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Author Topic:   Will Whaler Drive fit a Guardian 18?

elvis posted 03-18-2014 04:13 PM ET (US)
Hi all. Will a Whaler Drive fit onto my 1987 Whaler Guardian? If so, what would a good used unit cost if one could be located? I take it the drive just bolts onto the transom?
Presently, I'm disassembling and restoring this boat completely, so if I were to make such a modification, now would be a good time. Thanks.
leadsled posted 03-19-2014 04:33 AM ET (US)
I don't think they made a 18 with a Whalerdrive but I could be wrong.
elvis posted 03-19-2014 03:35 PM ET (US)
Hi lead sled. You are correct, WD was never offered on an 18. I just had that confirmed by Whaler.
leadsled posted 03-20-2014 04:39 AM ET (US)
You also need a full transom like on a sterndrive. And the transom also had to be reinforced in the places where the long thru bolts secure the Whaler drive. Don't get any ideas. I would hate to see someone ruin a Guardian :)
jimh posted 03-20-2014 11:14 AM ET (US)
There have been a very limited number of boat modified by their owners to have an engine set back bracket.
One boat I know with an owner-added engine set back bracket was specifically ordered from Boston Whaler as a full transom model. The boat was built by Boston Whaler to have the aft deck and full transom. Boston Whaler offered this option, which they called a "Seadrive blank", for a period of time when the OMC Seadrive was being made. You can see this particular boat with its owner-added bracket in
Engine Brackets
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/engineBrackets.html
I don't recall any other owner-modified boats that began as a Seadrive blank. There are a few other boats that began as Seadrive-powered boats, and, when the Seadrive failed, the owner decided to remove the Seadrive completely. The transom, which was already modified by Boston Whaler to be a full transom, was then repaired, with any holes from the removed Seadrive filled with plywood and laminate. Then the owner added a set back bracket. For an example of this see
Cetacea Page 79
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage79.html
Of particular interest in this discussion is the modification of an 18-foot OUTRAGE which originally had a Seadrive. The conversion to an outboard engine with bracket is shown in
Sea Drive Conversion
Re-fitting a Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 18 Full Transom to Set Back Bracket
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/seaDriveConversion.html
and also see the OUTRAGE 18 with a much larger bracket shown in
Cetacea Page 24
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage24.html
There are some owner-modified boats with a notched transom to which an engine set back bracket has been added without filling in the transom notch.
There may be some additional owner-modified boats with an original notched transom to which the owner re-worked the boat to a full transom, then attached an engine set back bracket. (See Cetacea Page 59 )
Regarding the cost of a used Whaler Drive, I have no idea what one might be sold for. I do not recall anyone offering one for sale.
The Whaler Drive is fastened to the transom with many lag screws and five long support arms which are concealed. If twin engines are used a sixth support arm is added which will be in view.
If you were to find a Whaler Drive and add it to your 18-foot Whaler, you would have a new boat that was more like a 20-footer. The Whaler Drive is really an extension of the hull.
About ten years ago I was able to sit down with the inventor and designer of the Whaler Drive, Bob Dougherty, and he explained to me the concept of the Whaler Drive. What distinguishes the Whaler Drive from other popular engine set back brackets is the "buoyancy box." (That term, buoyancy box, was Bob's term.) The Whaler Drive creates buoyancy by displacement of water, so it compensates for the engine weight. The Whaler Drive is also craftily designed to let air be introduced between the water and the Whaler Drive to reduce its running drag. Makes a Boston Whaler boat become two-feet longer, giving the boat a different ride characteristic than the original hull had.
elvis posted 03-21-2014 04:35 AM ET (US)
I appreciate the great info, links, and recommendations. I was thinking that a WD was a simple bolt on but drilling lag bolt holes and the like causes me to take a deep breath. She will remain original with no extra hole drilling.
I had a 1985 18 Outrage some years ago, and it rode great while having a sports car feel, but then my son bought a 20 Guardian with dive door, and the extra 2 feet was an improvement, hence my logic to ask about WD.
Short of me winning the lottery, this 18 will likely be my last boat...I say likely, as we all know that Whaler fever can strike at any time. Thanks Lead, Jim, for great advice.

