23 CC Power Opinions
 

I read back quite a few threads about this but since outboard technology has had a few changes lately, I wanted to seek opinions on the this board for motor options for the '72 23 CC I am restoring. I have an oppurtunity to purchase a pair of 2005 Honda 150's that I am familiar with. My plan is to raise the transom 5 inches to accomodate the 25" motors and give myself some extra freeboard for 970lbs of motors. The rear live well will be removed and I plan to alter the bulkhead in front of the motors. The bulkhead will be moved towards the rear and lowered. I am also thinking of installing a removable wall that will be flush with the top of the iceboxes.

The boat will be used to go to the stream which in NE FL is 60 miles out and I want to go to the Dry Tortugas in the keys which is the reason for my preference for twins. Any thoughts of this combination?

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

YOU NOW THE SAYING ABOUT OPINIONS!!!!! SO HAVEING SAID THAT I HAVE A 23 SCEPTRE IM REPOWERING WITH 135 OPTIS. THE REASON FOR BUYING THE OPTIS AFTER EXTENSIVE OPINIONATING AND DELIBERATING WAS SIMPLE ....... BOTTOM LINE $$$$$ IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HONDAS FOR A REASONABLE PRICE BUY THEM !! ALMOST ALL NEW MOTORS 2 STROKE DFI & 4 STROKE GET EXC. FUEL ECONOMY. EVERY MOTOR BRAND HAS LOYAL FOLLOWERS AND ALL HAVE HATERS SO REVERT BACK TO BOTTOM LINE !!! AS FOR THE TRANSOM IM GOING W/ A FULL ENCLOSURE AND A BRACKET THIS PUTS THE MOTORS FATHER BACK TO HELP WITH THE RIDE IT GIVES THE 23 A 26 LENGTH ACORDING TO MOST NEW BOATS. WHAT EVER YOU DO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY UP FRONT AND BUILD WHAT YOU WANT NOT WHAT SOMEBODY TELLS YOU YOU WANT....... NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO YOUR BOAT NOTHING ELESE ON THE WATER WILL EVER RIDE BETTER THAN YOUR BOAT. ( THERES THAT OPINION THING AGAIN ! )

GOOD LUCK

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Thats a lot of weight however the 23 is very capable of handling twins. I'm not following you on the bulk head thing. I dont remember a bulk head in front of the motors on my boat but it has been a while since I tore it apart. You seem to have the right idea on beefing up your transom. That is going to be your main concern with that much weight. You will want to make sure that it is as strong as possible. So if the boat needs a new transom then now is the time. I really like the seamark bracket. They make one for twin's. It's a little pricy but you get what you pay for. They also sell a transom enclosing kit. Potter designed these brackets and kit. Don Hermco is a member of this board and sells them. I've heard that Hondas are reliable. The 225 is supposed to be a dog on the 23. Not sure what you are paying for the Hondas but if you can get a simular price on either the suzuki 115 or the suzuki 140's then I'd go with a pair those. I think they are lighter then the Hondas.

strick

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Be careful with the open transom. My boat had twin Yam 150's and an additional 5" on the transom. Wasn't enough. I just spent a year rebuilding my '76 23 cc after it sunk because of the extra weight and the open transom. I glassed in the transom, added a bracket, and went to a single 250. The boat is faster, better fuel economy, and drafts 7" less at the stern. I have a lot of personal experience with the situation you are about to be in, be careful with the open transom!!! http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com...sunk2small.jpg

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Man, that picture HURTS !!!

Back to the original topic, even though I have a 20' not a 23, I'd be concerned over the weight of the Honda's, even with a 25" transom.

I hear your intended use, which definitely calls for twins, so I'd voice the opinion of twin 135 Optis or Etecs, try to hold the weight down - or full bracket and fill the transom, and avoid the issue altogether.

just my .02.

Bill

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

I'm not sure it does call for twins, although if in the tortogas it would be nice but still a long road home on 1. In my experience the boat rode and handled much better and completely different with the single, and as mentioned MUCH faster. These new big 2S outboards are very powerful and very good on gas, and weigh alot less and $$$ 1vs2

Plus those regular 100 hr checks with 2 of them could get out of hand real quick.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Wow, that picture sez a lot! Where did that happen, there at the dock? What was the cause?

