23 Self-bailing deck history ?

sogilmore · #1 10-19-2004, 04:54 PM

As my one piece deck was removed and already off for inner hull inspection anyway.....that's what led to my trying the floor up idea.

I was also trying to preserve the inside gunwall(sp) hgt. as I have young children and did not want to loose any safety in the side wall hgt.

I had a Mako CC and a Proline CC before that, we got tired of the lack of wind and sun protection for the family that the CC presented. The SC 23 Tsunami is timeless in it's sleek great looks. I don't think you can buy a 23 cuddy today that look and handle like the SC 23 Tsunamis do.

Thanks for all the feed back.....keep it coming.

-sean

Mark · #2 10-19-2004, 05:55 PM

yeah, you do lose freeboard when you raise the floor....a bit of a trade-off [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Finster · #3 10-19-2004, 06:02 PM

I would concerned as well about changing the center of gravity as well.

Capt Chuck · #4 10-19-2004, 06:47 PM

Quote:

I would be concerned about changing the center of gravity as well.

Finster

I think you need to contact BP and score a second SeaMark Bracket [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Two fat guys like me coupled with that bad azz Merc your center of gravity on that der Vette has just shifted from "Cat-a-Tonic" to "RocketMan"

BTW: My boat gets it's Seamark Bracket /Transom enclosed start next week.....

Finster · #5 10-23-2004, 07:34 PM

Quote:

I would be concerned about changing the center of gravity as well.

Finster

I think you need to contact BP and score a second SeaMark Bracket [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Two fat guys like me coupled with that bad azz Merc your center of gravity on that der Vette has just shifted from "Cat-a-Tonic" to "RocketMan"

BTW: My boat gets it's Seamark Bracket /Transom enclosed start next week.....

Chuck, I think your missing what I mean. Regardless how fat one is, the deck is where all that fatness rests. Raise the deck and raise the center of gravity. I could be wrong but my feeling is that even an 1" or 2" could make a difference in the boats handling. I am sure everyone thats done will tell me different, but I wouldn't do it to any of my boats.

And yes DH is already prepared for the second bracket[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] That Gill bracket is a freak of nature, holy crap! Though I have to say the boat didn't sit as low as you would think with a 575lb. motor sitting back that far with no floation. Go figure.

ocuyler · #6 10-23-2004, 08:47 PM

Quote:

That Gill bracket is a freak of nature, holy crap!

There's only one freak of nature on this thread. His name is NOT Gill...

Finster · #7 10-23-2004, 09:05 PM

It's Not Gill it's......

ScottM · #8 10-19-2004, 06:02 PM

I could be wrong on this one, but I don't think anyone on this site has raised the floor of their 23, be it a CC or cuddy. With that said, most 23 owners have an outboard (either on the transom or bracket), so maybe the scupper issue isn't as difficult to deal with as it is with the weight of an I/O??? However, I do know what that scupper problem can be like in a Sceptre with a big block. Last summer I had the chance to see Chris Downey's '77(?) with a Merc 7.4, and he had water on the deck with 2 guys standing in the stern.

Most guys that have raised the deck have a 20 so you may not get as much 23-specific feedback on the subject.

sogilmore · #9 10-20-2004, 03:47 PM

I can see why no one would raise the deck on a 23....there seams to be no easy way. You can see from all the responses, there is a lot to consider. The floor system is more complex in the Sceptre/Tsunami models too vs. a CC. I thought my original idea, while the deck was already off, to just use 2" cross beams, but believe me, it is just not that easy.
The big block IO is the guilty party, but the change over to bracket and outboard is too expensive over the simple drop in price of a crated eng/IO pckg. I have said, the difference is easily $5000. and it isn't easy to digest the IO pckg price as is.
I would prefer the bracket and outboard as I guess from responses, is the concensus among readers here. But I don't already own an outboard and the transon is already redone for the IO....
Keep talking to me.....it ain't in yet?
-sean

EBEACH · #10 10-21-2004, 09:41 AM

Sogilmore,

I’m in the same position as you. 73’ Tsunami with an I/O package, in need of a repower. The boat came with a Ford 302, with Merc II transmission and a Merc II TRS (31 years old). I’m not sure how the boat floats with this package since I’ve never had it in the water. I’ve just replaced the Transom with 2 sheets of ¾ plywood. FWIW, the wood weighed in at 90lbs before the install. It would break my heart to repower and find that water ends up on the deck! My best option would be to launch the boat, and then hump about 1,000 lbs of weight and put it into the engine box. It wouldn’t simulate the out drive weight perfectly because the drive would be further back, but would probably get the job done.

I see no reason for a large block motor in that boat. A 5.0 or 5.7 liter engine would be more than enough. I believe Alan from this site installed a Merc Horizon 300 Hp Bravo 3 in his Tsunami and got 50 mph. He hasn’t posted in a while, and is probably enjoying his “new” boat.

I’m very disappointed in Merc’s inability to come up with an innovative design for the stern drive. My 30 year old out drive design is no different than what they’re putting out the door today! They’re website also lacks technical information on there products. How about an installation drawing guys? I’m leaning toward Volvo’s Ocean series since they're the only company that has been able to think out side the box. Marine Diesel's 6.5 liter engine package is within about 100 lbs of Merc’s 5.7 gas.

How about moving the engine forward to the gas tank area, using a jackshaft and saddle tanks in the stern? The baitwell is useless anyhow.