18SF guys, anyone run a 25" motor?

Snookerd · #1 04-25-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

just to be clear; you are saying that a 25" transom 18' hull with a motor that weighs more than 400 lbs will not self bail From the deck scuppers or engine well drains?

Potter and Tracker Era self bail from the deck slightly better, but over 400 lbs. or more will not self bail from the deck. With a 140 Suzuki the motor well drains ALLOW a bunch of water in the well. If you search this topic here on CSC, you will see the posts over the last 8 years.......... On our 87 18SF with the DF140 on a 25" transom, we have plugged the well drain holes permanantly and the deck drain holes with plugs.

CaptMick · #2 04-25-2010, 08:43 PM

Interesting. I will do that search before I upgrade to a suzuki df140. As of now I have done the measurements and I have a 25' motor and a transom to accommodate that motor. Yes I get water over the transom to the splash well but my deck drains work fine. my current motor is 407 lbs. Mercury 150 carb. 2000 or so.

Snookerd · #3 04-26-2010, 09:06 AM

Ball scuppers or flap scuppers over the drain holes help the drainage situation by keeping out water coming in......
CaptMick-That Merc 150 must be right at 400 lbs.. Plus, I noticed in your photo (great looking boat) that your front casting deck has been raised to be flush with the cap. That slightly extra weight in the front offsets some of the stern weight.

CaptMick · #4 04-26-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Ball scuppers or flap scuppers over the drain holes help the drainage situation by keeping out water coming in......
CaptMick-That Merc 150 must be right at 400 lbs.. Plus, I noticed in your photo (great looking boat) that your front casting deck has been raised to be flush with the cap. That slightly extra weight in the front offsets some of the stern weight.

Right. I forgot about the extra weight from the bow deck. Thanks for the compliment on the boat. I will have a few more pics soon. I wish I could say I did the work but I cannot.

CaptSeaCraft · #5 04-27-2010, 01:32 AM

Just a quick note.I have a 90hp Johnson V4 with a 20" shaft and the weight is just over 320lbs and my 79' 18'SF deck drains do not work very well until we are under way.I too plug them while we are fishing but no matter what it seams that lots of water still gets in the bilge.I have never thought it to be a big deal but from what I think I am reading it seems that water in the Bilge is not good.I do trailer the boat so it gets drained each use and I leave the plug out and freshwater wash everything down yet I do notice it stays damp in the bilge for days sometimes.sounds like I might be venting the bilge soon.Good luck with the 25" shaft,I would like to goto that lenghth down the road and will be following the forum to see how it performs.

MakoMike19 · #6 04-27-2010, 06:08 PM

I'm thinking one of the v-4 etec's are calling my name, 115 or 130. But thats down the road a ways

rickg · #7 04-27-2010, 06:39 PM

I also have a 78 18sf that i just restored last april the original transom failed long ago had a make shift 25 added to the boat.I have a 1990 150 merc that weighs 404lbs deck did not self bail,now with the new floor raised 2 inches and transom done correctly i have no problem with self bailing,but do get water on deck in 2-4 seas anchored.

Bigshrimpin · #8 05-04-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

I also have a 78 18sf that i just restored last april the original transom failed long ago had a make shift 25 added to the boat.I have a 1990 150 merc that weighs 404lbs deck did not self bail,now with the new floor raised 2 inches and transom done correctly i have no problem with self bailing,but do get water on deck in 2-4 seas anchored.

I'm running the same setup on a 76 SF18 with two 1/2 thick aluminum plates raising the transom to 25" (2.0L Merc 150). The deck self bails with one person unless the baitwell is full. I made a quick 8" splashwell gate with PVC "Tuf Board" which helps contain the water.

McGillicuddy · #9 05-30-2010, 02:58 AM

The water in the bilge is like leaking through the scuppers. I'm not sure if the 18 has thru-hull scuppers, but if so its a common problem and an easy fix.

What happens is the the scupper tubes separate from the glass-wrapped wood block that encases them and incoming water begins to rot through the wood block and trickles along the stringer falling into the bilge.

Any number of ways to fix it, but do a search for scupper repair over 3 years or so and you'll find a bunch of insight from many who've shared the experience.

Good Luck!