Baron Sportsman Under Floor
Hi all.
I have a 5.5 Baron Sportsman. It currently has a Volvo 4 cylinder and out drive. I'm looking to repower with a V6 Merc and Alpha 1. Aside all the transom fun I know I'm going to have, I need to know how the stringer and/or rib spacing is layed out under the floor as I'm going to have to support the Merc with front engine mounts.
The Volvo is transom mounted only with no front supports but I'm not going to be able to swing the Merc in this fashion. I really don't want to have to tear up all the floor if I can avoid it. If I could just find a picture of what it will look like under there it may be enough to give me the clues where to start cutting. Or if I'm really lucky, someone out there in boating land may have the layout and measurments already documented some where.
I have seen these Barons with V6's and V8's fitted but I don't know how they did it. I think a V8 would start to boarder on the line of getting to heavy but I hoping the V6 will be ok. The old Volvo's are quite heavy as it is and the V6 Merc shouldn't increase the weight by enough to be throwing the balance out of wack. Weight low and forward has to provide a better balance and stability than those that have put pods and O/B's on them where the weight now transfers high and aft.
These are good old boats and mine has proven tuff as nails in the 4 years I've had it but it's repower time and it's going to be a nightmare without some freindly clues on these baby's from those that know them better than I do. It's what's under that floor that I need to know!
Cheers
Brett
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
I don't know if this helps
I don't know if this helps, but I have an Outrider, which is the hull for the inboard, but with the outboard mounted on a frame.
You can see the cavity where the inboard would fit, but not see any internal structure.
I think the hull would be the same as yours.
What suburb are you in, I have seen a yellow Baron nearby?
stefanie
Posts: 5
Date Joined: 22/08/10
Baron Sportsman
Mate I would love any info you can help me with on this one.
I live in Sellicks Beach, SA.
The engine bay walls are only fibre glass so I asume there must be supports a little further back in, but where they are is what I don't know.
Email is
Did yours originally have an inboard and you changed it, or did you buy it with the O/B already on it? I'd be keen to learn how much difference there is in performance. I'm told they don't balance well with pods and O/B becasue the weight transfer from forward and low to aft and high makes them sloppy.
But I would certanily be keen to see any info or pics to learn what I need to learn and would be kindly appreciated.
Cheers
Brett.
Gunner966
Posts: 145
Date Joined: 23/04/13
Hi Brett, when I got my Baron
Hi Brett,
when I got my Baron (14yrs ago) 2nd hand, I cut my floor open and fitted some 200mm x 50 mm and 150mm x 50 Oregon beams. I took pictures of the before and after, so if you want to PM your email address I can send them through to you.
Gunner
stefanie
Posts: 5
Date Joined: 22/08/10
Baron Sportsman
Gunner, cheers man, I would love to see those pics. It would be much appreciated.
You can email me at
Thanks mate
Brett
Gunner966
Posts: 145
Date Joined: 23/04/13
I personally would go with a
I personally would go with a pod and a 150 Suzuki 4 stroke.
That is what I have on mine just love it.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
This the way it was altered
This the way it was altered to get the V6 in after the 6IL was removed. the floor and stringers/beams had to be remade to get the engine installed.
There is a fair bit to be considered and the main thing is the driveshaft height/position and the leg to be matched up.
Better let a Pro do it who knows what to do!
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
You can see that there was a
You can see that there was a fair bit of work involved.
V6 is wider lower and shorter than what I had.(In Line 6)
Hope this helps.