17/11/2023
Here is an ongoing Project that’s been in and out of the yard over the past year.
This project started some 10 odd years ago (more like 15) by our very own boat builder Blair and his father Neville.
Neville imported the 23ft Wellcraft Nova from the states with the intention of removing the v8 350ci inboard & stern drive and converting to an outboard.
The aim was to keep the boat looking as factory as possible but to gain some performance making it into a fun poker run styled racer that you could still overnight in.
Like most projects the job list soon grew from a simple conversion to a full blown rebuild. This included replacing the transom, aft sections of the hull stringers, cabin bulkhead, dash, full rewire and re-plumb, full repaint, New boarding platform & outboard pod, plus a new windscreen just to list a few.
The outboard received the same treatment with a top to bottom rebuild. Some performance and reliability modification were done bumping the outboard up to a healthy 400hp.
When the boat came into our workshop the majority of the work had already been completed by Neville & Blair and only the final rigging/ reassembly & electrical work needing to be completed.
We also took the opportunity to build a new light weight composite windscreen with teak trim.
For all the speed junkies out there here’s a little rundown on the boat & motor
The Hull is a 1985 Wellcraft Nova 230xl
~Bobs machine shop hydraulic jack plate
~Mercury racing 380s k-planes operated via indicator style switches
~Foot throttle
The Outboard is a 1990 Evinrude 4.0ltr V8 2 stroke rebuilt and modified by Owen Davies
~Wiseco forged pistons
~Finger ported block
~25” offshore midsection with open exhaust & fastrac transom assembly
~Vro removed and custom fuel rail with Mallory lift pump & Holley fuel pressure regulator added
With the engine break-in period nearly completed we have been able to start testing propellers and really opening up that throttle.
The best speed so far has been a little over 60mph but there's plenty more speed to be found yet.
