Wellcraft Nova undergoes a conversion from Sterndrive to Outboard.

[Smoking Joe]

I'm hoping for some good video of that use and abuse....and make sure that we can hear that monster V8 !!!!

Oh yes to the audio, you and I both mate. So there I was on holiday and all I could think about is the Nova and getting it done, very frustrating, wrecked my concentration on trying to remember how to relax..........

[whipper]

haha youll get to relax when your on the water with her. Love the swim platform! with outboards its a rare idem as nice as yours. All the details your doing sound so great I cant wait to see how your final product looks probably not as much as you though.

something Im thinking about doing this to deep 6 the stereo and just use one of these from Bose and stow it. My buddy has one and i can not believe the sound they make!! They are out of this world for there size!! She also has a larger round one that rocks louder and clearer than 99% of marine sound systems. They play off your phone .

[Smoking Joe]

Cheers Whipper. I have just purchased a new vehicle which now allows me to connect my I phone. So I have downloaded a heap of music and just love it all on a trip. Technology is just moving so quickly, the new GPS/Sounder I purchased for the Nova has now been superseded, how sad is that........ The stereo in the Nova looks pretty new so I expect I will leave it there, certainly till I get around to giving the cabin a make over.

[hemi2005]

Oh yes to the audio, you and I both mate. So there I was on holiday and all I could think about is the Nova and getting it done, very frustrating, wrecked my concentration on trying to remember how to relax..........

You sound like me. When I'm in the middle of a project I can't seem to focus fully on anything else....I hope that you got to relax at least a little bit! You need a little bit of down time. It's very important to your overall well being.

[jjpetro]

Hello Neville,
How is your project and family?
Jeff P

[Smoking Joe]

Hello Neville,
How is your project and family?
Jeff P

Greetings Jeff,

the project has been progressing, albeit rather slowly. The Nova is going to the painters in two weeks time so will be nice to have an empty shed. Time to give the boat a good clean followed by the shed.

My wife is still recovering from her cancer treatment. At this stage indications are positive though only time will confirm this. I have basically given up my boat business as it was based out of town and this didn't work with my new "home" duties/requirements. We have a Montessori Pre School which my wife has run for the last 25 years. I have given it a major make over which is nearing completion, removed one building and replaced it with another three times larger. That will be completed soon then its semi retirement for me, boating and sometimes help my boy with his boat building work. That and a load of overseas travel.

Thanks for asking Jeff, I appreciate it.

Did you proceed with your boat modifications? I didn't see you post a thread on your rebuild so assumed you didn't proceed.

Regards Neville.

[jjpetro]

Greetings Jeff,

the project has been progressing, albeit rather slowly. The Nova is going to the painters in two weeks time so will be nice to have an empty shed. Time to give the boat a good clean followed by the shed.

My wife is still recovering from her cancer treatment. At this stage indications are positive though only time will confirm this. I have basically given up my boat business as it was based out of town and this didn't work with my new "home" duties/requirements. We have a Montessori Pre School which my wife has run for the last 25 years. I have given it a major make over which is nearing completion, removed one building and replaced it with another three times larger. That will be completed soon then its semi retirement for me, boating and sometimes help my boy with his boat building work. That and a load of overseas travel.

Thanks for asking Jeff, I appreciate it.

Did you proceed with your boat modifications? I didn't see you post a thread on your rebuild so assumed you didn't proceed.

Regards Neville.

Glad to hear your wife is doing well Neville. I hope, and pray, she continues to improve and does not relapse. It sounds as if you have been very busy with more pressing facets of living life.

As for my boat. I pulled out the 4.3 Merc and bought a '95 Mercury 2.5 200 hp offshore. The engine was supposedly rebuilt last year, it appears to only need a good cleaning and paint job. I have designed my own aluminum bracket and sent the drawings out to fab shops in the area. The quotes were a bit pricey for me so I will be going the route you have taken. I'll be snooping around this thread, web-site and others to gather information on the best route to take. I am one of those over-analytical engineers who just have to exhaust every avenue before beginning a project. Drives my wife nuts, and me too sometimes!

I hope you and your family do well.
Jeff P

[Smoking Joe]

Thanks for your prayers and well wishes Jeff. Good to hear you are into your repower. I have never been a fan of Aluminium but probably only because I need someone else to manufacture it. I am like you, I like to think outside of the square and put in lots of thought before pulling the trigger. Soon I have a clients 40ft Aluminium launch going in the water, with two 275hp Verado's on the transom. First time in the water from new. Was originally going to have twin diesel but ended up going with outboards, it was never going to work with the diesels. Will be interesting to see how it performs. This client is like me and is often outside of the square.



If I can help you with your project, drop me a PM.

Regards, Neville.

[Fast Shafts]

Just saw this-was thinking of your thread:

http://annapolis.craigslist.org/boa/5024517282.html

[rgsauger]

Boarding platform completed, now to fair the transom from platform to hull/deck join.

WOW!!!!!!!!! That looks awesome!!!! Your level of craftsmanship is amazing. Congrats on the Mrs. health heading in the right direction too. Keep us posted on all counts!

Rob

[Smoking Joe]

Just saw this-was thinking of your thread:

http://annapolis.craigslist.org/boa/5024517282.html

Those older Nova's now seem to be rather collectable. For that reason I don't know that I would have made the conversion to O/b, I think it has probably devalued the boat. Thanks for you thoughts and post.

SJ

[Smoking Joe]

WOW!!!!!!!!! That looks awesome!!!! Your level of craftsmanship is amazing. Congrats on the Mrs. health heading in the right direction too. Keep us posted on all counts!

Rob

Thanks for your kind comments Rob. I think this boat will be my "last hurrah" so to speak and probably my last boat that I will own, so I want it to be perfect. It needs to be beautiful, different/unique in NZ, it will be a statement and something I had always wanted to do. Even the bilges and areas inside lockers etc or certainly the areas I have worked on will have a similar level of finish to those areas which are more readily seen. From an early age I have always loved this style of boat. This project for me is not a race, yes I am keen to see it on the water but it has to be right and with other "distractions" getting in the way it has taken me longer than I would have wished.

[Smoking Joe]

Painting is under way and the Nova is now primed ready for final sanding and top coating. I have managed to purchase two brand new old stock side cabin windows. These should arrive in around two weeks. I have also ditched the original hatch and purchased a NZ one as replacement. It sure is nice to see some more progress.

[hemi2005]

Wow! Looking good Nev!!

[cltch]

Looks really good Nev! I can't wait to see the end result!