I just bought a1985 36' Gibson in Ft. Lauderdale and need to bring it to the Florida Keys,here are a few questions I have.  How much does it weigh aprox [no fly bridge]  -- I would like to buy a used trailer,any ideas on what to get and where to get it.The boat  has no engine in it, I would like to put on two outboards any thoughts on size and type. any help would be greatly appreciated    thanks  bob rainek     262-352-4467

  No clue on the weight. The trailers are a simple design. They moved our 42' with a borrowed trailer that came from a marina that rented to livaboards.
 2 I-beams, 4 axels & a tongue. Virtually no cross bracing. It took permits and a flag car to accompany the mobile home trailer toter. Do you have big truck access?

 If you use outboards for the waters of the Keys, I'd say no less than a total of 200 HP. That means some substantal transom bracket/splash well construction. Some long controll systems, fuel tankage & other issues. Add to that the cost of the OBs. (even used, they are expensive! )
 Refit the type of engine it came with is my advice Save all that extra $$$ for other upgrades & nav equipment. Good luck, we love our Gibby.

I don't like to rain on anyone's parade but you raise several questions. One, if you think you are going to pull a 36' Gibson, even without engines by using a pickup truck or something like that you need to rethink. You will need a big truck and perhaps permits and an escort vehicle like Ted said. Then putting two new OB's with sufficient power to handle that houseboat in saltwater is going to cost way more than the boat is worth. My guess would be at least $20,000. Mind you, I accept the fact that this is your dream and not mine. So I will tell you that it has been done. You may need to reinforce the transom to handle the weight you are going to hang on there. Also you will need to remove all the struts, shafts and rudders as you will not need them and seal all the holes well. Sounds like a heck of a project. The only way you can justify it is because you want to do it and that has been my downfall many times. Just remember, you will never get your money back out of it in that combination. You will just have to sell the engines one day and junk the boat but that is OK if you enjoy it while you have it. I would suggest two Honda 200hp four strokes to really make it run but that will push the price closer to $30,000. You can get by with much less horsepower and even use a single engine with a small kicker for safety. That boat is only 12' wide isn't it? Many of them were built with only one inboard.

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The Judge Rules

If it's a single inboard and you still have the running gear I'd try and find a rebuilt engine that will fit; that'll probably be less expensive than switching everything over to outboard power. If it's a twin or an outdrive then I'd look into a single rebuilt outboard. Look in any of the "boat trader" mags and you'll find ads from engine rebuilders. IMO an outboard is safer too. You could probably "get by" with 100 hp but more would be better.

I converted my 35' Driftercruise from twin chryslers to a single Perkins diesel. Total cost of the conversion probably 5k but it was an old second-hand engine, I used the original hardware and I did the work myself. To have the work done by "professionals" would have been prohibitive.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

I'm not the norm, but I've been trailering my 38' HM 38 since I purchased it new in 1990.  Weight with single 454 15,000#, on trailer about 22,000#.  This is the sane as weight of a medium back hoe, which pickups pull all the time.  Current truck is a 96 Chevy 4x4 one ton dully with 454 and 4.56 gears.  No problem.

Setting up trailer is not cheap for one shot, but if you want to trailer over time, a good investment.  Florida does not require escorts for boats 12 and under, big problem in Fl is the days legal to trailer overwides.  Texas where I live is easy.

Twin outboards my not have enough prop blade area.  Best outdrives have largest dia props, either Bravo 2 or Bravo 3 or DP.  My single engine 300 hp 454 with either my Bravo 2 or 3 runs 30 mph.  I have one of each.

If you don't want to plane as little as 40 hp may work if you use twins with a 40 hp total  I have pull tested my Hm 38 (similar in size to yours) with a very old 1960 Evinrude 40 hp.  I was able to pull it 5.5 mph.  That 40 is not set up for heavy use.  My dream would be to test twin 9.9 4 strokes with high thrust props.  I'm guessing it might push my HM 5/6 mph and use only 1.5 gph.  That could be 4 mph and at 3/3.5 may get upwards of 6/7 mpg. Might break 10 mpg at 2/2.5 mph???  My single 454 B2 gets about 3 mpg at 3 mph.  My 1960 3 hp Evinrude pulls my Hm at 2 mph w/o wind.  It is not state of the art and burns 1/4 gph, that's 8 mpg at 2 mph.  I have 2 old engine sailboat 3hp with high thrust props I want to test sometime.  This will give me another point on the low speed performance curve.  My 1981 Evinrude 25 pulls the Hm about 4.5 mph at 1/2 throdle, as this is the point the prop breaks loose and cavitates.  It does not have much blade area.

Easy way to test how an engine might work at nonplanning speeds, is to use a a boat with test engines to tow you hull.  Lot easier than installing engines to test.

Reguardless how well a small engine might push your rig at slow speeds, the small engines could be a problem in reverse, docking.

Would love to do a test on mine with twin highthrust 9.9 4 strokes mounted either side of the 454 outdrive.  Outboards for cruising and 454 for docking and planning speeds.

Call me if you need help 832 473 8928 

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Johnplatou
1990 HM 38 with Mercruiser 454 Bravo.Lift Stored, Trailerable, and Fits in garage. One of 9 boats presently owned. Boating experience 45 years and 8000 hours. Trailering Hm 38 16 years and 6000 miles, other trailering 100,000 miles and 39 years.

Edited: 10/06/2007 at 09:37:07 PM by johnplatou

John has good information regarding outboards and horsepower. Most ANY houseboat is easy to push IF you don't get in a hurry. I've pushed my 35' Drift-R-Cruise with a MinnKota TROLLING MOTOR... it was only a 24# thrust (they don't make 'em any more) and I go ONE whole knot. A 4 hp Evinrude got TWO knots. So a pair or 9.9's or 15's (about the same price) would probably work nicely IF you're not in a hurry. Once you hit 5-6 knots you're at hull speed, and if you want to go appreciably faster you're going to need a LOT of power (and gas). That's why he has a 454...

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

I read the post as "heading for the Keys". that makes it a safety issue. Lakes are more forgiving than oceans. Again it becomes a $$$ issue. Cost VS resale. If all you want is to raft up with others, then do nothing @ all and put the money into a really nice push boat that zips around and thrills all who ride after the HB is in place.
They push a lot of floating homes here, but it's quiet water & close to safe tie ups.

I think that's the neatest thing I've ever seen John, how about posting some more pictures of the HM being trailered.   Or just email them to me @  mrh@1mrh.com

Your boat will weigh 12,000 without engine and bridge. You can get a used IO rathur cheap, get freshwater. I would put it back as it was was and forget Outboards

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The pirate