Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I'm looking at a 23 CC that has a brand new Etec 175 installed...seems a tad on the underpowered side to me (I think I would have chosen a 225), what do you guys think? Haven't been out on it yet, owner says it's great. I used to have an 18 CC that I put a Suzuki DF140 on, which was a bit heavier than I liked, but the extra power was real nice when in dicey conditions. Thanks for your feedback! PS - Not interested in anti-Etec/pro 4 stroke rants :D

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I have a 23 CC with a 250 Yamaha 2 stroke that I feel is great power for my boat. When I do repower I think I would go with a bigger motor. The 175 sounds a little under powered but you should give it a chance and go on a test run it might be all you need.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I have an evinrude ficht 175 on my 18ft with a bracket, I would think that would be under powered for a 23, I have twin evinrude 130's on my 23sf

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I would agree that on the surface it would appear to be a bit underpowered, but the E-Tec's are strong running motors, and typically put out about 10% more power than advertised. Although no one talks about it, most mechanical engineers know that there is also a big difference in max continuous (cruise) power levels between a 2-stroke and 4-stroke. Max continuous on a 2-stroke is essentially wide open (if you can stand the fuel burn!) because the harder they run the more oil they get. Max continuous power on a 4-stroke is typically about 75% of max rated hp (~5" Hg manifold vacuum); if you run them any harder than that, you'll take a big hit in exhaust valve life.

It won't be fast and I'd question the cruise fuel consumption, but with the right prop, it might surprise you. I ran a 90 hp 2-stroke on my Seafari for almost 30 years, including some trips to the Abaco's with very heavy loads. It rode great with that lightweight motor on the back. Fr. Frank is currently running a 90 hp Opti on his Seafari with good results. I think he's probably rigged some 23's with small motors and could give you better advice. Most folks today would consider our Seafari's to be pretty underpowered rigs, but they work amazingly well on these efficient VDH hulls. If boat is in good shape and the price is right, I wouldn't reject it without at least going for a test ride.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I have a 23 SF with a 200 yami. I'm quite happy with my so called underpowered boat. It will top out at 40 mph which is way to fast for me. I get 3.2mpg at optimum cruise 28 mph 3700 rpm and the motor is lighter so I don't get wet feet. How often can you go 45-50 mph where you live? It comes down to whether you have a need for speed.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I run a 23'CC with a 225 etec on a bracket. I typically run with 2-3 people in the boat, 100g fuel and 150# of ice. Add that to the T-Top and fishing gear and I would say the 225 is just about as small a motor as I would want. When it is time for a repower it will be a 250 or 300 or maybe even twin 200s if the budget allows.

In addition to top end, if you do not have enough power you will have a hard time getting up on a slide and you will also struggle when the weather turns and you need to power through some seas.

I would say take it for a ride, make sure you have your typical weight in it. If you need find a couple of large people to go with you. Fill the fuel tank... If your not happy with the power, you will regret it until you decide on upgrading. Since the motor is new, it may be a little while.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

We ran a 200 E'rude on our 23' Sceptre for years without any problem. WOT = 42mph. We added a tower (Lots of wind resistance) and upgraded to a 225 and the result was 41 mph WOT and 28mph cruise @ 4300 rpm.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

You could always move it over a bit and add a second 175 ETEC...

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Try to pick a sporting day for a seatrial. I have an `89 20sf w/ a 96 150 Ocean Pro w 900 hrs. Runs well. 42 mph both ways light load gps. Having been on Bushwacker`s heavier Seafari with the e tec 150, I can only say hang on. Subjectively, that motor feels 50 % more powerful than mine. No kidding. I also think that the old gross hp ratings vs SAE at the prop is more deceiving than most realize. If you take 10 hp BRP fudge and add it to only 10% SAE and 10% for the crank vs prop, you get the idea. 175 + 45. Go beat on it and let us know what you think. I wouldn`t be surprized if you see close to 40 mph with a good load.
GFS

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

bingo :cool:

