looking for an engine plan

[vindago]

Good Morning, I have a Vikiing 28 that presently has a OMC saildrive. Maybe thats enough said, but if not, the sail drive is a 15 hp Chrysler engine mounted in the hull of the boat that has been nothing but greif for me.
I am thinking of putting a outboard well in the lazeret, removing the saildrive, filling the hole and purchase a four stroke outboard. Not sure if I should stay with a 15 hp or if a 10 hp would be suficiant. Any thoughts ? I am open to sugestion.

[Gene T]

8 or 10 hp should be plenty. I don't know if I would go to all the work to put a well in, I might just hang it off the stern. It will come out of the water sometimes with big waves but might not be a problem for you.

[AjariBonten]

I agree, you're gonna have a big enough project filling the sail-drive hole

And of course, REALLY beefing up your transom!

BTW, look for a "Long-Shaft" outboard; and get the outboard before you do you aft end work, so you know where to put your most reinforcement.

Talk to your outboard dealer; it is really important to get the shaft the proper depth into the water.

Good luck, and post pics of the project! We can all learn from your... ahem.... challenges.

Fred

[Lancer28]

Vin - does the engine look like this?



I may want to buy your old engine.

[Valiente]

A lot of those Viking 28s had the Vire 7 HP gas engine. Others had a 5 HP Volvo, the one with the flywheel on top. We have three V-28s at our club, and I own a Viking 33. The 28s are very nice racer-cruisers, but you probably know this already.

I would suggest that you can go lower and lighter with a long shaft: a 4-stroke 5 or 6 HP might suffice. Less weight is of course better. If you cruise and don't race, get the lightest 9.9 you can find, and rig a way to freshwater rinse the cooling passages if you sail in salt water.

Another alternative (don't laugh!) is getting rid of the engine entirely, and getting 12-14 foot "sweeps", oars that you can lash to the stanchions. Hey, the Viking is only 4,500 lbs...easy!

I suggest this because I've seen the Viking 28 make 1 knot of speed in 3 knots of wind, and beating everyone else for line honours in mid-summer "dead air" races.

[RXBOT]

If you only need motor for docking and getting away from the dock consider replacing motor with dc elecric. Could probably be fairly easy and you don't have any hull modifications. Thats if the saildrive lower unit is not causing you any problem.

[vindago]

Lancer 28, yes same motor but mine does not have a charging sysem. I thought of rebuilding mine but have asked around and the responce I get is "get rid of it". It does run...wont start hot, and takes on water when shut down which can be fixed I know. I spent lots of sailing time working on it and had to sail to the dock more times then I would like.
Rxbot, I like the idea but not the DC part, i had thought of installing a hydrolic pump and motor to drive the lower unit.
My wife and I do like to do some crusing and as you all know, the weather is not always in faver of getting you back to work for Monday morning, that is why I would like more power "if" needed for extended motoring.
thankyou for your support.