Posted by joe stachyra on October 14, 2002 at 15:46:39

In Reply to: Help! Inboard / Outboard Conversion posted by Paul on June 09, 2002 at 06:11:54:

I converted a 18footer inboard with a 135 omc to a 200 hp mercury outboard. I found no problems doing so, just use common sense.
1. I removed the engine, and stern drive.
2. I filled in that large hole, while plywood, then fiberglass filler, then fibercloth, sanding, then paint. on the outside I put 1/4inch stainless steel plate across the whole rear end. On the inside, I also put 1/4 inch plain steel inside, thus I used stainless steel bolts,washers, and nuts, mostly in the 1/2inch range.
3. The hardest part was re-treading 1/2bolts for my use, this took a air-torgue wrench like for removing nuts off of studs from a car tire and a heavy duty vice. I also cracked two treaders because of the force and the number of bolts I did around 40 of them. The boat does not leak, the boat goes like a bat out of hell, my new transom, is a jack plate made in flordia. good luck, and it was fun doing the boat. joe stachyra