Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I've come home from West End in the Bahamas to Ft. Pierce Florida on a 25' Robalo being pushed by a 15hp Chrysler (yes, Chrysler) kicker motor after losing the big Merc main motor. It took over 12 hours.
I absolutely endorse the use of twins when venturing more than 30 miles offshore, or at the very least, a reliable kicker motor.
BTW, the first 20' SeaCraft I ever rigged was a 1974 Seafari repowering from a 135 Evinrude to twin 85 hp Mercurys.
Twins = best choice for offshore
Single + Kicker = 2nd choice
Single + radio/Sat phone w/ no backup motor = too risky for cruising far offshore, IMHO
SeaTow or TowboatUS = Necessary insurance any way you go.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

she will not get up on plane with one but it will be alot faster than seatow i had to use seatow this year when i was fishing the ska turnament out of douphin island i was 56 miles offshore when me ignition switches when out was not a good fealing but i will have all the above on my boat sat phone twins 2vhf and anything else i can think of

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I'm with Father Frank on the priority list.....I will add:
Most of us have a budget and we are pretty smart to stick with what works for our own situation-bang for the buck. The SeaMark bracket has proven itself and deserves it's reputation-read the last 5 years of threads. PeterB is right, most of us would choose twins over a single outboard for offshore. JohnB, Eggsuckindog, Fellowship and many others say single all the way-I see their point as well(singles allow the 23 a better center balance and are more efficient). Most recent twin bracket set-ups are either light 4strokes like Briguy or new 2stroke Etecs/Optis like Skiblet's twin 200 Etecs, Generaider's Evinrude DI 135's, Ect..

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

On a Bahamas trip, the best spare engine to have is the one on the other boat you're running with! Also includes other spares (hull, radio, beer, etc.)! :D

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

In the original question, turftime was asking about performance/engineering, and most of what I was getting at revolved around that. I agree with what everyone is saying about redundance/safety with twins, (to a point), but I was addressing the question of performance/engineering. If I am going out so far in a boat that I think I needed twins, it sure isn't going to be in an open 23' boat.

Specifically regarding twins, if you can't get up on plane, and can only run 8-10 mph, IMHO, your better off with a 20 horse kicker with a nearly flat pitch prop. It will get you in at 8-10 mph, weighs alot less, and cost a whole lot less. If speed is what your after, well, than, go with triples :D

The "bathtub" brackets like the hermco are really only turning a 23' boat into a 27' boat. This is a pretty radical change, and I haven't been on one with a hermco with twins, so I don't know how they work. I know guys that have used armstrongs and DnD brackets with twins on a 23, and most, if they had to do it over again, would of gone with a single 300. It's not that it's terrible, but in ugly seas, where you have to run slow, in the 20's, the balance is screwed up, and they tend to be nose happy and stern heavy, especially in following seas. These boats, like most deep V's really aren't at their best in following seas. Too much weight in too short of boat, for the most part. Remember, the original design spec was for 2 motors that weight about 100 pounds more than a single current 200hp. On flat days, well everything rides good on those days.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Actually, in getting back to the original question if you go to a bracket the WOT speed should be a couple of miles per hour higher and the gas consumption should be slightly better.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

And when you fill in the transom, it keeps the sea out of the boat, and the guest out of the sea :D. I believe SeaCraft is yiddish for "wet feet".

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Oy Vay. :)

Or to a Catholic Christian, that famous hymn, "Oy Vay, Maria" :D

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...anielle001.jpg


She easily planes on one motor ;)


:eek: ;) :cool:

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Jason-Looks like you have caught the fever........ :DYou been hanging around Doodlebug? You were looking for "balls" in your next motors, you got it! I've got twin 225's on my 23SF. Very nice. How is she running?