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Author	Topic: Will Whaler Drive fit a Guardian 18?
elvis	posted 03-18-2014 04:13 PM ET (US) Hi all. Will a Whaler Drive fit onto my 1987 Whaler Guardian? If so, what would a good used unit cost if one could be located? I take it the drive just bolts onto the transom? Presently, I'm disassembling and restoring this boat completely, so if I were to make such a modification, now would be a good time. Thanks.
leadsled	posted 03-19-2014 04:33 AM ET (US) I don't think they made a 18 with a Whalerdrive but I could be wrong.
elvis	posted 03-19-2014 03:35 PM ET (US) Hi lead sled. You are correct, WD was never offered on an 18. I just had that confirmed by Whaler.
leadsled	posted 03-20-2014 04:39 AM ET (US) You also need a full transom like on a sterndrive. And the transom also had to be reinforced in the places where the long thru bolts secure the Whaler drive. Don't get any ideas. I would hate to see someone ruin a Guardian :)
jimh	posted 03-20-2014 11:14 AM ET (US) There have been a very limited number of boat modified by their owners to have an engine set back bracket. One boat I know with an owner-added engine set back bracket was specifically ordered from Boston Whaler as a full transom model. The boat was built by Boston Whaler to have the aft deck and full transom. Boston Whaler offered this option, which they called a "Seadrive blank", for a period of time when the OMC Seadrive was being made. You can see this particular boat with its owner-added bracket in Engine Brackets http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/engineBrackets.html I don't recall any other owner-modified boats that began as a Seadrive blank. There are a few other boats that began as Seadrive-powered boats, and, when the Seadrive failed, the owner decided to remove the Seadrive completely. The transom, which was already modified by Boston Whaler to be a full transom, was then repaired, with any holes from the removed Seadrive filled with plywood and laminate. Then the owner added a set back bracket. For an example of this see Cetacea Page 79 http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage79.html Of particular interest in this discussion is the modification of an 18-foot OUTRAGE which originally had a Seadrive. The conversion to an outboard engine with bracket is shown in Sea Drive Conversion Re-fitting a Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 18 Full Transom to Set Back Bracket http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/seaDriveConversion.html and also see the OUTRAGE 18 with a much larger bracket shown in Cetacea Page 24 http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage24.html There are some owner-modified boats with a notched transom to which an engine set back bracket has been added without filling in the transom notch. There may be some additional owner-modified boats with an original notched transom to which the owner re-worked the boat to a full transom, then attached an engine set back bracket. (See Cetacea Page 59 ) Regarding the cost of a used Whaler Drive, I have no idea what one might be sold for. I do not recall anyone offering one for sale. The Whaler Drive is fastened to the transom with many lag screws and five long support arms which are concealed. If twin engines are used a sixth support arm is added which will be in view. If you were to find a Whaler Drive and add it to your 18-foot Whaler, you would have a new boat that was more like a 20-footer. The Whaler Drive is really an extension of the hull. About ten years ago I was able to sit down with the inventor and designer of the Whaler Drive, Bob Dougherty, and he explained to me the concept of the Whaler Drive. What distinguishes the Whaler Drive from other popular engine set back brackets is the "buoyancy box." (That term, buoyancy box, was Bob's term.) The Whaler Drive creates buoyancy by displacement of water, so it compensates for the engine weight. The Whaler Drive is also craftily designed to let air be introduced between the water and the Whaler Drive to reduce its running drag. Makes a Boston Whaler boat become two-feet longer, giving the boat a different ride characteristic than the original hull had.
elvis	posted 03-21-2014 04:35 AM ET (US) I appreciate the great info, links, and recommendations. I was thinking that a WD was a simple bolt on but drilling lag bolt holes and the like causes me to take a deep breath. She will remain original with no extra hole drilling. I had a 1985 18 Outrage some years ago, and it rode great while having a sports car feel, but then my son bought a 20 Guardian with dive door, and the extra 2 feet was an improvement, hence my logic to ask about WD. Short of me winning the lottery, this 18 will likely be my last boat...I say likely, as we all know that Whaler fever can strike at any time. Thanks Lead, Jim, for great advice.