Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

I just talked to a dealer about a new motor for my savage w/bracket. He said a 4 stroke would be too heavy for my boat. I guess the Verados are 650 lbs. Has any one run a verado or other 4 stroke on a 23 ? I am looking at the verado because I am already rigged for mercury. I would also like any info on the optimax 200-250s Thanks!

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

No, you can run a Verado just fine.

Your boat was originally rated for TWIN 25" V6 outboards up to 500 hp total on the transom - that's over 800 pounds when talking about the Evinrude 150-235's, and nearly 1000 lbs if speaking of twin V6 big-block 250 Mercs of the day.

(Although I confess, the only comparable boat in size I have seen with t/250 BB Mercs was a 233 Formula converted from twin Mercruisers to Gil brackets. It sat very low in the water)

However, you have, as well, a flotation bracket to help float the motor(s).

A single 300-350 hp Verado is no sweat.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

Thanks for the info. He told me the bracket made it worse. I found a 99 optimax for cheap. I have heard good and bad about them.
does anyone have any input?

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

If your bracket was an open Gil bracket, or Porta-Bracket, it would make a difference, but not so much you couldn't evn run twin V6 2.5L Mercs just fine.

Some of the '99 - '02 V6 Optimax's had some computer problems, which should have been covered entirely under the original warranty. If the '99 you're looking at wasn't updated under warranty, it could be problematical.

On the other hand, most of those old Opti's never showed any problems at all. And certainly the Optimax weighs considerably less than a Verado. I know I wouldn't suggest running anything less than 250 hp with a single on a bracket on a Savage, and 275-300 is really a more reasonable minimum power.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

I am currently running a Honda 225 HP on my 1989 23WA. My boat was made for twin engine set up, it handles it ok. I had to raise the engine up a couple of hole and go to Power Tech 4 blade stern lifting prop to stop some porpoising problems. I do set a little lower in the stern with the Honda and have to be careful of some of the big wakes made by large boats passing too fast as they will put water over the transom. I now have to keep my engine well plugs in to help keep water out of the engine well while fishing in choppy water. Power wise, the 225 provides all the HP I need. I am not a speed demon and cruise at around 26-28 MPH at 3700 RPM. I get excellent fuel consumption at that speed, increase the RPM and the fuel flow goes up fast. I have a Northstar F210 fuel flow gauge installed and it sure helps monitor your flow and lets you know what you are doing to the fuel economy at higher RPM.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

I thought Verado's only used DTS controls. I don't think your old Mercury controls will work with the Verado's (I could be wrong).

Weight is probably fine, but keep in mind that Bass and Walleye mag weighed the Verado . . . unrigged it was well over 700lbs without hydraulic steering pump (not the 649 as advertised by Merc). One Verado 200 (6 cylinder), 225, 250, 275, 300 is actually heavier than two mercury v6 late 70's - mid 80's Mercury 200's (363lbs each).

You might also consider a suzuki 250 - 300 or a Mercury 250xs or 300xs. Good Luck!!

I see your signature say Costa Rica. If you have any plans about using your boat down there . . . live by the K.I.S.S. rule.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

I had to repower a couple of months ago, and my short list was optimax or suzuki. IMHO, the hp to weight ratio on the verados took them out of the running. They are heavier than what merc prints, and the merc dealer told me I would need all new dts controls, to the tune of about 3k. I had existing merc controls.

I went with the suzuki with a 6 year warrantee. I looked at the 300 suzuki, but it required 2k worth of dts controls and cost over 3k more than what I found the 250 for. They are sweet, but not worth 5k. I cruise at 31 mph buring 11.2 gph, and wot at 41 at 17 gph. It is mounted on an Armstrong bracke, and I believe the bracket helps the perfomance. The only thing I did was move the batteries from the back to the cockpit, to help balance a little better.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

time to update that picture johnny...

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

Not at all 2 heavy. Yup Verado needs DTS controls. You can as well mount the hydraulic pump under the console for better weight disty. Plus the steering is integrated, and counted into the weight of engine. Is the 70 lbs over a Suzuki really that much more in the end?