I understand the weight concerns but this particular boat came with twins in 1972 and what was the weight of motors then, about 300 lbs each plus a 30 gallon live in the splashwell which would add about another 300 lbs. plus 4 batteries in front of that. This setup had alot of weight in the rear. I will remove the live well and move it under the leaning post and the batteries will be in the console. The fuel tank location and capacity will stay the same. So all the weight of the Hondas should equal the original set-up plus I have 5 inches more of transom.

Beleive me I am not totally sold on the idea of the twin Hondas and if not for the price of them I would try to go to lower weight 4 strokes like the 140 Suzuki's (4 cylinder models). The other option is what horsepower does this boat need to perform well with a single, 250hp? If 250, will a 4 stroke perform like thea 2 stroke except for getting out of the hole?

Strick, the bulkhead I was referring to is the splashwell wall in front of the motor. In the picture above it has the curve in it with the wooden drop down wall.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

First I am a 2S fan and not as familar with 4S, they will never be as responsive a 2S IMHO, just the natural of the beast. I have just heard quite few guys that went to them and were disappointed in the performance. Now that being said, it appears if you go a tad higher in HP that hole shot complaint goes away, its just seems its the same HP vs the same HP. A 250 DI 2S will push that thing like a ski boat, just said it should be an option.Its just the rigging initially and double maitaince that adds a ton to the cost, these 100 checks are supposed to be kinda steap $ wise. Honda builds everything good, always has and the deal may make the difference, I'm not worried on the weight too much with stuff you mentioned-Good Luck

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Strick didint I see a pic of a 250 Suzzi being bolted to your 23. I was waiting to see a update on the motor.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

OK GUYS 2 STROKE 4 STROKE MAKES NO DIF I HAVE 2S MY UNCLE HAS 4S 3 TO BE EXACT 275 HP VERADOS ON A 35 YELLOWFIN. THE MOTORS PERFORM GREAT THEY REQUIRE MAINT. EVERY 100 HRS IF YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 175 - 250 PER MOTOR IF THEY COME TO YOU AS THEY DO ON HIS BOAT 500 PER MOTOR HIS 250DF SUZZY ON THE SHEARWATER IS THE SAME. ALL THE MOTORS ARE VERY EFF. THE MERCS WEIGH AS MUCH AS A SMALL ELEPHANT BUT THE SUZZY IS VERY RESPECTFUL IN COMPARISON. THE ULTIMATE QUESTION IS THE SETTUP,THE HP,THE WAY YOU RUN THE BOAT, AND THE PROP SIZE. THE 2S AND 4S HAVE DIFFERANT CARACTERISTICS AND THE OPTIMUM EFF. MIGHT BE @ DIFF RPMS. THE VERADOS ON THE YELLOWFIN RUN JUST AROUND 70 @ WOT AND WE MADE 3 TRIPS OFFSHORE GROUPER FISHING ON 120 GALLONS OF FUEL THATS 3 275 HP MOTORS THE DECK FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO CAVE IN FROM THE MOTORS SUCKING ON THE FUEL TANK @ WOT BUT BACK IT DOWN TO A REASONABLE CRUISE @40-50 AND SHE PURS ALONG WITHOUT TRYING TO PULL EVERYTHING THROUGH THE FUEL HOSE.
WHAT EVER YOU DO YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR SHIP
GOOD LUCK

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

professor,

Yes, it sank sitting right there. We were storing it in a slip at a new subdivision that had yet to be developed so it was unpopulated. We fished on Saturday and came back Sun morn to find it starting to roll. If I would have gotten there 2 hrs earlier, I think I could have prevented it. Now, what caused it? Weighted bowlines. Each of the lines I tied to the bow were tied to a five gallon bucket of cement. That provided enough lift on the front to dip the back under water, filling the baitwell, and then the bilge. Still not sure as to why the bilges didn't come on, but I've solved that problem. After we started raising it, they came on and pumped out the bilge. I had 3300 gph worth of bilge pumps because I knew the open transom was a problem in rough seas or if I had more than 2 people fishing off of the back. FYI - My fuel tanks (180 gals) run from the rear inspection hatch all the way to the front step-up and my 4 batteries were under the console. Not telling you what to do, but a single with a kicker may be safer than twins with an open transom. Just be careful! I was lucky this didn't happen to me 30 or 40 mi offshore!

