2001v-drive

Glad to hear that the tests are doing good.
Just be careful on the water till you get it all worked out.

The boat looks great and I bet the finish project will shine !!!





Dave

Is that in Lawton?

Dave,its pretty nerve racking water testing a boat thats so far from factory.

Steve,that pic is the boat dry but I will get you some weighted next time I go.

Ryan,Thats lake lugert

Quinner,I gelled the whole boat medium blue(the factory was kinda tarheels baby blue.

Wow,my pictures really suck

That boat looks great. When I first heard of a v-drive conversion of a 2001 boat, I wasn't optimistic that the outcome would look as good as it does. You and 84resto proved me wrong big time. I think you guys took really great boats and made them even better by making them more inline with today's mainstream watersports. Heres' some things I've always thought would've been neat to change about the boat (assuming your doing a radical conversion like you did).   

1. entire observer seat swings up like on the 90s and newer Nautiques
2. maybe a jump seat behind the driver seat
3. make the entire rear seat swing up on some sort of heavy duty hinge (like the observer seat on the newer 90s Nautiques) so that access to the vdrive, ballast and storage could be enhanced.
4. not sure about a bench seat along the starboard side as the boat is kind of narrow for that. If it was doable though, storage underneath that seat would make that vdrive converted set up pretty incredible.
5. moving the factory pylon to just behind the rear seat if it could be incorporated in w/o interfering with the v drive. Ball of pylon just above the upholstery. Would be nice attachment point for tubing on those glassy days...kidding
6. move the platform up (if need be to get it at or slightly above water line) and replace brackets with removeable swim platform brackets
7. foldaway trailer tongue.
8. speed control, of course
9. driver seat swivels

Just curious, since you did all the work yourself, other than labor and a vdrive...is there alot of materials cost to doing a conversion like this?

Again, awesome job. I'm proud of myself when I get the oil changed without fouling up the bilge, but this thread leaves me feeling that my membership in the man club is in danger of being revoked. Great work. I'm not worthy

I'm not sure how you plan to finish the back of the boat but I feel the engine is too enclosed and may not get enough fresh air. Just keep that in mind.

On the lake, I suggest you test the engine with both the engine hatch closed and open.

I'm sure he did, the question is if will be enough.

That's why I suggest he opens the hatch while under way to see if the rpms increase, he could also check on WOT numbers and even gas usage.

The air circulation on this boat is a work of art.It enters through the high pressure zone below the windsheild and tracks through the bottom exiting at the v-drive.Then it pushes past the motor up out the rear vent and scoop on the sun deck.In reality the dd version has a disadvantage not having a vent hole on top of the engine.

F an F, I just pulled the same set-up from a carver, the mounts are on the v-drive. i wouldnt say anything but thats one helluva lotta weight hanging aft of the trans mounts, and then under forward thrust you are pushing a 2500lb boat. its just my thoughts and dont mean to offend.

Eric,I Know its been bothering you and the under forward thrust is a fact so I will have my helper make a thrust mount just in case.

That interior is very 80s/West Coast, I like it.

Do you have the old skins?

btw, again beautiful job

akabulla wrote: form it looks SWEEEET! Mad props man. That is a great job! Where did you get the rub rail? I want to do that to mine and get rid of the rope! I contacted CC but they said they didn't have that kit for my boat. Thanks!

http://www.rubrails.com/

This type of rubrail is very stiff and looks good but it binds around the sharp corners requiring a small cut on the bottom.You can't really see it and white seam sealer covers it up just fine.I would use it again.

Cool. I will check it out.

How did you pipe the ballast? Do you have a scoop on the bottom and have it all plummed and switches on the dash?