Converting an Inboard Jet to an Outdrive?

[Two Fister]

OK, this one may be kind of out there.

A friend of mine is looking at a older 22' inboard jet with a Kodiak pump. The pump has it's share of problems but the motor has just been rebuilt. He's a lake, big river, and ocean fisherman that doesn't see the need for a jet. The hull is an 16 degree so it's kind of an all around hull design so it's a jack of all trades, master of none (probably a bit deep running for shallow rivers, will beat you up a bit on choppy days).

He wanted to know if it's possible to change the pump for an outdrive such as a merc or a volvo without having to totally rebuild the motor. I have no idea if such a thing is possible. The idea is that the change the linkages to power the outdrive instead of the pump.

He asked me the same question about a year ago and the overwhelming feedback was pull the motor and put an outboard on, but this boat has a freshly rebuilt small block v-8 so he doesn't want to give it away if he can use it with an outdrive.

Any thoughts of if it would be possible?
TF

[riverhawk]

there a is a boat at lake oswego on the lake that was made by a jet boat company the the top of the lower unit sits very low in the water as the motor is low in the boat I don.t think it planes out very good just what I saw riverhawk

[Gundog]

Try contacting Alumaweld and Fishrite I know they make sterndrives and jets they could probably tell you something. Motion Marine would probably be a good resource.

I have a friend who converted a 24' Jetcraft to outboard Motion Marine did the work and it came out really nice they put an offshore bracket on it.
Mike

[Two Fister]

At first I was thinking it was kind of a screwy idea, but the more that I think about it I wonder how hard it would be. The boat is an Alumaweld Formula V. I know that they sell the same boat with an inboard motor and a merc outdrive. I can't help but think that the motor would be in the same place, the transom isn't supporting the outdrive or the pump so it should be strong enough, the footprint on the transom about the same, and it should be high enough since the jet doesn't sit down in the water.

I'll make some calls to Alumaweld and Motion Marine to see what they say.
TF

[namu mac]

I think it would be a LOT cheaper and easier to fix the Kodiak pump. They are real easy to work on. About the only thiung that you would have to have done for you would be to change the main bearing and to have new cutlass bearings pressed in.

[Two Fister]

I spoke with the helpful folks at Alumaweld and the only major concern that they had was that the size of the hole in the transom may not be correct. Seems simple enough to weld and/or cut the transom to the right size. They buy their motors and outdrives as a package from Mercury so he wasn't sure about the specific equipment, but it sounds like the linkages are pretty standard.

I'll post more after I talk to the folks at Mercury.
TF

[Green Machine]

Should be relatively simple. As you said, the hole in the transom will need to modified and the angle of the driveshaft will have to be altered. (The outdrive will more than likely sit higher than the jet) Motion Marine should be able to help you.

Green Machine

[Herring Problem]

My partner and I are in the process of getting ready to convert a 26 ft woodrige twin jet to a single Brovo 11 system.

After removing all of the jet junk and engines, we are rebuilding the transom and cutting out the mercruiser hole for the single outdrive.

And installing the complete mercrusier system with a single 350 V* @ 300hp.

We picked up all of the parts from various marina and have save a couple of thousand bucks so for on parts.

You will need someone who can weld aluminum and be able to cut it also.

But yes you can do a conversion.

Good Luck!