I agree: Bigshrimpin's pic of the 23 looks well balanced in the water with the chine evenly submerged the length of the hull side. As you move the center of balance aft with big engines and what not, and the stern begins to squat: planing speeds increase, ride quality decreases, weather deck no longer self- bails, boat does not sit as stable in the water. At this point, the balance of the boat has been ruined.
I haved taken HUGE efforts to try to adjust the placement of console, batteries, and fuel (two tanks forward and aft of a step down console compartment) on my present project just to compensate for the weight of two 115 hp four stroke outboards on the transom. My hope is that it ends up acceptable. I'll report back in the spring.
Tight lines
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Bill Potter
18' 1978, Yamaha 130
23' CC 1986, T Suzuki F115s (current full custom project)
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