So I've started to get deeper into the direction I didn't think I would be going with this boat. I've got a great quote to build a pod from Pawel @ Streamline Boats in Maple Ridge. After speaking with him I could tell he had a lot of experience and could engineer me a pod to safely support a 225+ HP engine.
This all came about after doing the math and being realistic with my intentions for this project. To buy a new inboard and run a used/rebuilt leg or assembly would be asking for trouble from an obvious week link. It would only make sense to go new with those parts as well. Even at good pricing, I was still looking @ 15K. Or...outboard territory. I was pretty supportive of the inboard option, as I thought the cost of an outboard would be, honestly, out of my price range by 10k. But with some researching I have found a few great motors on the net quite quickly and I think an outboard is now a real possibly for this boat.
I plan to bring Pawel out to the shop in the new year to discuss the pod further. We've already discussed a few options, but we will likely settle on a bracket and swim grid (non-floatation) option. Since the boat is 25' long, he assures me that a float pod will not be necessary for the single outboard.
Other costs I may have to consider will be controls prop and steering, if the motor I find doesn't include them. Nothing is set in stone and no power has been purchased but this is the direction the project is going now, for those who might be interested.
Since we have not finalized a design I can't say exactly how much the quote will be, but a preliminary estimate leaves it less than 2K.
Thanks for reading, Happy Holidays!
-FB-