Advice Needed - Converting 3 to 2 motors
 

Hey guys, here is a question for the technical guys.
I recently purchased a 1995 Sunseeker Apache 45', it was a repo and the 3 motors (502's) are missing, but the 3 bravo drives are still in place. Now, I have noticed that these also came with just 2 motors and I am wondering if I can convert it back to 2.

Is it as easy as just removing the center drive and have a glass guy cover over the hole? I think I would either have to change out the shifters(3) or just leave them as is, with 1 being not connected.

The big question is, will the 2 remaining outdrives be too far apart on the transom? I have looked at some pics of the boats with 2 drives and they seam to be in about the same spot.

I attached a pic of mine now.

Thanks for the advice.

Oh and I know it will slow her down, but I don't need her to do 60MPH, I have a Donzi Z33 for that ;)
http://www.commonwealthboatbrokers.c...id=10893&il=30

If you do that, you will put all the stress from the third drive onto the other 2. Its a big heavy boat and it will be hard on just 2 Bravos.

Fixx
 

like griff said,that's a heavy boat and will need something stronger then just bravos..your best bet would be to sell the bravo set ups and find some speed master set ups or Arneson surface drives and use them in a staggered configuration..going from 3 to 2 motors your going to have to cut out the stringers and glass everything back up including all three holes to get the proper x dimension for the drives to work with each other,just remomving the center engine and drive may be to far apart to get any speed out of the boat..

in the long run it would be cheeper to put 3 502's back in the boat and go boating..If you do deside to glass the hole up and use 2 502's i would look into a set of bravo III drives which may work,,,,for the time being ..

ahh
 

Ahhhh....thats what I was worried about. I do not want to move the motors and redo stringers ect. So I guess I am looking for 3 454's or 502's !

Thanks guys :drink:

I would get 502's if I could, as the resale will be much better down the road with 502's as opposed to 454's.

Update
 

I spoke with the lead service Manager at Seattle Boats, a Sunseeker Dealer. He seems to think all I have to do is remove the center drive, glass up the hole and go boating. He sees no need to move the engines or stringers, apparently the hull stringers are the same from the twin to the triple set up.

I am waiting to hear back from a guy name Andrew at Sunseeker Costa Mesa Ca. Apparently he is the best guy on the West Coast.

Cheers

Do you have the boat yet.....Is it coming from Richmond VA? (I don't know the boat but your description fits one that is sitting here locally)

Yup, thats mine. I do own it now. It is getting loaded on a truck and shipped out west.

Cheers
Mark

2 Diesels.....

Final Update - Direct from Sunseeker
 

Good morning

Yes he could install just 2 engines but would need to reposition engine
beds, modify the transom and
would have to purchase Bravo 3 legs to be able to fit bigger props or he
will have trouble getting up
on the plane.
With a clean hull and 3 good engines a top speed of around 48 - 50 knots
can be achieved.
With a clean hull and 2 good engines a top speed of around 38 - 40 knots
can be achieved.

It would be cheaper for your customer to purchase 3 new engines than carry
out the extensive modifications
to engine beds, transom and buying 2 new Bravo 3 legs with suitable props.
But if money is no object then why not fit twin Seateks on Arnessons drives
and fly at 70 knots !

Trust this assists

kind regards

Steve


Steve Butcher
SuperYacht Warranty/Support


So, I am on the hunt for 3 engines ;) If anyone has some, please let me know.:evilb:

Now that the 496 is discontinued they are getting harder to find and the 502 MPI has been discontinued for years so finding three of them in excellent shape with low hours is difficult too and all the new engines are catalyzed. Up here we have a year before catalyzed engines are mandated, with a few loop holes. So getting good used big blocks is going to get difficult. Converting bravo 1's to 3's isn't that big a deal and if you're going to keep the boat for a while you might want to get a couple quotes for converting to twins and run a couple 500-550hp 502's. One less engine to maintain, purchase, etc. Obviously spreading the load around makes it easier on drives but if it is propped correctly and operated within it's power range you're good to go. There is no need to upgrade drives unless you're going to put more power through them then they are rated for. There are some other options too but first you should really nail down what your performance expectations are and what you want to do with the boat.. Sounds like a fun project though. Good luck!

just buy 3 496HO take outs,,,there are plenty here on OSO for sale this would be the cheapest way,,, plus with a big heavy boat you need to spread the load,,, trust me i know...

Thats exactly what I want, if you know of any, please pass them my way. Originally the 502's had 420HP and gave her a top end of 62MPH. So anything in the 385-420 HP range will work.

Cheers
Mark

Fixx
 

ok how about bull dogs...

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...bull-dogs.html

oops edit they were sold!

They would have been perfect! Little pricey though.