Anyone run a 23 w/ a single 200 Merc 2.4 or 2.5L

[Bigshrimpin]

I'm trying to get an idea of performance on a 23 with a single 200 Merc 2.4 or 2.5L. Anyone running this combo? or have experience on a 23 with this combo?

My plan is to run a Merc 2.4L 200 with a 2:1 ratio lower and a 15P prop. I'm hoping that it'll be enough to move her.

[joema]

my scepter came with a tired 89 200 cruise 23 knots top out 29 knots used 3 years gave away after it broke down off of monomey on wedding day wife told me to get df 250 so i did

[Blue_Heron]

Not a direct comparison, but I've got a friend with a 23 intrepid, which weighs more than a Seacraft 23cc and has a deeper vee. He ran a '93 carbed Merc 2.5 200 on it for over ten years. I don't remember the make, but I think he ran a 15" pitch prop. If the boat was fully loaded with fuel, water, gear, and crew for a crossing to Bimini, it would barely get on plane, but for general use it did fine. I think it topped out at somewhere in the 30-35 mph range and cruised 25ish at 4000 rpm. He repowered about two years ago with a Yami F250 and gets much better performance and better fuel economy.
Dave

[gss036]

I ran my 1989 23WA for 20 years with a Merc 2.4 200 hp. I thought it did good for the power ratio. I ran a 14 1/2 X 17 aluminum for a long time then went with a 14 1/2 X 17 SS. Easy to plane and would top out at 43/44 mph depending on the water WOT was around 5500 rpm. 4200/4300 rpm would give me around 32 mph and suck 10-12 gallon per hour depending on the water.
I re powered last year w/ a 225 Honda and am using a Power Tech/Honda 4 blade SS prop.

[McGillicuddy]

Those are pretty good numbers Gary recounts. And I'll bet you already know a couple of ways to squeeze another 30-40 hp out of a 2.4 L. Stick to your lightweights and give it a go. Obviously you wont get the speed you get out of Big Red but I don't suspect you'll want to be running at 40+ knots in Buzzard's Bay all that often... Or is this going to be your tuna banks rig

[ScottM]

Tim,
I pm'd you Scott's email address from this site. He used to be on here all the time until a couple years ago. He's got the same setup down in NJ and can let you know how she performs.