Sportfish converted to Outboards!

Interesting. One would think there must have been some form of ballast added for stability to offset the low weight removed ? I wonder how performance and fuel consumption compares?

Hopefully, the engine bracket is a box down to the hull bottom adding buoyancy.
That would be a blast to get the owner onboard here to talk about his package.

I am so much looking forward to VP & Merc to ad diesel power heads to their new outboard drive packages.

If you kids remember the OMC transom drive / Sea Drive setup (1980 ish), then you may remember Huckins Yacht mounted 4 of these big-uns to a new Huck.

Now, this was all mechanical, the long clutch/throttle cables were a head ache.
It ran fair/well for a couple of years and then the outboards were removed, standard engine package was installed.

Just imagine 4 x 200HP on the stern. Trim-able also.
All 4 the weight of the single inboard standard 8v71n with clutch.

With today's drive by wire, I could see it happening often and soon, with great results.
Sadly, It's going to be a money thing again. No money, No trick pony.

I'm having a hard time justifying the dollars on a sportfish O/B retro. The motors have got to be real close in value to a couple of diesels. Then you've got a huge amount of labor to create the brackets .
So what would the attraction be?

Ah, I got it.
He wanted a new 4 engine fancy boat. Wife wanted a big cabin with galley/head.
Enclosed center consoles don't come with a full head and 40" TV.
The things you can do with money.

OTOH;
Could some engine thinker be working on a test-bed??
Not really a personal boat but research?
,,,, Getting some real time (personal) use??

Huckins captured a lot of data on that boat in post #11.
They are marketing a sportman 38 with diesels, Diesel/electric or outboards now.

I hate posting, not in agreement my friends, Butt;;
Some of those old SeaDrives had a snorkel that went thru the transom and drew dry air from the boat.
I have run outboards and lost sight of the outboard under the water and they kept dry under the cowl, the air/water baffles work great.
On the OP picture, by the time the water laps over the transom, the cowling top and air vents are still exposed.
The big-uns are taller than the transom.
Air to the power head is not an issue...

The later secondary exhaust ports do keep the gasses from fowling the prop when backing.
I'm sure you don't troll with all 3, 4, 5 or 6 engines running. 1 or 2 may work fine.
And fishing with an outboard is done with a better captain that keeps the fish on the beam than behind the boat.
There are just to many outboard boats out there winning the tournaments now to support your comments.

When designed correctly, the newer boat / outboard CG is good.
Somehow, That OP picture, the bow level looks good.

Lots of fuel?? If you can afford the new monster outboards, fuel cost is not a big deal.

Now, when they start placing diesel power heads on the new drive packages, so much fuel on board may not be needed.
Or, Keep the capacity anyway. Again, way over my check books limits.