20' SeaCraft heavy motor

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Offshore Asset

So after giving it some thought. I think I might be skipping the bracket and going for a traditional motor on transom approach. I don't want to pour as much money into it as I originally thought. And I scored a sweet $1,000 Aquasport 17 with a 1998 Johnson 115 that I plan on using until I finish the seacraft. Then running that 115 on the Seacraft until I put on a new motor. Luckily the Johnson is really clean and it is a 25" shaft, plus it weighs around 350lbs. I have the transom done. It just needs the stringers finished and a floor.

That's a good choice and great match for the boat . . . those old V-4's are tough simple motors; ran an old cross-flow (1975 vintage) on my boat for 31 years and it NEVER left me stranded the whole time I had it. Just make sure it rev's about 5500 @ WOT; a 13 3/4 x 15 SST prop worked good for me. I put about 2000 miles on it on a bunch of trips to the Abacos. Used to carry about 65-80 gallons of gas, and a couple of weeks worth of groceries. With a big load in cabin and light motor, I could plane at about 12 mph and ride through a 2-3' chop sitting down! Cruised at about 20 kts (22-23 mph) @ 4500 for hours on end at about 8 gph. Seemed to consistently average about 2.8 mpg carrying heavy loads. Your motor is a looper, so should put out a little more power and be more efficient. (They were rated at powerhead instead of prop in 1975!)