225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

The added weight of the Suzuki DF225 makes my 23cc ride a little low in the back at slow speed. I only had 70 gallons of fuel on the boat during the breakin and initial runs. Up on plane, it's fine. I am worried about 35 gallons of water in my transom livewell offshore. Has anyone used ballast in the front? I don't want to get too heavy, but don't want to be low in the back after burning off fuel.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

jlc,a full transom and a positive flotation bracket would take care of the weight.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

Yep, The 4000 thousand dollar fix!

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

I think Reel Smoker's suggestion is based on experience, not a flippant reply like some of of the others. There are some on this board who are willing to spend to get it right.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

Im sure jlc wants to spend another 4 grand on top of the 13 grand or more he spent on a 225 suzy.What are some of the other options available,relocating the livewell, moving the console forward, moving the fuel tank forward. I too am faced with the same problem on my 23,but i want to retain the original look of the boat without going to a bracket. What about the new 23s that are coming with verados well over 600 pds but yet these boats are not tail heavy,other than a composite transom there seems to be very little differance

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

I already have a full transom with an Armstrong bracket done by Mike at Wildfire. I talked with him today and he suggested putting some ballast up front. This seemed to solve my problem. Next step it a 4 foot sea. Will advise how this is working out.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

I am sure they are stern heavy, how could it not? You can only lighten a boat up so much before you totally screw up how it handle's in a moderate sea.
The big topic in the marine industry is the weight of the new motors. Most of the hulls on the market aren't designed for the weight of these motors. But their not going to tell you that. What are their options? Sell you a boat without power? Redesign their boats? I don't think so.

It's all about the bling...

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

JLC-

You could always recore your transom with weight saving materials like Corecell or Coosaboard. If done correctly, I think you could shave off the majority of the weight difference of your old 2 stroke versus the new 4 stroke. If you do it yourself or under the guidance of someone with experience, you would also save yourself some $$$$.

Ed

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

JLC-

Just saw your post about already having a bracket done by Mike at Wildfire. Obviously recoring is not the best option for you considering the amount of work that has already been done.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

Finster, I agree with you 100%,they are going to be stern heavy especially with a Verado.I'm sure it will look awesome which usually will makes the sale. Though I think an Etec 225 or 250 will be a good combo,but again with a positive flotation bracket.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

Knowing that SeaCraft's are tail heavy boats to begin with, when mine was redone there at Wildfire Marine, everything heavy was moved as far forward as possible (batteries, tank, etc). This is something that is possible when a major overhaul is underway but isn't too practical otherwise. I presume you have moved everything possible away from the transom.

Good luck...

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

jlc,
Let me know how the ballast up front works out.I have a 250 Verado on my '77 and to say it is heavy is a definate understatement.i will probably be going to a enclosed transom and bracket this winter but will tough it out this summer.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

It seems that the motor manufacturers have done their best to keep the weight down on the 4 strokes but 4 strokes will just weigh more lbs. due to it’s technology. It also seems like that the boat manufacturers have gone to the unibracket concept and are not building many notched transom boats now a days. Not sure which came first motors requiring bigger and wider boats or bigger and wider boats needing more and more power. Any which way I think the 23 is a good boat to do either/or – either a 2 stroke on the transom or a 4 stroke on a flotation bracket or maybe even 2 smaller motors on a flotation bracket. Any which way moving as much stuff as possible forward is always a good idea on the 23’
FellowShip

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] HeHe How about Eurotransom? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

I think if I was going to do it over, I would go with a twin engine bracket that has more floatation. This would resolve any issue.

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

Where are your batteries? My '78 23CC had the batteries under the rear hatch. Moving them under the console helped some. The cheepest solution I can think of for you is to put in a smaller fuel tank. My '78 carries 150 gallons. With twin 115's even if I went offshore 50 miles and back my fuel consumption with room to spare would only be 55 gallons using a 2.5mpg figure. Going from a tank that is roughly 8 feet and 150 gallons to a tank that is 5 feet would give you a tank of about 95 gallons and move 3 feet of fuel out of the transom. That has to be a weight saving of 100 or so pounds with the addition of moving the center of gravity forward. The problem with putting 150 pounds of #6 shotgun pellets up front is you will dig the bow in while riding in a following sea. Hope this helps.
You could also ask a fat friend to sit in the front. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 225 4 stroke weight for 23cc
 

There is some more consideration that has not been talked about on this thread, which will help.
The length of your shaft there is a 5” height advantage on the 30” shafts that can help out a lot. I am not saying this will solve any scupper problems but it will help on water coming over the stern in a notched transom. All the new 23’ are a 30” shaft.
Another thing that I don’t do is back up in the open sea.
When drift fishing I turn the motor to the port of starboard.
Use a sea anchor when needed. I like sea anchors and will attach one on the bow and one on the stern to slow down my drift. I know this is not a total fix but by moving things forward as much as possible plus these things it does make a big difference.
If you have a Potter hull with the scuppers in the bottom of the boat check out “THE VORTEX” thread I use them and they definitely work.
Plus in marginal conditions I will have some one fishing up in the bow of the boat which makes a great movable ballast which at the end of the day will help wash the boat and pay for gas.
FellowShip [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]