23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

I have been looking for about a year and i believe I am finally going to take the plunge and buy a Saecraft (23'CC). Only problem is it's without power. I am thinking I need at least 250 hp? Any suggestions? What kind of performance can i expect? What's it gonna cost me? What about twin 150 or 175s? Also where is the best place to look for used OB? Any members selling?

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

My 23' w/250 Yam 2s w/bracket performs well but, more power is always better!! A 300 Suzi would be slick!!!

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

What shaft length is best? Motor will be transom mounted. Not on bracket. Any advice on propping?

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Any big 250 or + will work and they will fly with that power- late model DI 225 will also work fine, I personally prefer 2 stroke but thats just me, Don't do twins too much money - rigging- maintaince and the boat rides better with a big single - I had both on the same boat and single was so much better

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Thanks. When you say any big 250 will "fly"....are you talking 50mph top end? I'm looking at a remanufactured 2000 Johnson 250 2s. Any opinion on manufactures? What about shaft length and prop setup?

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

I picked up a 1999 250 Johnson for my 23. Shaft length 25". I will check on the prop. Motor came off a 23 Seacraft so it has been setup for this boat. I will also get some performance figures. I know at least one other member has a similar motor that was transom mounted but now is on a bracket.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Single engine usually requires 30" and twins require 25".

A twin setup will cost more. Having had multiple twin setups I love twins.

Here are some quesitons that you can answer for us

1. Where are you located?

2. How are you planing on using the boat (and in what kind of conditions)?

3. What kind of shape is the transom in?


Once you answer these questions we will bombrad you with responses.

Peter

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

250 Suzuki hits high 40's with a t-top on a 23.
Ask Capt Chuck . . . he runs a johnson 250 on a 23CC.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

- Located in Oswego, NY on Lake Ontario

- Planning on using for many things...Trolling for Salmon, Trout, Steelhead & Walleye in anything from calm to 4' rollers. Casting & jigging for smallmouth bass & walleye. Running wide open to the sandbars, Abay or kingston for the day to cook out/ have dinner and guzzle beer with friends (most of whom have large go fast boats). So I need decent top end and the ability to troll. Impossible? And finally ....taking an evening cruise with the old lady to watch the sunset.
Too much info?

-Transom is new.

Let the bombarding begin!

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Otto (aka as fourboattheory) is another upstate New Yorker nto too far from you.

Here is my opinion.

Seacraft's are great boats. Great lines and a great ride. The only tradeoff is that the beefy hulls like their power.
I think that you mentioned a 250 HP Johnson. I believe that Captain Chuck has the same engine so if anyone here can give you the low down on it, he can.

Two stroke carb engines can be bought for a real good deal. The only downer is that they like the gas a little more than their DFI & 4 stroke cousins. Also, they can be a little tougher to start in the cold weather.

Welcome to the site and good luck.

Peter

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

I thought he would need a 25” shaft on the stock transom. I think I recall measuring mine and it’s 25” from the transom cap to the bottom of the V.

Is there a reason that mounting a 30” motor higher is better, besides getting it out of the water more?

Trey

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Thanks for all the info ....but i'm still a little confused about shaft length. 30" or 25" for transom mounted single 250hp?

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Measure the transom and see what it needs.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

The Potter era SeaCraft original twin engine cutout was single engine = 25" shaft, twin engines = 20" shafts.

The first true 30" shaft engine wasn't even offered until 1992 by Yamaha, long after the Potter era was gone. Prior to that, you could buy 5" extension kits, or order an engine extended by 5", but these kits were really for making 20in. "long shaft" engines into 25in. "extra-long shaft" engines.

Nonetheless, Peter is right - measure the transom height, keel to transom lip.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

I just had a Honda 225 hp w/30" leg installed on my 1989 SeaCraft 23WA and sits exactly where it should. Looks great and the boat handles the extra weight just fine. The transon came from the factory with the cut out for twins. I don't know if they (factory) did anything extra for that set up or not.
I have only put about 2 hours on it, seems to handle the boat great. Fishing opens back up here in the islands on the 1st of July, so it will get many more hours on it.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Yep right around that, mount it high and get like a Mirage+ that you can trim and get the nose up, if you tell everybody to sit in the stern it gets faster :D

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

I am a newbie so some of this discussion gets a little granular. I did 40 mph measured by a garmin GPS in my 23' CC from Chatham to Hyannis with a 2003 2-stroke Evinrude Ficht. All the power needed to get up fast and just go. One thing I don't see discussed much is the noise. My daughter is a competitive sailer and we use the boat to coach/watch events. Spend time around four-strokes and you yearn for the quiet when operating at slower speed. As to fuel costs, one needs to take into account how much use the boat will get in a year. Sometimes granular evaluation of MPG or GPH is moot.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

OK not my thread, but I am mulling the same question (twins or big single...)

1. Cape cod. Falmouth, but also plan to hit chatham pretty regularly.
2. Mostly nice days for striper, blues, but preferably bonito, albies. possible offshore for rec tuna on super nice days.
3. Completely redoing/closing transom. Definitely a brackets.

The two options I looked into, price is about the same:
- single 25" suzi 250 on single bracket
- twin 150 HDPI 25" on twin bracket

Leaning towards single 250.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

If and/or when on my 23' I'll consider the Zuke 300 first.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

check tramson befour putting on new motor raised mine from 25 to 30 sinch also seal up any holes in well cables ect.used mine with old 2 strokefor05 3years went to suk 25o double fuel millage quite no problems for 3 years 46 mph

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

The E-Tec noise levels are about the same as the 4-strokes but the sound quality is a little throatier at idle; mine is actually a couple of db QUIETER than a 4 stroke at 30-35 mph!

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

First post here also - A friend of mine found me a very great condition 1981 23' Seacraft close to home. Not doing a full restore yet due to funds but I am changing fuel tank, floor panels, patching some spots and repainting, etc, it had twin 150hp that did not come with the boat and I am looking to repower. Not planning on a bracket yet either. I measured from bottom of V to stock transom cap and it is about 28 1/2 to 29 inches. But the boat will not be sitting in the water at that angle right? I have the option to buy 2 99' yam 250s in great condition at a bargain price from a re-power but they only have a 25 inch shafts. Will I need a 30" shaft for a big single as opposed to twin 25 inch shafts? Or can I get away with a 25 inch single shaft length and try to find a prop that will work. Thought I would ask the experts since Seacraft Corp. and my local marine dealer are unsure?

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

You have a 30" transom. If you go with a single you will need a 30 inch shaft on the motor. If you go with twins you will need 25" shaft motors.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Question ? where is the measurement taken from in determining the shaft length.I have a Suzuki 225 2 stroke mounted on an Armstrong bracket. I have wondered about the shaft length/mounting height of the motor , I have a hard time keeping the boat on plane at less than 22 MPH in rougher seas , no problem in a calm sea. Thanks in advance

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Thanks Rich! Anyone know the approx. cost of buying a bracket and putting it on and enclosing the transom, not including the hours of work.

Re: 23' CC Power - new member - first post
 

Min planing speed is a function of weight, CG location and how much stern lift you're getting out of the prop. Trim tabs will also help a lot, but you might consider trying a 4 blade stern lifting prop. The PowerTech prop guys told me that having more blades improves stern lift, so just about any 4 blade prop is better than a 3 blade for same blade configuration.