23 Sceptre project

[1bayouboy]

I've already scouted the site.....some projects you guys have done!!! I'm picking up a 23 Sceptre in a couple of weeks for a project boat. First question....are there any place where Hull ID #'s are documented as to format??? On boats with redone transoms and missing HINs, any hints at registration woes..?? And finally, the boat has a bracket with twins and I'm looking to repower...either a single 200+ or twins at 140....optimax 135s or suz/john 140s...
so any hints at perf??

And for strick.....what was that material you used for your molds???...

[Jaizzen]

Welcome, I'm fairly new to this site aswell but know your boat inside and out. I've got a ton of time rebuilding a Tsunami into a serious spearfishing boat for South Florida use.

Are you asking if there are additional locations for the HIN other than the transom? I've been through 100 percent of my Tsunami and only found it on the starboard side of the transom. Others may know better.

On the engine, I'd say it would depend on the load and distance you plan to travel. I like twins, but alot of others like the big singles. In my opinion, the DF250 4 Stroke Suz. would be the best motor for your boat. I've seen this motor in action and its got loads of torque and reliability. I think a 225 would be a little light considering the weight of the Sceptre. Just my opinion.

Jason

[jongolds]

I have a 96 Merc 225 o/b on a bracket on my 73 Tsunami. It's not a speed demon by any means but that's compared to my previous boat which was a 21' bowrider with a V8 I/O. That boat got to about 50 mph and change. I've gotten the Tsunami over 40 mph though which is plenty respectable. Plus, I haven't really learned how to trim this boat out yet. I'm still on the steep part of the learning curve with this boat. It does suck a lot of fuel though. If I were to repower, I'd go for a 250 but the 225 is perfectly adequate.

I love to see another Tsunami/Sceptre on here.

[1bayouboy]

Thanks for the replies....On the HIN the question was more are the number ranges and formats used documented anyplace. Since these were pre digital era I suppose tracker through out all the old paper....might be interesting to doc the member boats and compare HINs to see if they used a pattern.

The boat has a bracket already, but I won't be able to really survey it for a couple of weeks to see what I'll need to do. I'm primarily going to be using it to fish offshore out of Charleston SC...where the run out to the gulfstream is 50 miles one way. My current boat is just too rough...it's a 23 WAC I/O with 18 degree deadrise. It's a rare day out of CHS when you can do better than 30 on the ocean. I was checking the performance archive and looks like twin 115s / twin 140s or a 225/250 are the nor and get about 40 WOT and 30 cruise......I have a merc now with the smartcraft gauges and and I could have those on a pair of Opti's or (ouch..$$$...verados). I like the power/weight for the E-Tecs and those seem to be getting good reviews. I'll have to see what has to be done to the boat first. The documented project boats here and on classicmako are really amazing.

[ScottM]

I can't remember exactly where on this site it is, but if you're wondering what the HIN actually means, there is a breakdown of it. If I remember correctly, Capt Chuck posted it a couple years ago.

Regarding power, my father's '82 Sceptre 23 runs a single '97 225 Yamaha 2-stroke (no bracket), cruises 25 knots @ 4500rpm and WOT 34-35 knots @ 5600. Member "lost2a6" has the same boat with a 200 Yam on a bracket and gets similar performance. You mentioned that you run 50 miles offshore. Knowing that, you probably want twins for redundancy. For 4-stroke, you can't go wrong with the 115/140 Suzukis; for 2-stroke, probably the new 'Rude E-Tec 115 or 150, or as you mentioned, the 135 Merc Optis.

[Miles Offshore]

heres a little help on the hull ids, read the whole thread-

http://www.classicseacraft.com/forum...r=19548&Forum=,,,f1,,,&Words=hull%20id&Searchpage=3&Limit=50&Mai n=17746&Search=true&where=sub&Name=&daterange=1&ne werval=&newertype=y&olderval=1&oldertype=y&bodypre v=#Post19548