Confessions....
 

My old 23 rode better without the bracket then with...not that the ride with the bracket was bad or anything I just think think the boat handled better. Maybe I was just delirious (because I had just bought the boat) at the time. I just remember heading out the golden gate....cruising around and over some nice big rollers on a big incoming tide and feeling totally safe.

strick

I can confirm my Tsunami handled noticeably better without the bracket and was definitely more responsive to trim and tab. That said I wouldn’t go back as the full Hermco offers much more benefit in allowing a full transom, more usable space, and better motor efficiency and speed at cruise.

What I really wish was that the bracket was a full extension of the hull that matched the keel steps of the hull for the first 24” of the 30 total. That would give the hull surface needed at lower speeds where the bracket shows its shortcomings.

Good I wasn't delirious lol. Enclosing the transom was always a big thing for me...boats always had a full backside till the advent of the outboard engine. I have a bracket on my current seacraft (20 sceptre) and I dont know how the boat would handle without it because it never had an outboard...it was an IO to begin with. The boat handles nicely but in that boat everything is moved forward. If I do another boat thinking I'll go non bracket with a big splash well. Paying particular attention to distributing the weight over the boats CG. Just sayin..

strick

When I had my 23 w/ 225 Mercs w/ an Armstrong bracket, I was not happy with the CG. That was around 900 lbs though....I will say that the original splashwell does its job nicely with the 300 Zuke. Especially crossing to the Bahamas last Summer. I was on plane at 10-12 knots in the bigger slop.

My planing actually got lower with the bracket. The trim control issue is at speed getting enough grip to raise the bow at speed. Sometimes I feel the bow is glued down at times.

Well said.

If you can make one sit at 10-12 kts, you are a Jedi.

I don’t think it’s a stretch for a twenty but for a 23 with the added dead rise... 10-12 would be some David Copperfield shit.

You may want to recheck your CSC bible....and go for a ride at 12 knots with me.

I have always wondered how this set would work...
Attachment 18511

My boss had a 23' Kencraft with a 250 Honda mounted on a porta bracket. Wasn't his first one. He absolutely loved it!

I'll probably end up going with an Atlas. minimal set back (4") seems a lot less complicated. Some of the manufacturers are putting these on their bay boats. They are pricey.

strick

The Seafari 25 will plane comfortably at 12 knots with a 5.7 duoprop.. At SeaBird 24(24 degree deadrise, very low cg) will plane comfortably at 11 knots with the same power. Never needed the slow plane with the Seafari, but it was a gift from heaven with the Seabird.

I think its cg and torque that has the most effect of low planing speed.

The other option is for a Pwrtran Electric jack... it has 7"s of vertical lift and moves super fast... When i Burn up this Verado on Back i will be removing my bracket...and either going to a the Porta or to the Powrtran with Splashwell...

The biggest issue i am facing now... all the glass work that was done on my boat 3 years ago in Florida is Cracking and splitting.... Not very good finish work..... Might even do it this winter... as i am also needing to replace the entire deck...

Robert