A little crazy?

Corrosion, Paint, Through Hulls, etc.
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TinLizzy
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Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

clean bottom.jpg
Here is a shot of the bottom with all the shaft, rudder, strut, and old transducer holes welded up. With a couple of brackets welded in the center for transducer install without piercing the hull.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
TinLizzy
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Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

helm.jpg
Here is the new control for the engines after some re-configuring. I had saved the old wheel off of my 28 before I sold it and installed on this boat. I like the old wood spoke wheel versus the newer destroyer style stainless wheel.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
TinLizzy
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Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

isle royale .jpg
Here she sits in the water at Isle Royale National Park during the end of July. Note how little she squats in the stern with the new set up. With full fuel tanks, it sits around 2 to 3 inches deeper than before the conversion.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
TinLizzy
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

water transom.jpg
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
Rockit
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Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: A little crazy?

Post by Rockit »

Congratulations on a great project completed.

It looks like the drives are far enough apart, but is the boat as easy to handle in tight quarters using the sticks--e.g. "doing the twin engine twist"? I'd imagine the pivot point has moved aft.

Thank you.

Joe
Joe Napoli
1977 28' Express
Twin raw water cooled 318s
Beaver River--near mile 25 on the Ohio
TinLizzy
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Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

Thanks Joe! It is still a breeze to dock, the pivot might have changed a little, but when you can turn hard over either way and have the drives suck you in either direction, it still has good manners around the dock.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
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bill
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Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:17 am
Location: Grosse Ile MI

Re: A little crazy?

Post by bill »

BigM
Congratulations on all your hard work.
Thanks for all the great photos. :D
bill
Former owner of
ALUMINATION
Grosse Ile MI
Located on LakeErie
37' F/B Sedan
1975
Twin 360 Chrysler Marine
Raw water cooled
Hydraulic steering both helms
USCG Master Lic. Retired[/color]
Third Owner bill
TinLizzy
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Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

The first launch was on July 9th, we had run it up and down the canal we are on, but I could not trim out the outdrives at all, they would start to ventilate/cavitate right away with any trim, It would also lose bite in a hard corner. Pulled boat out the next day. I had left the original trim tab mounting flanges on the hull, but had also welded an extension out to the chines so I could move the trim tabs out to the sides of the stern drives, thinking that they would not hinder anything. After looking at probable causes for the ventilation, I cut off the original mounting flanges that were left in front of the drives, and cut the trim tabs down a little more. This helped a lot. I can make a hard left or right hand turn now at full cruise and not have any slippage. I still can't trim up as far as I want to yet, but I am making progress.
Last edited by TinLizzy on Tue Dec 20, 2022 7:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
TinLizzy
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

The original props that came on the outdrives were 21p stainless, but were quite dinged up and could use some repair work. I was trying to find a new pair of stainless props from Mercury, but as with most things, they are back ordered until next April. I ended up going with a pair of the same rotation 4 bladed aluminum 21p props. They worked, but I know I can do better. Last year with the original 360's in her, I would run 3100 rpm at a speed of 24.5 - 26 mph with a full crew and supplies. The first trip this year, running at 3000 rpm, speed was around 26.5 to 28 mph. bumping it up to 3200 rpm would get me 28.5 to 30.5 mph. I believe after I get the props dialed in, I will be able to get the 30 mph at 3000 rpm that I had initially hoped for when deciding to do this project.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
TinLizzy
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: A little crazy?

Post by TinLizzy »

Rough calculations put me at about 600 miles at cruising speed after the conversion, and probably another 25 to 30 hours of trolling. Last year with the old set up, I would burn between 85- 90 gallons to go the 73 or so miles from dock to dock out to Isle Royale. This year the first trip, I burned 72 gallons dock to dock. Second trip was 77 gallons, but we took a slight detour during that run. I am hoping that after I get my propping figured out, that my mileage will get better also.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
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