Runabout Hijinx!

[Runaground]

So... I'm kind of new to this. I have a nice old merc kg7h and want to run it. To do so, I have started to modify an ole tin can John v bottom into some sort of Frankinstien, kneel down, johnabout. Does anyone out there have any advice on rigging, or setup for that engine on a runabout? I'm not racing or anything... just something to knock around on the river. Looking around online, I have found that on the hydros, this engine is jacked way up above where you would hang the old fishin motor. I went ahead and set the cav plate at the bottom of the transom. Every thing looks good so far, but I just have a nagging feeling that I am missing something. Any tips would be appreciated.

[1954bmw]

That's cool, what part of Ohio??

[Runaground]

Olegator, I laced the cable from the top.
1954BMW, Athens Ohio.

[NICE PAIR]

does your steering cable come off the top or bottom of the steering drum?

"Good eyes" ;-)

[NICE PAIR]

So... I'm kind of new to this. I have a nice old merc kg7h and want to run it. To do so, I have started to modify an ole tin can John v bottom into some sort of Frankinstien, kneel down, johnabout. Does anyone out there have any advice on rigging, or setup for that engine on a runabout? I'm not racing or anything... just something to knock around on the river. Looking around online, I have found that on the hydros, this engine is jacked way up above where you would hang the old fishin motor. I went ahead and set the cav plate at the bottom of the transom. Every thing looks good so far, but I just have a nagging feeling that I am missing something. Any tips would be appreciated.

With the "Quickie" lower unit you'll probably have to lean as far forward as you can to get it on a plane. It's gonna slip and scream until it rocks over and the prop hooks up, then hang on. If you're a big guy, it might not work with the 1 to 1 lower unit.
Should wear a life vest and have a lanyard to a kill switch.

"Cool toy" ;-)

[Runaground]

Yup. Steers very backwards. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Runaground]

I can see it now. Launch boat... go to turn left, boat turns right... now I'm leaning the wrong way, loose grip of steering and throttle while pined wide open... boat planes out and I wrap it around the dock. Guess that's better than it running me over.

[Runaground]

If you look closer you can see that the cable is laced out the bottom.

[Runaground]

I guess that means relocating the first pulleys off the drum so the cable doesn't saw itself in two.

[Runaground]

Also I am tipping the scales at 225lbs. The boat is 12'
I see on the racing runabout hulls, everybody sits further to the back than the way I have set up. I'm guessing the shape of the boat has less hull in the water when on a plane that way?