Repowering of my 23' Seacraft walkaround model.

rsegreto · #1 09-14-2005, 03:27 PM

Good afternoon everyone~

Just looking for some advice as to how large of an engine I can attach to my 1989 Seacraft cuddy model. I do not have a tag/sticker on or around the helm area with this info. I called Seacraft directly but they could not help me out either telling me that their records do not go back this far. I've thought about the Merc. Optimax 225 or going w/2 Merc. 135 Optimaxs. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the best way to go about attaining what highest h/p is to attach to my transom.

Thanks in advance,

Rich/Westerly,RI [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

gss036 · #2 09-14-2005, 04:59 PM

I have a 1989 23WA. It came from the factory w/wide transom for dual engines. I bought mine new and they also had a couple others and the transoms w/narrow opening for single engine. I just looked at some of my paper work but can not find anything telling me what the Max horsepower rating is. I seem to remember somewhere reading max was 300HP. I am following all the new engines myself at present, just in case I should need to repower. I think(?) my decision presently would be for a 225-250 E-Tec. If I were to go 4 stroke, I would probably go w/Suzuki. Suzuki just came out w/4cly 150-175hp engines.
I think the Opti-Max (pop) would be 3rd choice, but I now read that this very well may be the last year that Merc will offer that engine. They have already made the deicision to stop production of the carbed and EFI 2 stroke engines. The ones in the current chain are all that is available. I think if you search the archives, you will find that most everyone is concerned about the weight on the transon and water intrusion w/scuppers. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Fr. Frank · #3 09-15-2005, 01:22 PM

I vaguely recall seeing a sticker on a 23WA that said max HP was 500. But that's vague memory, it may have been on a 23' Savage.

bj · #4 09-15-2005, 07:11 PM

I have a 1988 brochure and all the 23' models say a maximum HP of 200 or twin 150's. I have a 1977 or 1978 (not sure which it is) that says all 23's have max of 400 HP. I am not sure which years but I think some of the Sceptre 23's even had a 500 max hp rating.

Fr. Frank · #5 09-18-2005, 04:34 PM

'74 Tsunami has a sticker that says the max HP is 500.

Briguy · #6 09-19-2005, 01:12 PM

If you are going offshore more than 20 miles twins might be better for you. I have twin 115 4 stroke suzi's for my 4th troublefree season. 25knot cruise at 10.5 gph and 38 kt wide open(although I hit 40.3 knots this weekend with the tide) You could probably get the 115's or 140 for about 15k installed. 135 opti's would be 3grand more. I think trevor on this board has a single 250hp Suzi and he gets about the same mph and wot as me. Don't know the price. I'd stick with 4 strokes for sure. In a few years no one is going to want to buy a used boat with a 2 stroke.

gss036 · #7 09-19-2005, 03:27 PM

Back to horsepower ratings. Where can we find out what our SeaCrafts are rated for? Will SeaCraft boats be any help?
I just read a short article on the new Merc 4cyl Verados, but no weight etc. Just horsepower ratings, I am sure they will only be 75-100#'s lighter, so still awfully heavy. Suzuki also has a new 4 cylinder model. I am still inclined to keep looking at the Evinrude E-Tec.

rsegreto · #8 09-20-2005, 10:29 AM

Gary~

I actually called the Seacraft customer relations line under the website www.seacraft-boats.com, and they could not supply me with any info. at all about repowering my 1989 w/around model. They said the best place to try to gain the info. that I was looking for, would be on this website. I actually did do some research on the new Verados. They seem rather nice however, the Merc. dealer that services my boat and motor said that the cost installed may be close to $20,000.00 right now for a new four stroke Verado. I don't think that you can ever go wrong w/a new Suzuki four stroke either. Hope this helps.

Rich/Westerly,RI [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

gss036 · #9 09-20-2005, 03:30 PM

Thanks for getting back to us. I find it hard to believe that Tracker Marine won't or can't supply information on thier boats, unbelievable. The post below yours says his 89 23WA was rated for 300 hp. I seem to remember seeing that figure somewhere but cannot relocate it. There is nothing on my boat other than a sr# and a tracker sticker saying the boat complied w/CoastGuard specs at the time. I have the cut out for twin engines, so the transom may be a little heavier? I know it was too thick(wide) to fit my 15hp Honda kicker on it, so I went w/a bracket. The only engine I have priced was a 250 E-Tec in Canada, they quoted me $16,300 US $,+ rigging for just under 18K. If I buy there I don't have to pay the GST/sales tax since it is exported w/o duty. My second choice would probably be the Suzuki, would have to find a dealer willing to talk price as the Suzuki list prices are high.
The E-Tec must be doing something right as ACB just sent Los Angles CA Police Dept a 26ft boat w/twin 200 E-Tec's on it.
I would have thought they would go with 4 strokes.

rsegreto · #10 09-19-2005, 03:25 PM

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you who replied to my question of repowering.

Rich/Westerly,RI [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]