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Okay, just back from a short sea trial on this boat. Three people onboard and 50 gallons of gas. Seas were around 3' (it's rarely much smoother here in the Caribbean), with 10-15 knots of wind, boat has a hardtopped t-top. Engine is quiet at idle, but doesn't seem as quiet as a four stroke. Boat jumped right up out of the hole and accelerated nicely right up to 32 mph on the gps, where it topped out. Sliced through the seas in typically great Seacraft fashion, but honestly not sure how much faster I'd really want to have run through the stuff. My old 18 could run 42+ in flat water, but I very rarely ran it over 25 down here to keep from throwing my back out - not much protected water in my neighborhood. The seller has owned it for 10+ years, is selling due to serious health issues (Big C), and doesn't have any GPH/MPG calcs (engine only has 6 hours on it). The hull is an '85 (non-Potter), and has been cleaned up, rewired, repainted, etc. Thinkin' about it. Would ideally prefer a closed transom/bracketed 250hp, Potter hull, etc., but this one is here, and doesn't need anything right away. Hmmm...

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

if the price is right do it and if you are un happy with the motor size trade up and it should be a matter of unbolting and rebolting it on since it's already set up with guages and controls otherwise run it until it's done then enclose the transome and go from there

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Bmaj-

Great hearing from you............It has been around 5 years or more since you lived in PB County! Your living that good life down there. Your 18SF was one of the first ones to sport the DF140 here on CSC. If I recall......You had a comment about cruising with 10 people on the 18 "back in the day". You gotta use your old user ID.............Get the 23SF with the 175. Add another 175 IF you want more power some time down the road when your back in the states on flat water........

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Thanks for the recollection Snookered! Yup, moved to the VI in'02, and the 18SF served me well, although I felt she was just a little stubby for the typical conditions down here - the Suzy 140 ran flawlessly though. Bought a 40' sailboat in '05, which my wife & I have sailed all over the Caribbean, and sold the 18 to a guy who's put her in the water exactly twice since then...sheesh. I seem to have caught the Seacraft bug again, and while up in FL a few weeks ago looked hard at the Savage for sale in Stuart. I was visualizing a nice new DF250 on the bracket, but the floor replacement/restoration project + shipping were a little more than I wanted to bite off. Went over the 23CC here pretty closely yesterday, Refinish work done is okay, still some tinkering to do, and the current owner never tried any other props, so the performance numbers might improve a little with a different prop. Thinking about making the guy a lowish offer and see what happens. Film at eleven! PS - I had tried my old login, but couldn't get in, so created new.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

You know, you can run all the way to St. Croix by water. Just takes lots of fuel stops and extra-large cojones.

There's a '77 23' SF down in Jacmel, in southern Haiti, that was driven there from Ft, Lauderdale via the Bahamas, and Turks Islands. When I saw it in '02 it had twin mid-90's era Merc 150 EFI's, which were used to make the run down back in '99. Eric Danies (the owner) said it took him only 2 full days from Ft. Lauderdale to make the trip solo, and the boat ran flawlessly all the way. Eric is the former governor of the State of the South in Haiti.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Bmaj-
Good luck with the negotiations. We would like to see pictures if the deal goes down. That 40 ft sailboat sounds like a solid boat to see all those sweet islands down there..........

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Guys - Thanks for all the feedback. Unfortunately for me the owner is mentally/emotionally stuck on how much he's put into the boat rather than trying to understand current market value (I imagine most of us have had that problem at one time or another), and he was pretty frosty towards my offer. I'm pretty certain he'll find the used boat market an awful lot tougher than he imagines, but because of his health issues I didn't push it. Oh well, back to the drawing board! I've got a long list of projects on the sailboat to keep me out of trouble anyway. Brian

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I wouldn't go less than 225. You'll need more torq in a sea.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

I also agree on 225 and up

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Brian, keep an an eye on/bookmark this website link. Site Smash This Bot goes out and looks at all the Craigs List and Ebay listing for Seacraft.

Re: Etec 175 on a 23 CC?
 

Thanks for the tip Fr. Frank, I'll keep looking!