Outboard Options for Classic 20

[Fr. Frank]

I hope it isn't a mortal sin on this forum on use a Seacraft as a coach boat and for towing around sailboats! We love this boat far better than the Whalers commonly used for this purpose and recently won a grant to be able to restore her. She needs it! The threads on restoration here will be invaluable.

But first, I hope you will help me help me make a decision about a new outboard. She currently has a Yamaha 130 two stroke, I don't know if this is the original engine or not. We do have a grant to purchase a new outboard. The current outboard seems a bit heavy for this boat;

The '77 20' Seacraft was rated for 175 hp, which means a maximum 385 lb motor, as the 20" Evinrude/Johnson 175 of that year weighed in at 385. In contrast, the Yamaha 20" 130 TLRR weighs 360 lbs. Both are close to the weight limit for the boat as manufactured.

Having managed a SeaCraft marina during the early 80's, I can tell you that the most common motor we installed on 20' SeaCraft hulls was either the 85/115/140 hp Evinrude/Johnson, at 320-335 lbs; or the 90/115/140 Mercury/Mariner at 297-315 lbs. (The inline 6 cylinder Mercury outboard is actually the motor the hull was designed for).

What we want out of a new outboard is something less of a gas guzzler, quieter, better able to take extended idling and low speed operation, and still have enough power to tow our sailboats. It would be nice if it was lighter, too, though that may be a tall order. On our grant proposal, we asked for a Mercury 115 four-stroke, but comparing weights, this might just be too much.

The 115 Mercury 4S with 20" shaft is 399 lbs, and the Merc 115/125 Optimax 2S is 375 lbs. Both are good motors, but 60-85 lbs more than the hull was really designed for. The new Evinrude Etec 115/130 is also 390 lbs. The Suzuki 115 4S is 415 lbs, the Tohatsu/Nissan 115 2S is 378 lbs.

All this means you're realistically looking at a 400 lb motor when you replace the Yammie. The Etec and the Optimax, while both 2 strokes, have excellent reputations as very economical engines at extended low-speed operation, and develop higher torque at low-mid range rpms.

I can find nothing negative to say against the 'Zuke, but I love my current 90 hp Optimax on my 20' Seafari. Given my choice of current motors across the board, and staying below 400 lbs, I would choose the Mercury 125 hp Optimax, with the extended (6 year) warranty. Without the extended warranty, I would probably choose the Evinrude 130 Etec. Both have a standard 3 yr, non-declining warranty. If I remember correctly, tests showed the 130 Etec actually dyno-testing at 141 hp, and the 125 Optimax at 133 hp.

But in the refurb, I'd raise the deck a couple of inches, and raise the transom to 25", AND install a top-quality Samson Post for towing.