1983 23ft seacraft cc Questions????
 

Hi i have some Questions about my project boat it is a 1983 23ft seacraft I have taken the gas tank out and all the foam cleaned out the bilge and installed a bulkhead then used bildge coat on the inside of the hull. Ready to start rebuilding!

1)what size gas tank should i get it came with a 144 gal ?Im thinking a 100 gal tank.

2)what size outboard motor? new one. Im thinking a 300 four stroke suzuki.

3)How much does my hull weigh?

4)I am replacing the deck any suggestions how it should be done and if i should raise it up a few inches?

Why would you want to go down in fuel capacity? If anything I would go the same or bigger.

I dont think i will ever fill a 144 gal tank but i am worried it will change the weight distrobution also i am getting a 4 stoke engine figure i can lighten the boat up a little with a smaller tank.

1) it all depends on what you want to use the boat for. Where are u located? Will help decide how much fuel you need. If you are up north and like canyon runs then 120 + should work.
2) If you go with a four stroke then u will have to raise the deck.
3) 2500 lbs
4) what is the condition of the deck? Soft spots etc...

A friend of mine reworked a 23' Seacraft....
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/PharmD2B30/6.jpg

He installed a 150 gallon fuel tank which is what I would put in mine too if I was reworking one. When installing it, I would try to push the fuel tank as far forward as will be allowed by the boat. Also, to accomodate the heavier 4-stroke engines you will need to raise the floor at least 2" to accomodate for the self-bailing feature of the boat.

As far as engine, I would go with either a Suzuki 300 or a Yamaha F300. I personally am fixing to pick up a 23' Seacraft thats already bracketed and enclosed transom and I plan on putting a new Yamaha F300 on it. My friend with the above boat installed a Mercury Verado 350 SCI on his. Said that it works, but it is really too heavy for the boat. Said that if he were to do it over again he would have installed a Yamaha F300 on it.

The deck is bad at least 10 different soft spots around the size of a football and the edges of the deck are chipped bad and the inside of the deck is saturated with water. I dont think i we be running more than 40 miles with the boat im out of manasquan inlet in nj. No canyon runs for this boat. i was thinking 3 inches for the deck?

Is a yamaha lighter than a suzuki?

The tank that came out of my 1985 23 was 115 gallons. We had an identical tank built for the rebuild. My power is an F250 yamaha on a 30 inch transom with no bracket. I have a bulkhead in the splashwell with a door that goes up. We left the deck the stock height and have no problem self bailing, and my deck stays dry all the time.

My boat has seen 47 mph with 2 men and light fishing gear. A heavy load, 42 is about it. Last season we steamed out slightly over 40 miles, trolled all day, steamed back in with a box full of tunas, and we burned about 47 - 48 gallons of fuel.

A 150 gallon tank isn't going to weigh that much more than a 100 gallon tank to make a difference, empty. Just because you have 150 doesnt mean you have to fill it. Better to have the capacity and not need it, that need it and not have it.

Think about what you are doing with the boat and make the appropriate decision. Have a buddy that has a 23 with a 90 gallon tank. Its strictly a nearshore boat and has a 250 4 stroke and he has no complaints at all.

FWIW - if you dont need to go 50+ mph, a single 250 is all you need on that hull. I cruise about 30 mph getting 3.2 mpg.

Here are the comparison specs.

Mercury 350 SCI ..... 667 lbs
Mercury 300 Pro ..... 20" ... 635 lbs (website notated lightest model, so Im assuming the 20" shaft)
Mercury Verado 300 ..... 20"...635 lbs (website notated lightest model, so Im assuming the 20" shaft)
Yamaha F350..... 25".. 804 lbs......30".. 822 lbs
Yamaha F300..... 25".. 562 lbs......30".. 571 lbs
Suzuki 300 ...... 25".. 604 lbs ..... 30" .. 615 lbs.

The Yamaha IS actually lighter than the Suzuki.

On my Sceptre I had a V8 Rude at 650 and had no issues - mine was a 78 and had 100 gal tank and I only filled it a couple times going to the Bahamas. Didn't even need it when grouper fishing over here, with a 4 stroke it would be even better. With an average of 3mpg a 100 would give 300mi range, seems fine to me and you might get a wet storage compartment.

I too don't think you need 300HP, mine scary fast on top end, might find a better deal on a 250 too