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Well I might step on a few tows on this one but I will start off with “My opinion” and I could be wrong BUT.

First off these 23’ boats haven’t really changed from the first one out of the mold. They are 8’ beam and 23.4 long variable dead rise hull.
What has changed is the weight of the motors from a inline 2 stroke 6 carb merc. to now a days 4 stroke 60 degree V that weigh approx 150 to 200 lbs more that the originals.
Has any one seen a NEW 23 SEACRAFT in the showroom with twins on the back??? No
You got to go with a 25’ with the integrated bracket for that.
I know everyone always wants to make their boats “just a little bit bigger or better that what they are. But a 23’ Seacraft boat is Just a 23’ boat and you got to Except Your Limitations.
When the new Heaver motors started coming on to the market what did the boat builders do???? They built wider boats to accommodate the new motors. Well we can’t widen our boats so what can we do??? Not that much, we can CUT THE WEIGHT and try to add some buoyancy how do you do that???

You can:
Use one motor.
Move things forward.
Use lighter materials
Put a flotation bracket on.
And most important EXCEPT YOUR LIMITATIONS………
I know we all want to try to make our 23’ a 27’ but it ant going to happen. It is Just a 23’ and that’s the way it is.
For me I have One 225 on the back on the transom. MAYBE you can put Light twins on the back with a bracket if you do this and that. But if you start off excepting your limitations you could save your self a lot of problems trying to push the envelope beyond safe boating. Or just buy a bigger boat.


FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins :D

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

stay tuned.

strick

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

HEY STRICK ITS NICE TO HERE NOTHING BUT THE WATER COMEING OF THE HULL AND THE WIND IN YOUR EARS EAY.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

I really appreciate the forthright manner of your opinions. I am familar with having a "heavy" motor on the transom as I have '99 130 Honda on the back of '73 18' Forcast DC. The motor is set back and raised on a fixed jack plate for running the shallow water in Florida Bay. The boat sits a litte lower in the back but it is not as bad as I thought it would be. The splashwell keeps the water out of the cockpit during heavy backups. Also this is an inshore boat and does not have the hull for any seas over 1 foot.

As I mentioned earlier I am not totally sold on having that much weight on the transom on the Seacraft but the security of offshore running is desired. As much as I would like to enclose the transom and put on a bracket, it does not look like it is in the cards at this time.

Anyone know of 300hp Yamaha on the back of a 23 CC Seacraft?

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

I'd suggest re-reading Fellow-Ship's post again and again until it sinks in. And then read it one more time.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Hi there Prof!
I have a pair of 115 Johnsons on my 23'. In order to do that, the transom was raised 5" as you want to do and I have 25" shafts. Excellent setup indeed. The 115's are all the weight that I would ever want back there. When I repower in the future, I will go with 130 E-Techs :)

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Ok, lets see if we can clear up this weight issue, both motor weights are directly from the website with a 25" shaft legnth and do not include the extra rigging parts(oil reserve, batts, steering and etc.).

E-Tec 150/175 427lbs
Yamaha 4 stroke 150 466lbs +39lbs

E-Tec 200/225 524lbs
Yamaha 4 Stroke 200/225 583lbs +59lbs

E-Tec 250 524lbs
Yamaha 4 stroke 250 603lbs +79lbs

These weight differences are really not that far apart if they are accurate since they are all 20 lbs apart. Lets say you hang twin 200 4 stroke, most likely it will be on a bracket and you'd be looking at 120 extra lbs 3 feet from your tansom. The bracket will off set the weight plus add more floatation because their full of foam and water tight(until you let your wife drive under the seven mile bridge). With that said I will be adding a seamark bracket, 2-200 4 stroke yams, enclosed transom w/live well, batts under center console, dry storage(life jackets, throw cushion, fenders)in stern on my tsunami23 open fish(Tsunami Inc.), as soon as I get some christmas money, that is.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

sounds good lets see pics on the progress ... my buddy has the yammy 4s on a triton they run pretty well and apear to be fairly tuff we/ ie /he missed a left turn @35 knots and put the boat 40 ' up on the sand (oops) had to get his big boat to pull it off. they fired back up w/ no problems very lucky
ps just a little tip when running radar in tight areas @ night dont go 35 knots we out ran the radar screen. i was riddin 2 miles to get the truck @ the marina and leave the boat