JohnB lets not start wars on engines :cool:-The Verado is quieter, more torque, more refined, better fuel efficiecy in cruising range, with a better dealer network. I am not buying the Suzuki pitch of its lighter with more parts for the HP. The techology in the Verado is not new to engines. Time will tell ultimately on both.

The Verado 300 pushes 320 HP with high test, and 300 with 87 now. To be fair to Suzuki, compare a 300 Uke to a 275 Verado. Plenty of tests on the Merc site...with 23 SC/250 Verado. With a dual 300 Verado to dual Suzuki 300 tests...draw your own conclusions.

I get close bout 50MPH at 6300 RPM with a Mirage 17P light load 2 folks total, and so far 5850 RPM at 43 MPH running in chop fishing with a rev 4 17P and semi full load of 150 lbs ice, 3 people, and gear.

I'd buy either a Suzuki or Verado or any modern 4 stroke right now, and see whom is a better local dealer to fix the issues that all outboards have from time to time.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

From a well known and no BS guide here with a description on all current motors - you better really like your dealer even if under warrenty - as stated keep it simple and They are not simple, good maybe but not simple. I had a 650 lbs of V8 Rude on a Sceptre and it was fine - thats all I know 650 is fine. For simplicity I would stay with what ever 2 stroke you have dealer support on down there - dealer support being the kicker when in BFE

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

Dixon, you hit the nail on the head. Dealer support really is the key.

But just to make things clear, Paraiso Marino in San Jose, Costa Rica has certified Mercury Verado technicians. They provide warranty service via truck to Puerte Limon on the Caribbean coast, and to Puntarenas and Puerto Quepos on the Pacific side. But for major repairs like engine tear-down they're gonna want to haul your boat back to San Jose, ...for a very hefty towing fee.
And the next closest Verado servicing marina is either Panama City, Panama or San Salvador, El Salvador.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

Dealer support on the Suzuki is the week spot for them. In my case, I have a dealer 15 minutes away, and 2 others about an hour a way. Mine came with a 6 year warrantee, and when I was price shopping, the verados were way out of my price range, and they were only offering 3 year. The 250 zuke was 13.1k out the door, rigged, propped, everything. The 2 stroke oil in the opti, and the high test gas in the Verado also added to the cost of the merc. Simply put, I couldn't afford the Verado.

I have run Mercs for years, and I think Optis are great motors, but they were more expensive than the Zuke. Also, if you noticed, I have a large hardtop on a Sceptre, so this rig is already heavy for a 23' SeaCraft. Weight is something I am always trying to remove, so in my case weight was a bigger issue for me.

Re: Is a Verado to heavy for my 79' 23' savage?
 

I gotta speak up as a verado owner...

Verados and not simple-There is absolutely nothing new about 4 stroke engines, and supercharging. Design the engine for an integrated SC not a bolt on. I don't buy that argument about Verados=more parts=less reliable. Time will tell, and I may eat my words.

Fuel and Verados-High test gas in verados is a myth...sort of. The 250 verado gen 1 runs on 87 nothing has changed on that, going higher buys you zilch. I have the 2005 250 shop manual on CD to confirm that. The 200-275 are the same block same weight, just computer diffs. To get 275 on the 275 gen 1 you ran 91 but it can run on 87 this is the Gen 1 motors. Its not the same for Gen 2 they are better as in double digit efficient over Gen 1 (which is pretty damn good begin with). The 300, run it on high test 93 closer to 320. run it on 87, 300 HP. Merc says 91 or 87...The fuel burn numbers go up with low test is all from numbers have seen by owners of the 300.

Summation-fuel costs should be better on Gen 2 Verados than Suzukis until you get over 5500RPM, by double digit % efficent gains across the range for Gen 2 verados up till 5500RPM. Merc has a report to this effect comparing 300 Suzi to 300 Verado but stops at 5500RPM. Plenty of reports out there non merc from owners on running 87 in 300 Verados and fuel burn.

~13K is a steal of a price for a 250 Suke. No brainer there.