20' SeaCraft - better w/ or w/o a bracket ???

[Fr. Frank]

Ben, those numbers seem a bit low. I have a 20' Seafari, with a remanufactured Merc 150, probably putting out about 190-200 hp. I also have SlicKote bottom paint. With a new, stock lower unit, I can run about 42 mph on the GPS at WOT, loaded with 4 adults, full fuel, and the Bimini up. With the top down, just myself, and full fuel I can run about 47-48.

With my old lower unit, Bob's nose-cone w/ low water pick-up I could touch 53 mph under the right weather conditions: cold air, high humidity, 10-15 knot winds, light to moderate wind chop and running downwind. At 50+ mph, a Seafari positively dances across the chop like a ballerina It feels like it's almost airborne, just touching the tops of the waves; very light and nimble, like it could chine-walk, but simply has too much class and manners to behave in such an unseemly fashion.

It's truly exhilarating. Just one of the reasons I love the Seafari.