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Speaking of running up the sand bars, I happened to come across some one who did something like that as well next to the seven mile bridge. So I drove over their to get him off and managed to get his boat half way off and the stinkin marine patrol shows up and tells me to stop. These marine patrol guys were the biggest peices of you know what... So they then told me to get lost and that they were going to write them a ticket for being on the sand bar(protected grass) and that sea tow had to take them off. Every body who is out fishing the flats or lobstering in shallow water should get this ticket as well, right. I think next time this happens I'll just leave my motors trimmed all the way up and hit the throttle and give those SOB marine patrol a bath.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

THE SEA GRASS IS A BIG DEAL DOWN THERE. THE FLATS ARE MOSTLY PUSH POLE OR TROLLING MOTOR ONLY.THUS THE TICKET. UP HERE WE HAVE SAND BARS W/ NO GRASS SO PULLING THE BOAT OFF HERE POSED NO THREAT TO EEL OR TURTLE GRASSES.PLUS THE SAND BAR IS ACTUALY A ISLAND IN OUR PASS. LOOK @ THE CHARTS FO PERDIDO PASS ,AL THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE PASS... THAT WOULD BE IT. I WAS JUST IN LOWER MATECUMBE FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 4 SOMBODY HAD A REBUILT 20 CC I THINK YELLOW W/ GRN BOTTOM LOOK GREAT. WE GO TO THE KEYS EVERY YEAR AROUND THE 4TH MAYBE ILL GET TO STOP ON THE WAY DOWN FOR A DINNER W/ THE SOUTH END GUYS AND SWAP PICTURES.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

The more I think about what has been written on this thread and others, having a single might be the best avenue. I would rather have a setup where I do not have to worry about how much weight is in the back of the boat and always having to plug the scuppers or what a following sea is going to do to me.

I am still planning on raising the transom to 30 inches and I am also conteplating what to do with the wal between the splashwell and the cockpit. The pictures on this site sure do show a variety of styles.

Has Strick provided any performance numbers for the 250 Suzuki he put on his boat?

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

This is what I did with mine used a part of what I had and customized it. Works great gives me more room and keeps the water out.

BEFORE

http://www.classicseacraft.com/fello...edium/0004.jpg

MIDDLE
http://www.classicseacraft.com/fello...edium/0025.jpg

AFTER

http://www.classicseacraft.com/fello...edium/0050.jpg

FellowShip
__________________________________________________ ________
Just for the Grins :D

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

HI FELLOWSHIP
I redid my 23 that originally had twin I/Os with a bracket and twin 135s Ficht Rudes. I know what you mean about not trying to make something that it is not but when I was done it sure looked like the new 25 only mine was 1 foot longer. The ride was very smooth and stable and have been several times I was very happy to happy to have a full transom.
Professor - As far as twin vs. single these new motors are a lot of electronics. I was idling up the new river and shifted into neutral to see a manatee and when I went to go the port engine was off and would not restart - computer went out! I would not want to be 60 miles offshore with only a kicker that why I went with 2.

I'm amazed with the facination with HP!!! I have twin 135s and I wouldn't want to go any faster and most conditions I can't go WOT so why spend the extra $$$ for HP that's not used?

You are about to embark on a journey that most of us have done (and some more than once!) don't cut corners that you regret later because the cost is more later to put the corner back in! Go with the advice given earlier - it's your boat make it the way you want it and will use it - We are all here to help you with OUR opinions!! The beauty of these boats is that no 2 are alike - kind of like our children and we all love to show them off.

Have fun and enjoy the work. Be sure to document your progress so you can show off to us!

