twin 200's on 23

RICHV · #1 06-25-2003, 07:00 PM

i have a 23 seacraft that i am restoring and since i have the transom being redone, now is the perfect time to repower. i am thinking of putting twin 200 efi mercs on a armstrong bracket instead of repowering with a 300hp i/o mercruiser horizon.has anyone put 400 horses on the back of their seacraft and if so how was the performance and what was your top speed?. i have also been told that 150 twins is quite ample for this boat even if i am running offshore.is it worth the switch or am i blowing alot of money to get the same hp as the new horizon 300hp.i was told that using twin outboards reduces your hp rateing by almost 30%. fuel efficiency is a major problem since i only have a 60 gallon tank.i can put another 50 gallons or so in the fish box in front of the gas tank. tidewaterplastic@aol.com

Finster · #2 06-25-2003, 07:06 PM

Richv, I am doing the same deal, but I would strongly recommend the Seamark bracket. You need as much bouyancy as possible with that rig and thats the bracket that can do it. And yes 400 pony's is farely common. Talk to John R.
Good luck.

Mark · #3 06-25-2003, 07:08 PM

...60 gallons in a 23' with twins on the back? I think I might look into a larger fuel tank if you are in the middle of a restoration already.

barnacle · #4 06-25-2003, 10:25 PM

Be sure to have a larger tank put in during the redo. I would go with twin 150's over the twin 200's. If your running offshore there is no reason for 400hp. You can only run so fast in a good chop. If your not going to install a larger tank then be sure to pick the 150's. If your stuck with Mercury brands then I would choose the optimax over the efi's.

eggsuckindog · #5 06-26-2003, 12:14 AM

The hull just plain rides better with single power. Have you riden in both? With my twins,when I bought it (23 Sceptre 150's), it never semed to respond much to trim. Repowered with a 275 V8 rude and what an incrediable difference, like a different boat. I think the hull rsponds much better with single power, maybe a big single outboard,some boats here on the west coast of FL. ran single 235 evinrudes underpowered but not bad,these new motors are so much stronger. With a small tank twins will kill you on fuel, maybe one of those new Ficeht's (sp) there supposed to be great on fuel and strong. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Snookerd · #6 06-26-2003, 11:14 AM

Rich-Twin 200s [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] - Finster has it right with the Seamark Bracket. Go with the tank size upgrade too. Here is a great thread on the single vs. twins conflict http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=85312 [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] .

RICHV · #7 06-26-2003, 08:04 PM

thanks for the info, so basically what is being said is that twin 150's are ample for anything i would do offshore and a bracket is definately necessary. but if i can get 300hp out of an i/o horizon mpi and can get the new power installed for 40% the price of a 250 merc with a bracket and 60% percent less than twin 150 mercs. with a bracket,would this basically be making a statement on the water i just look better with twins than an i/o with the same eqivalent hp and a seatow membership.

James Tackle · #8 06-27-2003, 05:55 PM

<copy> I have a 23' with twin 115 Johnson Ocean runners (1998). The boat previously had a 225 Johnson. I cannot even begin to tell you how much of a differnece it is with the twins. The cruising speed went up from 24 knots at 4500 RPM's to 30 knots at 4200 RPM's. It no longer "slugs" up and over waves or bogs down trying to climb... it powers right over effortlessly. When you hit the throttles... it jumps out of the water. They just feel like they aren't even working hard.. like they are jogging along back there. The top speed has cranked up to over 40. The best part is the 115 Johnson Ocean Runners are only about 100 pounds more than a single 225. At cruise, she burns about 12-14 GPH which is very reasonable. I really can't see where V6's would be any added benefit exept for those seeking light speed. -Jim

BARNABY55 · #9 07-01-2003, 04:43 PM

Whether its right or wrong I do not know. I had a very good friend that had twin 200 mercs on a 23 CC, appropiately named Bllluuurr Rrrrabbit. The boat would fly far faster than the normal man would ever need. Now the question is..Are you "Normal"?

CMBarnes · #10 07-02-2003, 01:17 AM

I recently purchased a 75 23' cc that has a stainless marine bracket and twin 1999 200 Mercury EFI's. I have only run the boat 3 times since I bought her and amd in the middle of putting in a new deck, painting everything and replacing all of the hardware. The boat is scary fast. I did not have my handheld gps when I got both motors up to 5000 RPMs but I know it was over 50 mph. Even with the floatation bracket the boat is a little heavy in the stern. I have put a little weight in the forward locker and this has gotten rid of this problem. I wish I could give you some numbers but I won't be able to for a while. I currently have a 120 gallon tank I am going to add another tank in the space right in front of the console. I think I will be able to add another 50 gallons or so up there. That will put more weight forward as well. I do have a 50-60 mile run each way to the gulfstream from where I put in though. I do think some 150hp engines wiegh identical to 200hp engines so you might want to see if you are really adding any weight or just more power.
CMB
Good luck with everything!