We're about to start cutting put the transom for the drive mounting. I have this template for the job

http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/...psbb0aa129.jpg

http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/...ps10a008c9.jpg

previously my drive height was way too low and I was loosing some speed. I would be grateful if someone could advise:

what is a good height for a 27/8 squadron?

How can I meassure the X in order to calculate the closest to optimal drive height?

Thanks!

some progress

[ATTACH=CONFIG]510644[/ATTACH]

Going after the "tribute" look?

Not specifically. We were going for something classic and simple. Love the black red and silver combination.

:coolcowboy:

Mercury makes a nice jig for drilling the transom, try to rent or borrow one from a marine rigging shop. If you set the prop shaft height at 2-1/2" below the hull, it should work very well. We did it using a standoff box and a -2 IMCO XR lower.

awesome project. i've always wanted one of these. how do they handle rough water as a sit-down boat? how does the ride compare to a 28SS?

thanks Barry. Here in Panama there are few boats with bravo drives and basically no new installations. they come cut out from the factory or before importation. I would have had to buy the jig for this one time (in the foreseeable future) so we decided to use the template.

The boats take rough water well. We are on the pacific ocean here so it does not get as choppy as the caribean/atlantic. having said that, we do get some 4-5 foot waves and strong winds from time to time. When it gets like that you just put some tabs down and the boat cuts through water like a knife.

Squadrons don't have cabins, and are a single engine boat. I have never ridden in one but since the 28ss is considerably heavier, I would asume it may feel like more of a wave pounder than the squadron.

Squadron weight is approx 5,000 lbs with engine etc. don't know about the 28ss but I am guessing more like 7,500 lbs??

great info - thanks! i believe my 28ss did weigh about 7500lbs, so makes sense that it may ride a little better in rough water with the added weight. tabs do make a difference though...

Looking Good! Keep us informed!