Twin Yamaha F115s on a bracketted 23'?

[travisrandall]

im thinking it would be nice to have twins, looking at v-6 merc 135's but im not willing to drop 3500 for a new bracket. its nice offshore with twins, but you never know what can happen. how is scout doing lately? nice gauge for local economy. went out sunday in a 27 rabco and couldn't plane out with one 225 efi. lost the lower unit in the other, so having the right spare prop makes a huge difference.

[Fr. Frank]

Having the right spare propeller in an emergency is important.

The Town of Palm Beach used to have a 23' SF as a patrol boat, rigged with twin RH rotation Evinrude 235's. It would not plane on a single engine with the normal 27"P props. But we put a single 17"P stainless prop on board as a spare. More than once, it came home using the spare prop on a single running or intact engine, and it came in on plane with the other motor tilted up. When those motors were replaced with CR 150 hp 'Rudes, I was told they could still get on plane with a single engine, trim tabs, and a low pitch prop.

A 23' will NOT plane, however, with a single offset 115 hp motor.

[Briguy]

I beg to argue Chuck. My 1978 CC with a bracket will plane with a single 115 and that's swinging a 24" ss Suzi prop. You need tabs down, 1 motor tilted slightly and at 4400 rpm's she'll make 14 1/2 knots.

The 115's will make 25.5kts at 4000 rpm's and 39kts at 5950 rpm's. with 3/4 fuel and 2 people. If you have 6 people and lots of ice I see 25kts at 4300 rpms and fast cruise of 32kts at 5k rpm's.......and that's on 9 year old Suzi's!!!!!!!!!

[eggsuckindog]

I beg to argue Chuck. My 1978 CC with a bracket will plane with a single 115 and that's swinging a 24" ss Suzi prop. You need tabs down, 1 motor tilted slightly and at 4400 rpm's she'll make 14 1/2 knots.

The 115's will make 25.5kts at 4000 rpm's and 39kts at 5950 rpm's. with 3/4 fuel and 2 people. If you have 6 people and lots of ice I see 25kts at 4300 rpms and fast cruise of 32kts at 5k rpm's.......and that's on 9 year old Suzi's!!!!!!!!!

Zukes run a lower gear ratio in the LU, not sure but might make a difference. 2 115's is only 230 at best as they are 4 S Yami's, I don't think its enough either.

[Briguy]

If your main concern is resale than the single 250 would be the best. It all depends on how much you pay for the 250 and will it make up for the perceived lower value of a boat with twin 115's.

The benefits of the single 250 are lower maintenance cost and of course about 250 pounds less hanging off the rear end. The speed will maybe be 1-2mph across the board better with the single.

If I had to repower it would be hard not to buy the Suzuki 300.

[Snookerd]

In your area it is not unusual to go 70 miles off fishing. If many of your trips are that far, then the twins with one that will plane is the way to go. AND when fuel goes back to $5.00 plus on the water, more twin 115's will be had. Briguy's 115s are propped right and does 46 mph on GPS. Single 250 or 300 will be the best choice for resale and ride because most people aren't consistently taking a 23 off that far.

[Briguy]

I've got more range than guts, that's for sure!