn't. I had top cut down the engine stringers but othetr than that
it went well and wasn't too hard.
The bottom line is gas engines can blow up and diesels don't. Nearly every
nice boat that I've seen priced way below market for the model and year had
either a gas engine or a diesel that needed replaced. I know a guy with a
beautiful Bristol 28 for sale and can't seem to get any interest at $17k or
$15k. The problem I think was he replaced the old inboard engine with an
outboard.
--
Bill Boyher

Gary wrote:

Wayne.B wrote:

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 22:52:38 GMT, Jim wrote:


Is the transom strong enough for a bracket? You can't just bold a
bracket on any transom. Even though you see many done this way.



==========================

The transom on a Vanguard is darn near bullet proof, as is the rest of
the boat. If you are getting a really good deal (near free), and
everything else is in good condition, and you intend to keep it for
awhile, repowering might make sense. It will be far cheaper to put in
a rebuilt A4 but the diesel is a better long term choice. Repowering
with a new diesel, fuel tank replacement, new controls and guages will
probably run somewhere north of $12K. Rebuilt A4, might be less than
$3K.

If it's free, take without even worrying about the engine. Sail it and
tow it with the dinghy. Anything beats watching from the shore.

Gaz

The best advice yet.

Jim wrote:



Lots of folks with old boats rip out the Atomics and replace them with
outboards. It gives back some stowage and is a cheap alternative if you
like to sail. Of course if you are a motor cruiser or you intend to
venture away from the coast the outboard option is less feasible. If
it's a free boat in good shape, I'd check out the various options. It
is a classic boat.

Yes, lots of people do this. Why not?

The boat is now 4 feet longer. That will cost you about $450 a year
more. EVERY YEAR. It may require a longer slip.

The boats designed as outboard models are quite different from the
inboard models. The outboard model that was designed so that the
outboard controls are accessable. They are not accessable on an
outboard bracket.

I watch people going out all the time who have no control of their
outboard. An accident waiting to happen.

Starting the engine on a bracket is a pain, the engine can get dunked in
a swell. A Vangard, with the overhang, just makes this aspect worse.

Is the transom strong enough for a bracket? You can't just bold a
bracket on any transom. Even though you see many done this way.

No, you can't "rip out the inboard and replace it with an outboard."
Even though there are many examples.
I think installing an outboard in place of an inboard engine lowers the
value of the boat. A comment from a friend was "outboards are either out
of the water or under when you really need them". Check around on prices
and as I said in an earlier reply a friend found a Tohatsu diesel new for
$4500 and did the install himself so the total cost was under $5000. If
you pay to get it done it will probably cost you closer to $10k.
--
Bill Boyher