1976 Howard Seats and Engine Placement Help

[msagro]

I have a 76 Howard runner. It is currently set up with 2 buckets and the engine placement slid forward. I would like to change the boat back to a ski boat as I hardly ever get it out of the garage because just 2 seats. It seems as though I saw on here sometime in the past, maybe the old site a template for making seats so that 4 people can ride in the boat. I am also curious if anyone has suggestions on prop location if the engine is slid back to accomodate the forward and rearward facing seats. I included a couple of photos, unfortunately my experience is with racing flats and the set up for that not for a ski setup. Thanks for any help.

[RiverRacer]

Back in the day all them boats were available as ski boats only, all bronze hardware and the motor all the way back to acomodate seating, so it's not a big deal just move the motor back and use a 3 blade prop and you have a ski boat, but remember that is what you'll have, a 50 mph ski boat!..

[msagro]

Yes, I was affraid of that and is why I haven't done it yet. Is there any middle ground on these deals?

[RiverRacer]

I'd just pick up another one for skiing and stuff that's what I did, picked up an ole Beyers put a bone stock motor in it and ran it for years, must have put 30,000 miles on it, LOL..

[msagro]

Well, what I really need to do is talk my wife into getting rid of her mud sucker/mini day cruiser so that I could afford to buy a v drive mini day cruiser and that would solve a lot of issues. I don't know if another boat is the place to go at this time as we have the 76 Howard, a 78 Demarco 22' Mini Day Cruiser, and a Pontoon boat now. That damn mud sucker burns more $4.25 a gallon gas in an hour than the other 2 do in a day. I was just throwing ideas around and the more I think about it the more I think you are correct just leave it alone and get it out from time to time to hot rod around.

[RiverRacer]

I sure wouldn't change it that would ruin it, I definitely would get rid of that ditch pump though it'll put you in the poor house, LOL.. The way I set my old ski flat I could run all weekend on less than 20 gals!...

[poncho]

I have a 76 Howard runner. It is currently set up with 2 buckets and the engine placement slid forward. I would like to change the boat back to a ski boat as I hardly ever get it out of the garage because just 2 seats. It seems as though I saw on here sometime in the past, maybe the old site a template for making seats so that 4 people can ride in the boat. I am also curious if anyone has suggestions on prop location if the engine is slid back to accomodate the forward and rearward facing seats. I included a couple of photos, unfortunately my experience is with racing flats and the set up for that not for a ski setup. Thanks for any help.

Years ago a friend of mine had a 77 Sanger bubble deck and same thing about the family. He moved the motor back and added two more buckets plus an auto tranny my thoughts were at the time he had ruined the boat,(wrong).
That boat ran in the high 70`s with medium power and rode great.
http://www.photoshow.com/maker/edit/pswa/Gq4VI8iY

[RiverRacer]

Still ruined the boat!.:D

[poncho]

Why did i know that was coming:eek:

[RiverRacer]

Why did i know that was coming:eek:

:D:D:D ....

[gfinishline]

"The truth will set you free!"

[ls6vdrive]

just cap the back of the day cruiser, drill a hole in the floor and buy a cheap v drive for parts...heres one:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/893568287.html

[Mike Kurth]

I have a 76 Howard runner. It is currently set up with 2 buckets and the engine placement slid forward. I would like to change the boat back to a ski boat as I hardly ever get it out of the garage because just 2 seats. It seems as though I saw on here sometime in the past, maybe the old site a template for making seats so that 4 people can ride in the boat. I am also curious if anyone has suggestions on prop location if the engine is slid back to accomodate the forward and rearward facing seats. I included a couple of photos, unfortunately my experience is with racing flats and the set up for that not for a ski setup. Thanks for any help.

Have you thought about addng a 3rd bucket ? Consider turning the passenger seat around and adding another forward facing pasenger seat behind the other. Just a thought.