Anyone ever hear of someone installing a saildrive in a parker dawson.  The previous owner of mine removed the westerbeke engine and added an outboard.  I would like to go back to an inboard and it seems like a saildrive would be easier to add.

As it stands today I have a 9hp evinrude on the port side of the transom, which is definitely where I do not want the weight.  The propshaft and strut have been removed.  I think it will be easier to drop a saildrive in the old engine compartment that replace the prop shaft and strut.

I'd reccomend you avoid the saildrive.
If you have a inboard currently, I would suggest you stay with it.
The prop is much further aft and control is far superior.
Besides maintainence for the aluminum skeg is considerable, if not carefully protected the salt water
will corode through the castings....

John,

Steve did a complete change to a diesel and has the experience that he talks about.  I love the way my Dawson handles with the early Yanmar 7/8 HP engine.  He could tell you what he did !

A commercial yard installed a diesel two years ago near Norfolk.  It was a bit of a project, and required raising the engine hatch a few inches.  Cost was around $10 K.  A saildrive might be cheaper on labor, but not for the engine system.  Even the Honda outboard conversion to saildrive is 7K for parts when I last looked. 

On of our members did a Yanmar conversion several years ago.  Also raised the hatch level.

Not a trivial project, but if you use the boat a lot, you might find it worthwhile.