Bill
Owner of 2 - master of none

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

I am not interested in high horsepower as I am in not making my motors work too hard. What I mean is, I want to get the most speed at the lowest rpm I can without totally overpowering the boat. With fuel prices the way they are, every mpg improvement we can make, the better.

Some, outbaord computers are like car computers, they don't kick in until the motor is up to temperature. My Honda 130 is like that, if you can get power to the essential components (i.e. high pressure fuel pump, injectors and spark the motor will run with a blown computer and main relay. Luckily when I discovered this I wasn't in the middle of nowhere but at my dock. But months later when I was in the Everglades NP Wilderness Waterway and the motor cut out and would not start because the HP fuel pump wasn't coming on. It was good to know how to jumper power to the HP pump to get the moter to run. Eventually I discovered the motor had a bad Engine Harness. This motor has an interesting history as to what may have contributed to the bad harness that I will have to tell someday.

Fellow-ship: Did you have a different idea initially on how to alter the splashwell wall. One of the pictures of your boat in the Gallery section show where the wall is cut down about 2/3s. Was that an origianl plan that was changed to the current setup? How is it moving around the cockpit with the current design? Does the short wall cause much of a trip hazard? It looks like you raised the transom height as well?

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Hi Professor


In the gallery the pictures were of a ongoing project. I did not take them with a mind set of steps to show others I just took some pictures from time to time as I worked. I didn’t even own a digital camera at that time. In fact, this web sight did not exist when I got started. Jayson and I where just doing our boats his up north and mine in Florida. He decided to do the web sight which we now all enjoy and all have benefited by (thanks Jayson). I did my boat kind of like a puzzle I would do so much here and then move to another spot and do something else depending on weather conditions, available materials, drying times, and projected time left in a day to do certain things. In the morning I might be putting one layer of ¾ plywood on the transom and in the afternoon sanding the paint off the hull. As for moving around the boat especially around the CC if I had to do it all over again I would have cut the CC down the middle and re moved 6-8” of the with so I could walk from bow to stern more easily with the rod holders on both sides of the CC and a 8’ beam is really not enough room with the original CC. As for the stern area that’s great plenty or room and there is no hazard in tripping over the splash well. It keeps the water in the splash well and it you want you can step over it to mess around the motor well no problems. As for the transom height the boat had a 30” transom height and I kept it that way.

In my opinion that is the only way to do for a single motor On the transom. If you go with twins or just like brackets I would only go with a flotation bracket Designed for Twins and use Either Light 4 cylinder 2 strokes or Any 250 you like. These three boat to motor set ups are Perfect for this boat. Now it is just a matter of personal preference. I will say though that you still should deal with the scuppers and move weight forward like I stated earlier to you.

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins :D

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

FellowShip,

What do you mean by "Deal with the Scuppers"? Moving the outlet from the bottom of the hull to the transom or raising the floor? My plan is to move the exit to the transom and plug the holes in the hull bottom.

Professor

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

That’s what I am talking about running them through the back of the transom. If you go with just one motor you could keep them as they are if you move weight forward. I kept them as they are and works ok but again if I was going to do again I would run them out the back.

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins :D

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Professor,

I tried to go with twin 115 suzuki's on the back of my '78 cc and it didn't work. Even with a 30" transom I took water over the back and those motors weigh 832 combined and I moved my batteries under the console. My current setup is a completely closed transom and a Mattson bracket. I also went from a fuel tank that was 155 gallons and 8 1/2 feet long to one that is 103 gallons and 5ish feet long thus moving more weight up front. I can keep my scuppers open but choose not to as too much water will end up in the boat. I don't sit stern low but I do wish my bracket had another 200lbs of flotation.

Long story short, I love my setup and would never ever consider going 50+ offshore with an open transom.

My opionion is to do the job right and get a good bracket and if you need the power get 150 or 175 Suzukis. I don't like the idea of you offshore with a single. Now the question-----are you ready to spend 30k on this project????? :D

PS you will love the ride of the SeaCraft even more with a bracket.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

I don't have issues going off shore with an open transom boat since upto this year have been going out in a 23 Regulator with twins alot further. Also around here there are alot of single engine boats making a 50 mile run to a reef just short of the stream. On the weekend it is like being on well used country road. All the reefs (mostly man made) are all in an easterly direction off the coast so there is constant traffic along the way. So it is nice to know that if you get in trouble you will be able to contact someone on the radio. Also one of the towing services here has quite the radio tower.

