Converting 1983 Kingfish 254 I/O to Outboard - Questions

[Muscobe]

Hello I just bought my first boat, it's a 1983 Grady-White Kingfish 254 with an OMC stringer out-drive and Chrysler V8 (I think - no serial no. on either engine or out-drive that I can find). The engine runs fine, however it will not shift into gear and now my steering is locked up.

I have decided to re-power over the winter removing the I/O, re-glassing the transom, and putting on a new Yamaha F250. I have 3 questions for this group:

1. I need a 25" shaft outboard correct?
2. Do I need to reinforce the transom before mounting the bracket and engine since I'm converting from I/O to outboard? I've heard that these older transoms weren't built for outboards and need to be reinforced.
3. Anything else I'm not thinking about?

Thank you - this forum has been enormously helpful as I struggled with the OMC all summer.

 

[efx]

Search here and on THT. You will have to tie/ bond that bracket to something very stiff and rigid to support the moment produced by the engine weight and thrust. Either a heavy reinforced transom tied to the stringers or direct tie to the stringers. Look at Armstrong brackets or stainless marine.

 

[DennisG01]

Yes, 25". This should help (was originally a sterndrive):