ready for power
 

my redone 72 20 foot cc with bracket is ready for power.I raised the stringers 3 and a half inches when I did it.I,ve got a built in live well in transom I plan on placing as much weight as I can, forward.How many lbs of motor and horsepower can I hang on it for the best performance?

Re: ready for power
 

There's a can o' worms. As little as possible for as much as possible.

Seriously, the best performance numbers I've seen posted have been 2.5 liter, 225hp 2-stroke Mercs weighing in at 380-395 lbs, producing mid 50's for speed. Tim (BigShrimpin') is the best authority on that.

On my Seafari my previous motor was a 150 XR4 2.4 liter remanufactured to produce about 190/192 hp, and in perfect water and temperature conditions, I could get 50-52 mph. That speed was trimmed out, with a nose cone and low-water pickup, running a custom PowerTech 15.25"x16.5" OFS3.
Most of the time in normal load and usage, my top speed was in the mid to upper 40's.

I now run a Mercury 90 Optimax on the same boat, with a top speed of 33-34 mph, and 5+ mpg. :D

Re: ready for power
 

i just went through this exact dilemna w/ my 18. all the new 4 strokes are so heavy i wound up getting a 2 stroke johnson. somebody (i think bushwacker) emailed me a spreadsheet comparing the specs on 150s; very detailed and imformative. ill see if i can find it in my email. if not pm him, he probably still has it. if you have the money, it seemed to me the etecs had the best power to weight ratio out there, but they are pricy as heck. as far as 4 strokes go, i see a lot of suzuki 175s on the 20 footers up here. good luck on the motor hunt.

Re: ready for power
 

The new 130 4 cyl Etec comes in about 370, when you go to V6 all are about the same to 200 HP and all around/above 420 I think. My 200 Merc is 416 and you need all the help you can get with the bracket and livewell. That boat will run just fine with 130 by the way, originally they were rigged with 150 inline Mercs because thats all we had. Get the batteries up under the very front of the console which will help. The another option would be a 140 Zuke, not sure on weight as its a 4 stroke though.
I'll check and see if I can get you a deal on an Etec if interested.

Re: ready for power
 

I have a Merc 175 Optimax XS on the back of my 20 with a bracket. I also have an approximately 15 gallon well in the transom. My boat runs great with that setup, I couldn't be happier with the performance. With that being said, I wouldn't want to add another pound of unnecessary weight back there.

Re: ready for power
 

Re: ready for power
 

Thanks for all the help.I have a 95 johnson 150 oceanrunner with a fresh rebuild on an old 18 foot cobia,it only has a 20 inch shaft.I was considering putting it on my seacraft but everyone tells me that I,ll drown the motor espscially backing off in a following sea.Is this information correct?Its a 26 inch bracket so I figured i would get a couple of those inches back.That being said i,m trying to save my money for a motor.So far I have 5500.00.I,m thinking maybe trade my johnson and some money Whats the real story on the 20 inch shaft.

Re: ready for power
 

They're 429 lbs, just a couple of lbs heavier than the small block V-6 E-Tecs, probably the lightest 4 stroke available. If you're concerned about weight, I'd stay with one of the earlier light weight carb'd 2 strokes or the 115/130 V-4 E-Tec. I still have the 150 hp comparison spreadsheet if you want it; just PM me with your e-mail address.

Re: ready for power
 

I've got an '07 200 Etec 25" for 11,600 before rebates- not sure on wieght but BRP dealer meeting was last week and lots of new rebates and rigging credits along with a 5 yr warrenty - just an FYI

not sure on the shaft length because I never set up a bracket but didn't that guy have problems with a 20 and 20" motor on a bracket recently, it would get drowned

Re: ready for power
 

DF140 weights 420 lbs, but has a lot of low end torque.

That would be my vote.

Tohatsu TLDI 115 is a close second. Supposedly there is a TLDI 135 on the way...