1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

I bought this boat down in Point Pleasant NJ back in May , 2008. It has a 200 mercury optimax outboard on a full transom armstrong bracket. The boat according to seacraft specification weighs 3150 lbs. The boat at 5400 rpms runs 35 miles an hour. I have to run the boat at 4600rpms just to go 25 miles an hour. Do these numbers sound accurate to you guys. It also has a 100 gallon tank which I dont fill. I usually leave not more than half in the tank. I would like to put a 250hp 4 stroke on the bracket but I am concerned about the weight. I definetly think the boat is under powered at this time and I hate to run at such high rpms. Between the 2 motors there is a 80 lb difference. Does anyone have a hardtop with a outboard bracket with a 250 hp 4 stroke on it. If you do what speeds do you run at, meaning wide open trottle and at cruise. Thanks for any input in advance. Peter M.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Hard top
 

250 Yam 2S on bracket here. The prop is one variable. 17P Yam. SS 3-blade pushes mine low-mid 40's flat and light.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

I was out today blackfishing on Sandyhook reef on my 77 Sceptre. 70 gal of gas,3 pob ,full canvas enclosure.225 carbed merc.4700 rpm 34 mph 20.5 gal per hour,ouch
Mirage plus 15" pitch prop.
Boat needs more power
Plan on repowering w/300 hp suzuki soon.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

pmtautog,
Your performance #s are similar to my father's '82 running a '97 225 carb'd Yamaha. He cruises about 27 @ 4600 and WOT 39-40 @ 5600. The hardtop is probably slowing you down a bit but I wouldn't consider your boat underpowered. You want to talk underpowered? My '78 Grady 20' WA runs an old carb'd 115 Evinrude and gets 28-30mph WOT.

makoman,
If 4700 is WOT, it sounds like you need a different prop. If that's a cruise #, you're doing really well except for the fuel consumption, which leads me to believe it's a WOT #.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

Makoman I know your not doing 34 miles an hour cruise with a 225 hp on that boat. If you are doing 34 miles an hour at 4700 rpms then like scott m said you need a different prop. That motor at wot should be between 5200 rpm - 5750rpm according to your manual. My boat is just a little unpowered I would prefer a 250 hp because then the motor doesnt have to work as hard and I would get more life out of it. I tried a few different props and now am running a 14 3/8 x 15 an getting 5400 rpms. But I took a measurement from the bottom of the boat to the sced on the motor and it looks like I can raise it another inch higher on the bracket, which would then increase my rpms between 200-300 rpms. Thanks scott m for your input.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

There is something wrong with those numbers, I ran a 14 1x2 X 17 SS w/slight cup on 23WA and would trun 5400 trimmed out and close to 44 mph depending on the water. Try a different prop.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

pmtautog,my WOT is 5500 rpm at about 42 mph.The numbers I posted was just what I was cruising at that day.I went from a 14.5x17 Vengence to a 15.75x15 Mirage plus and all my numbers improved but she is still a gas hog.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

Gary was that with a 225 or 200 hp. And was that a 23 seacraft wa and what year was that, because when sea tracker took over the seacraft mold in may/1985 they made the boat a little lighter. But if those numbers were with a 200 hp 2 stroke Im willing to try another prop.Thanks Peter

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

Those numbers were with a 1989 200 Hp carbed Merc. It is a 1989 Seacraft 23WA. I still have the old aluminum prop laying on the shelf and nothing to use it on.
I just repowered with a Honda 225 and get about the same speed, also installed a fuel flow meter but have tried it out yet.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

Gary was that motor on a bracket?What numbers were you getting at a cruise with the old mercury motor. Would you be willing to sell that aluminum prop or be willing to let me try it on my boat? I ll pay for shipping and handling. Also do you know the numbers on your 225 honda at cruise, and at wide open throttle. And what size prop are you using with the honda. Also what is the weight of that boat. Thanks for your input in advance. Peter

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

Hey Scott was your fathers 82 seacraft also a hardtop and also on a bracket? Because his numbers are similiar to mine. I think I should be getting the high 30 s at wide open throttle, instead Im getting about 35 mph. I think between raising the motor 1 bolt hole on the bracket will give me a little more speed and more rpms. Right now Im getting alot of spray at cruise so the motor may be to low in the water. I measured my friends seacraft 23 cc with a bracket and his motor is about 1 inch higher then mine. I measured his and mine with a straight edge from the bottom of the boat to the scay with the motor all the way trimmed down and his motor was 1 inch higher then mine. But I think if I raise the motor and try fooling around with a few different props I should be able to get the boat in the high 30s wot. But I think the weight of the hardtop and of the radar ( rod holder ) arch, is the difference compared to some of the other boats numbers. Thanks Peter

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

Honda propeller catalog OFS 4 Blade 15-1/4" x 16", Honda part number: 58334-ZY3-B16CLI
http://www.classicseacraft.com/forum...&o=186&fpart=1
This is my post when replacing the prop. I am using a counter rotating motor, but should not make any difference. The only difference I had was $5,000.00 in my pocket.
I have the prop listed on Craigs list for $35.00. If interested send me an E-Mail @ gscott036@yahoo.com

My boat weighs 3040 lbs. No bracket but the motor is mounted in the 3rd set of holes, less spray and it does not cavatite or loose it on turns. I only have 30+ hours on the new motor so is hard to say what it will do. I have run it up to 5600 rpm @ 43-44 mph GPS., book say top rpms are at 6000.

Re: 1984 23 Seacraft Sceptre Hard top
 

Peter,
My dad's boat has a 6-inch manual jack plate on the original notched transom and no hard top. It used to have a full bimini enclosure but he took it off when he got into flyfishing a couple years ago. Before the current power and jack plate there was a '89 225 Evinrude. Performance was similar with that engine, the only major difference being the boat's ability to plane at lower speeds now with the jack plate.


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