Four Strokes???

[Browser]

I normally put plugs in my cockpit scuppers. The waterline is just above the scuppers with 2 passengers

[riffraff]

Tim, the boat looks very nice, I wish I had gone with a 4Stroke...

[muddywater]

Ok, not to derail the thread, but we are talking four-strokes, soooo.... With a Suzie 175 weighing in at 485, a Honda 150 at 485 lbs, a Yammie 150 around the same, what do you guys think about a 4-cylinder Verado 200 at 25 lbs more (510). Yes, I realize the 150 4-strokes are already overweight for a Seacraft, but... how much difference is 25 lbs going to make if I raise my transom 5 inches and my deck 2 inches, and move the gas forward?

[riffraff]

If you raise the transom and the floor as you said, I believe you will be ok....

[Bushwacker]

Muddy - a couple of things to consider: the WET weight numbers(includes lube & gear oil, fuel, water, etc.) are what the boat will feel; this adds about 30 lbs. Most of those 4 strokes hold 6-7 qts of oil (7.6 on 150 Suzy), so they're really closer to 500 lbs ready to run; even more for the Verado. Would be interesting to launch the bare hull and then put some ballast in back, like a big trash can full of water, to determine effects of increasing motor weight on trim!

Need to consider effects of balance on how the boat rides, esp. in rough water. You're certainly going in the right direction by moving fuel tank forward. On my Seafari, the big flotation tank in the Seamark bracket largely offset the weight increase from my old 300 lb V-4 to the 427 lb E-Tec and the 30" rearward shift in mount point, maintaining acceptable STATIC balance and self bailing capability(new waterline is within about 1" of old one). However, when you're up on plane and the flotation tank is out of the water, the boat KNOWS there is more weight back there! Can't fool mother nature - the basic laws of physics still apply! At a given setting on the power trim, it does not seem to ride quite as well as before, although I am able bring the bow down with power trim a little better than before. (Must be something about the geometry of 25" shaft and/or bracket that provides more leverage.) Bottom line is I'm VERY glad I did not go with a heavier motor. Recent forum posts about the "bow heavy" O/B Scepters riding better than the cc's seem consistent with my experience. Remember the 20' hulls were designed in the mid 60's before the V-6's came along, so the biggest OB's were about 300 lbs. The relatively narrow beam that helps them ride so well compared to the newer wider boats also makes them more weight sensitive. I'm convinced that the ride progressively deteriorates as motor weight is increased from the original 300 lb. number. You might want to reconsider the new DI 2 strokes . . fuel consumption is now very competitive with 4S, they idle great, no longer smoke or foul plugs, are easier to maintain, and the initial problems they all had seem to have now been solved.

Good luck with your project; I know the motor selection decision is a tough one as they are all pretty good!

[digreg]

I completed my 1978 20' Seafari project and installed a 175 e-tec and couldn't be more impressed. One mod I made was putting in a new 55 gallon fuel tank and pushing it forward as far as it would go (about 6"). The static and dynamic trim is absolutely perfect. Also, there is no weight penalty when going from the 150 to the 175 (or 200 for that matter). The boat cruises so easily i could have lived with a 25 gallon tank. In my opinion it is the perfect setup for that boat.
I don't even have any drainage problems with the stock deck height.

[doug7488]

Any pic's? What kind of performance #'s did you get?

[digreg]

I was in such a rush to get the boat in the water that I have no electronics. I will work on getting some numbers and some pictures. All I can say is that the conditions are rarely calm enough to run wide open.
This is the only picture I have right now.