Haines Hunter v146c - to reno or not???

[Whiley_Whiting]

I have an old orange top Haines hunter v146c, was a hand me down from dad before he passed and I re-powered it with a 60hp Mercury 21 years ago.... the engine doesn’t miss a beat even today and starts easily....

I am thinking of sprucing the boat up by adding a engine pod and redesigning the back to allow for an inbuilt fuel tank, dual batteries, deck wash, bilge pump and bait tanks. Would also re-power it with a 4 stroke 60 or 70 hp...

New trailer is also needed as it’s still the original....

However, thoughts? Obviously it all costs money and wanting thoughts on whether it’s worth it and also would the pod change the feel of the boat?

I love the hull and boat and rides better than my previous cruise craft 575 outsider!

[Fed]

It sounds like you want to ruin a perfectly good boat, sit down until the urge goes away.

[Noelm]

Probably wouldn't put a pod on one of those, and a fuel tank in the stern might make it bum heavy perhaps, pretty good boat if it's still structurally sound.

[Whiley_Whiting]

I wondered whether or not a pod would ruin the boat? currently the fuel tanks sit at the back of the boat anyway and by having a underfloor tank extending from the back of the boat towards the front to me would better balance the boat?

currently the boat is becoming soft underfoot around the fold down seat area... I had the transom rebuilt 21 years ago when I put the new outboard on it....

[Whiley_Whiting]

I also use this boat from crabbing in the creeks to heading offshore. hence the reason why I thought dual battery set-up and also the bilge pump would be good...

[gazza2006au]

Mate if u got rid of this old girl u would be kicking your self in a couple of years it was a pass me down but it has a lot of sentimental value to you because it was your fathers boat if u sold it he would be rolling over in the gave so to speak

keep it man do it up do all the things your father would do to it if he were here today you've owned it quiet some time fix it up and pass it down to the next generation

everything sounds ok but the pod on such a small boat i donno about

[Whiley_Whiting]

thanks Gazza, I have kept this boat even when I had the cruise craft 575... its a classic boat that will keep going forever if looked after.

I have been doing a lot of research on pods and I am steering away from the idea... although I am not sure how the weight of a 4 stroke would go on the back of the original hull..

[gazza2006au]

I'd imagine a 60hp Mercury that is 20 years old would be a 3 cylinder? that would weigh around 100kg a new 60hp Yamaha 4 stroke is only 113kg you wouldn't even know the difference

[Andy56]

a full reno could nudge $30,000. Unless you compromise, but then that defeats the purpose. You gotta decide if you want to spend the money. Personally, its not worth the effort. You may have a different perspective but i can see your not convinced its worth it either. So what do you think will push you over the line? What are the pros and cons? Make a list. Sometimes having all the info in black and white, in your face, helps. Nostalgia for the old man? I bet he would say get a new boat. Thats what i would tell my son, lol

[Dignity]

Sounds like you have a bit of rot in the floor so you could look at replacing it and at the same time put an underfloor tank in further forward. Once you lift the floor though you might find that the stringers are also rotten, usually they go hand in hand. You can do it all yourself and at ghe same time change your layout to suit.

[scottar]

If you want to take on the project yourself for personal reasons - go for it. Don't pod it though - as Gazza mentioned the lightweight yammy will be a perfect match and they are a great little motor. Personally I'd use thermolite or coosa but I'm a do it once type.

[stevej]

two batteries 80kg
decent live well worth doing 60l to 70kg or so
a heavier four stroke another 30 odd kilos
10kg of pluymbing and wiring

even moving the fuel tank forward you are adding all this weight then moving the outboard further out
nothing good will come of this

[Jeremy]

I have a V146C with a 4 stroke 60, dual battery set up, 44 litre live bait tank / cutting board on the transom and a 70 litre fuel tank in the transom well. The only time I notice any sluggishness is when the bait tank is full and there are 2 POB and my mate is towards the transom. I get 2.8 km / litre on average and take it out to the 50s off the Gold Coast and past Hutchies. I have crossed Moreton Bay heading into 20 knots of SEer. Mine is currently for sale on gumtree for $9000

So and speaking from experience - no need for a pod, 60 hp is enough but 70 would be better, you can get 70 litres (or more) in the transom well, it can handle 70 litres in the transom well + 2 batteries and no need for a pod. You are welcome to come have a look at mine if you are in Brisbane. Send me a pm.

[up the creek]

sounds like jeremy has some experience, and as scotta and gazza said the new light yammie wont hurt it as said the old merc would have been an anchor itself lol so the transom should take it. if u had it redone. so all in all its do you want to spend the money to see this vision come true is the boat worth it or have something worth fixing thats is better then or that you cant buy ready to go cheaper in another boat, at the end of the day unless your poor as like me then id say give it a go if its what u want its only a lot of money to burn ha ha ...

[Dignity]

currently the boat is becoming soft underfoot around the fold down seat area... I had the transom rebuilt 21 years ago when I put the new outboard on it....

This is still of some concern.