Seafari 25 performance

[Blue_Heron]

I'm glad to finally see a dialog about a 25 Seafari. Thanks, Connor, for posting your performance numbers. I have some thoughts, but understand that these are mostly based on investigation and not actual experience, since the only time my 25 has been wet since I bought it was when I left it out in the rain.

I really hate the single stick control on the seafari tabs and will be changing to a two button soon.

If your tabs are Bennett, you might consider their auto trim system, the AC 3000. The rocker switch assembly runs $50 +, which makes the auto tabs that much more attractive. My 25 has Boat Leveler tabs which have a rocker switch almost identical to the Bennett, so I'm assuming the AC3000 will work on them as well.

Has anybody tried putting extra weight, lead, concrete, whatever, way up in the bow of this boat? ...Maybe a couple of hundred lbs in the bow would help keep the stern from sinking so far. Might also damp the roll a little.

I understand it is very common to find ballast placed low and forward in these boats. Mine didn't have any, but I plan to place a fresh water tank under the cabin/cockpit sole forward of the fuel tanks to serve as both adjustable ballast, and fresh water for wash down.

Does anybody know how much room there is under the well between the seats at the aft end of the well?

The fuel tank compartment ends where the deck drops 6" to the cockpit sole which continues into the cabin. There is a plywood bulkhead under the deck at the transition. The bulkhead in my boat has a cutout that allows access to the space under the cockpit/cabin sole. This space has a sole that sits atop the stringers and tapers in width, and to a lesser extent height, toward the bow. I don't have exact measurements, but I believe I will be able to fit a 38"L x 20"W x 9"H, 25 gallon tank under there which will weigh a little over 200lbs. full. I plan to build a plywood mockup of the tank to test the fit before I order it.

Seafari25, the tandem trim tab setup is very cool and an ideal solution for these variable deadrise hulls. What was used as a linkage between the inner and outer tabs?

Dave

[cdavisdb]

A pic may be worth a thousand words, but you have to actually look at the pic. I totally missed the double tab. That is amazing. Ditto on Blue Herons question. Maybe I can do the same on mine.

Dave, thanks for the measurements. I also was thinking water storage before I thought about Bushwackers comment.
If you would like to get together and compare boat notes, let me know.
Connor

[Blue_Heron]

If you would like to get together and compare boat notes, let me know.
Connor

Connor,
You're in Sarasota, right? I'll be going down to Bonita Springs on Wednesday 11/11 and returning Sunday 11/15. I'd love to stop by and see your 25 on the way down or back if that's convenient for you. I've never owned an I/O before and I'd like to get the benefit of your experience.
Dave

[seafari25]

A pic may be worth a thousand words, but you have to actually look at the pic. I totally missed the double tab. That is amazing.

That's funny stuff Connor!

The "plates", as I like to call them, are all one piece 3/16 steel, bent the shape of the hull and welded to make a channel in the middle(can be seen right side of port tab, left side of starboard in above pic). The top of the channel is level with the top of the plate. The bottom of channel is level with bottom of plate but the forward edge is bent(curved) upward so it never drops below hull and also seals the channel from the front. The rearward edge of the top of the channel is cut out to allow better access to bolt it to the trim tab. The plates are each secured with 4 1/4" SS bolts.

Wow that's hard to explain. That's why I hoped a picture was worth a thousand words.. JK...Happy to answer any further questions fellows.

Brandon

[seafari25]

Connor,

Glad to see you got her wet!

Your performance numbers are not too far off of mine. Those duoprops got me beat by a few MPH. Pretty much, where you indicate your speed in knots, I get the same in MPH only my max RPM is 4200 @ 32MPH.

Running into a chop, I find it best to trim bow all the way down for the most comfortable ride. As far as spray, I usually manipulate the tabs so as not to create any. In really nasty conditions, I may get a little over the rear quarter but I'm not sitting back there. If I'm travelling a long distance in those conditions, with passengers back there, I'll put on the rear curtains for a completely dry ride.

You've got yourself a nice rig there. ENJOY! Ours is being pulled this week for the winter so the next 6 months are going to be long ones for me...

Brandon