F32 express repower w/ single diesel?

[david butcher]

Has anyone attempted this? Plan to cut topdeck at forward v-berth, gut kitchen, table, and bench. Then move controls slightly behind v-berth, move single diesel engine forward of current engines approx. 4 feet. Drop cockpit depth and use single tank for diesel. Make modern hardtop with short tuna tower.

[prowlersfish]

David , Would not move the engine forward of where they are now . By doing so you cause the boat to be bow heavy . this will cause a bad bow steering at a very low planing speed and it will get worst the fast you go .
Unsafe and unnevering. It sounds like you would be removing the cabin also that should not make any diffrence as it is pretty well centered.

[david butcher]

Is the engine placement any different between the two models? My boat is the express model.

[prowlersfish]

I do not belive so . What year is your boat

[david butcher]

I also plan to remove generator. Would like to make the boat better for fishing as well as better on fuel.

[prowlersfish]

David removeing the genset will add to the bow steer issue .

[david butcher]

What are the properties of the hull that make the bow steer bad. I have noticed this problem in a following sea. It seems to help to keep the bow trimmed up. The idea about the generator is to reduce weight. Currently my boat has mercruiser 233 h.p. ford 351 engines. Not enough room for 6 cyl. diesel motors between bulkhead and stuffing boxes. Could the bow height be keep up with larger trim tabs with 1 large diesel motor?

Thanks

[prowlersfish]

David , trim tabs will not keep the bow up they can only lower the bow .( when the bow is all the way up the tabs are not doing anything) too much tab down will cause bow steer . F32 are noted for being bad in a following sea . bow steer is not a normal issue on these boats in normal condtions . but when you start moving the center of gravity you can cause issues ( on any boat ).bow steer is becuse the bow is rung to deep (plowing ) there are 2 F32 diesel owners here .boat are running twin 6cly diesels one Cummins the other Volvo.

what year is your F32 ? and do you have a photo? they did make 1 type F32 that was completely diffrent . but most f32s ( like the f 36 )will take the diesels in the normal location .

[rossjo]

Do NOT move engine(s) forward. I have a pair of Cummins 6BTAs in my F32 w/ stock stuffing box and engine compartment configuration. They/it WILL fit.

The poor handling is 13' of width on a 32 ' of boat. Looks/feels nice, but drives bad! My 8' wide 26', 350HP express is MUCH better in the ocean!

It would be interesting to put a nice, single Cummins 6CTA (8.3iter) in the middle, but that would be major work, and the steps would go where the sink is ... but cool. No redundancy in the engines, but 400-450HP on a single prop/weight would be fast and efficient.

[david butcher]

Mine is a 1977 express with flybridge. I have (2) 60 gallon fuel tanks aft. Just past them is the gen and motors going forward. It seems like the motors are set back further than some of the other models ? Once, I saw a F32 that a person had cut at the transom and added 6'. It was for sale on boatttraderonline in Florida. That would be cat's meow!