Point of no return - Pod/Repower project - looking for input

[7Deuce]

Late last year I purchased a 22' welded aluminum Alicraft Ranger. http://www.alicraft.com/ I was in the process of upgrading from a 16 Double Eagle to something a little bigger but wasn't at a price point to bite off a big off shore boat. The ranger seemed like a nice upgrade from where I was at but didn't carry the price tags of the next level up. Although a bit more spendy, I really wanted to avoid the transom/stringer projects taken on by the likes of Albernifisher so the Aluminum hull was a nice plus.

The boat came equipped with a 4.3l Merc and Alpha 1 leg. All things considered, this set up wasn't exactly my dream boat but the price was right and it checked all the boxes I was looking for at the time.



My plan was to run the 4.3 until something happened and then pod and outboard. Sadly, something happened this summer and I was forced to choose between a maintenance bill of approx $3000-3500 or bite off the repower project.

I considered selling the boat as is but then after getting an offer on the leg and the motor (as is) I accepted my fate and charged past the point of no return (hence the name of the project)



The leg and the motor came out without too many issues. A couple surprises that were uncovered during the gutting have confirmed that fixing all the issues might have been even more costly than expected. I'm not exactly sure I know what I'm all going to do on this project. I've already pulled the floor and seats and would like to add some trim tabs, radar arch, fuel tank mods ... not totally sure how far the bank account will take me. I have accepted the fact that I'm not likely to use the boat again this year so I might just plug away at my wish list until next spring rolls around.

I need to start making some plans and decisions for this project. The 2 most significant are the pod and the power.

I scaled the boat before and after the removal of the leg and motor. Approximately 1050# was removed. The dry weight of the hull is approximately 2200 - 2400# after removing the I/O. The boat has always been a bit butt heavy. I know the outboard will weigh less but I would like to get a more balanced ride in the water. The 4.3 had enough power but I don't know if I'd want much less.

Any input on the pod design and size of power would be appreciated.

 

[profisher]

I noticed in the first picture with the boat in the water that with the IO it sits butt heavy...quite noticeably. That is something you want to correct during this process. So you will get new power and a better balanced hull. The outboard will be lighter but will also sit farther aft on the pod which will throw the balance off somewhat to the stern. I think you will be looking at a pod that will match the hull and add buoyancy to bring you closer level once in the water. What are the (looks like aluminum) boxes on either side of the engine bay and up against the transom? They look like some kind of tanks?

 

[7Deuce]

The boat has 4 30 gallon tanks. 2 on the transom and 2 are seat boxes near the front that the previous owner added a couple years ago. Stock it came with the 2 tanks on the transom.

 

[profisher]

That is part of the aft heavy problem...you have 400 pounds (60 gallons) sitting as far to the stern as you can get...also sitting high up and on the corners...not ideal. I would move under the floor ahead of the existing engine bay...maybe coming back into the forward part of it if you need the room to get the tank capacity you want. The boat will have a better centre of gravity (more stable) and sit better in the water.

 

[albernifisher]

Any new pics???

 

[Dark]

Another 22 ft Alicraft at the point of no return lol

I am very interested in this thread. Me and a buddy are in the first stage of podding out his 22 ft Alicraft pilothouse that had the 4.3l. Pulled the motor and leg last weekend.
It also has the 2 stern mounted tanks and she's butt heavy when loaded with fuel.
Would like to know what size outboard you are going with. We are thinking 200 or 250hp, leaning towards 250hp.
We are trying to find out roughly what size outboard would be equivalent power wise to the 225 hp mercruiser
Have you talked with Alicraft in Prince George?
I owned the boat for the past 7 years and just love the boat, we often load it up with 2 weeks of supply's including a generator and freezer and disappear into the wild.
Please keep us updated on your progress.
<a href="http://s42.photobucket.com/user/Dark66/media/IMG_1130.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/Dark66/IMG_1130.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1130.jpg"/></a>

 

[7Deuce]

Hey Dark - send me some more pictures of your boat. To be honest I've never seen another Alicraft other than mine and what's on the website. I haven't talked to Alicraft. Being so far away I can't see how they would help me with my project.

I have been working on the boat a fair amount be it seems like progress is slow. This week I did things like pull off all the Scotty stuff (rod holders and downriggers mounts). Pulled off the kicker bracket. Pulled off all the canopy twist locks (all 78 of them). Pulled off all the Nav lights etc and cleats. it doesn't sound like much but it seems like the boat accessories were bolted on with a random mixture of fastners many of which we're corroded very badly and required getting drilled out or ground off.

I have also sourced a 200 verado which is getting checked out and details to follow.

I will post pictures at the end of the weekend and hopefully it looks like progress by then

 

[7Deuce]

I should have mentioned that the plan is to paint the boat after the pod goes on so everything that isn't welded on is coming off. I'm also rewiring the whole boat.

Once you've gone beyond the point of no return there is no turning back!!

 

[7Deuce]

Here is the latest. Floors are out and I will start tackling the electrical another day. A forum member figured the rest of the weekend would be better spent fishing and who was I to argue

 

[Tugcapitan]

Lotsa options now eh? Looks fun.

 

[Capt_Ed]

Do your self a favour and fill the hull with foam and weld a self bailing deck in.

 

[Clint r]

Think twice about the foam. When I redid my boat i removed about 400 lbs of it, all soaking wet. Makes an excellent sponge.

 

[dance a jig]

looks like plenty of room to have a long custom tank mounted centerline, which as said will help with stability. make sure you have fabricator put baffles in them, and allow water/condensation passageway to bilge under the tank.

good luck. DAJ

 

[dance a jig]

looks like plenty of room to have a long custom tank mounted centerline, which as said will help with stability. make sure you have fabricator put baffles in them, and allow water/condensation passageway to bilge under the tank.

good luck. DAJ

 

[7Deuce]

Today I picked up the 200 verado in the form of a 20 ft Larson Center console. The price for the boat motor and trailer was similar to what I was finding for motor only. This boat will donate the motor, controls, gauges, steering (and power steering), trim tabs and a few other minor parts. Leftovers will be sold and traded.

 

[Pineapple Express]

Nice! The small pic of the boat on the trailer looks great. I like the lines of that hull. Good luck with your project

 

[7Deuce]

Pod nearly complete

 

[7Deuce]

The boat came home today from DSS with the pod complete and installed. The fun work begins.



DSS added a shelf across the back to stiffen the transom. Should also be a good spot for batteries etc.

 

[albernifisher]

Looks awesome, can't wait to paint it