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So I had a mechanic remove my sea drive and gave it to him for 500 bucks. I just got the boat and I don't know if I could have ever gotten it started, certainly would have never trusted it.
I have seen the pages about the person who converted to a regular outboard with a jack plate. I am more open, more inclined to cut the transom down to its original level (from about 5 feet away you can the line in the gelcoat for whatever reason).
Jack plate would be slightly easier, and I am not looking for a fiberglass project (in addition to sealing the wholes left by the sea drive), but I feel a cut out would be better, just by gut feel. Of course I would lose the back lockers that came with the sea drive model.
If it were my boat (which it is not of course) I would fill the sea drive holes and add a positive flotation outboard bracket. It would be alot easier than cutting out the transom and still gives you the deckspace and storage that you currently have. I would think that making it look like a factory transom mount would be really challenging. That of course is my opinion and I am sure others will vary.
Keep the lockers, patch the holes and order the bracket. I believe with a 12 inch setback bracket you can almost get an outboard to tilt up all the way to the transom.
I agree with the rest. Get a bracket. I've had so many boats with notch's that i wish had setback motors. They handle like a bigger boat and have the room but without the price. But i would go with a pos. flotation bracket similar to a whalerdrive. Cost probably the same as getting someone to cut your transom and get it looking good. Pros far outweight the cons. Just my opinion thought.
after contemplation of all feedback, I have decided to go with the 12" bracket just as the original article. Seems like not only the best, but the path of least resistance to getting out and doing some fishing.
I don't think the article ever mentions what length shaft for the outboard should be used with the bracket. Anyone know, could probably draw it up and figure it out.