Right now the set-up will be for a single with a 30 inch transom with as much weight forward as I can get. After the boat is splashed and I get a feel for what the boat can and cannot do, I will re-evaluate the setup and make adjustments accordingly (which may include adding a bracket). After all its only time and money.

My current restoration plan is not as ambitious as some of the boats highlighted on this forum and hopefully I can keep it under 30K for the original plan. After that only the sky is the limit, right?

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Professor, Fellowship and others... thanks for your input (especially cutting the console down 6-8" thru the center) The ideal set-up is often ignored (such as the prior owner of my 79 23' with twin 225's on a bracket), the $$ or lack of it is always why a project takes away our boats intended function and weight distribution. Brian- Does that 23K quote for the Yanmar installed sound better now, or is the single Diesel still sound over priced and less safe than 2 outboards offshore? You have seen my converted inboard to bracketed twins, and know that I will be shopping other power otions when I find 25K sitting around :D The diesel /jackshaft power option is quite appealing for reliablity/fuel cost/and the big ones (speed and weight distribution)

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Check out the Steyr diesel-Mercruiser options on their webpage. Steel uniblocks and great systems for less price than some others. Some Bertram owners have repowered with them and are pretty happy with the results. If any of you in S. Florida would like to use your boat as a test bed for these engines, there's a guy that will not charge for the labor and will give you a very good price on the equipment. As of now he's just worked on Bertrams but he may like to try out another excellent quality boat. Just my 2 cents.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Botapeje-
Looks cutting edge on those diesels with HPDI fuel delivery and a monoblock-no head. Any numbers for performance/price?

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

I don't have any but I'm sure Bruce at Bertram31.com does. Try this link and contact him: http://www.bertram31.com/newbb/viewtopic.php?t=178

He includes a very good description of the engines since he just came back from the factory training. Good luck! :D

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Bruce has explained the benefits well. Looks good.
if the Humvee gets one as the #1 replacement motor, then it must work well.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

That's what I thought but only time will tell how good the dwalership network and service will be. That's the only thing that would worry me.

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

i have a 23 walk around and have a 250 verado on the back its almost 700lbs plus the live well and i raised the transom from 25' to 30' and it still gets just as much water in there as b4 when i had a 200 2s merc on the back....my advice would be to shore up that bulkhead or put a bracket on it..i put bigger holes in the drains and put a sold bullhead in vs the teak one on the hinges that really did nothing because water would just poor through it.i have pics of my boat about 95% finished in the picture section :cool:

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

just looked at a 74 Sceptre with twin 115 Evenrudes, they look like the original engines. They are mounted on the transom with the stock splashwell in front of them. In reading some of the previous post, i don't see where adding a bracket will offset the additional weight of twin V6's. While sitting still i can see that a floatation filled bracket would add bouancy and keep the transom higher in the water, but while under way, it would seem that the aditional weight, plus the extra leverage from the bracket would upset the running attitude of the boat, this could be addressed by using trim tabs, but only at the cost of additional drag. Those original 115's weigh about 325 each,,they were not oil injected so there should be only minimal riiging weight inside the boat, checking the weight of a new Zuke 250 at 605 plus rigging weight( minimal if any additional), the 250 should be an ideal package( if I could aford it) , i was considering a used 225 4s Mercury( the black Yamaha 225) they don't have the best reputation for power( probably because they barely made 225 hp, and they were compared to 225 injected 2s that made closer to 250 even thought the decals said 225). ANy one running one of the 225 Yamaha 4s or 225 Mercury 4s( not Verado)? I am curius how it performs. I ran a late model 23 CC with a 225 Opti( makes around 250 hp), and that boat performed well

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

Im running twin 135 optimax Saltwaters on my 23. performs well and I dont get stranded if one fails

Re: 23 CC Power Opinions
 

speaking of tail heavy engine setups did anyone see this yet? http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/5/1/82177151.htm I would love to see how it sits in the water :eek: