Eating my words :) 1972 25 Seafari Project

[cdavisdb]

If its a two barrel, pretty minimal power. You would need to prop it for 20 knots cruise, maybe less. With a 4 barrel its closer to reasonable, but no speed demon. One good thing, torque is more important that HP, and I think, at cruising rpm, a 350 is a 350.

The boat is very sensitive to adding weight. Load it heavy, vacuum at cruise goes way down and I don't think the 2 barrel will work. For sure, get a vacuum gauge, or you are likely to eat the engine up.

My 350 is about 285 hp, with a duoprop and is near perfect for the boat if not loaded heavy. If I was going to load it down all the time, I'd need to reprop or go to a bigger engine.

[seafari25]

Congrats, Tim, on a great find, at a great price!

Connor is right. If you can get about 18-20kt cruise, I think you will be happy with that. Being at the low end of power options for the boat, I plane at about 15-16kts and top out at 27-28kts. I find that operating the boat above 20kts is more work and tend to keep it around 17-18, so as said above, I think you will be satisfied if you can get similar performance as ours. Ours is a 327 chev with a II drive. Honestly, I don't actually know the HP. I had always been told 288 or 290, however, that is what Connor is pushing and his is much faster. If ours is, in fact 290HP, than I assume our stern drive is geared differently. Nevertheless, I have always been happy with the performance.

Looking forward to your progress. When I first became a member, there was virtually no info on 25's. Now, thanks to guys like Dave, Connor and Strick, there is tons on here. I assume your thread will become one of my fav's as well.

Brandon

[Bigshrimpin]

Originally Posted by cdavisdb

If its a two barrel, pretty minimal power. You would need to prop it for 20 knots cruise, maybe less. With a 4 barrel its closer to reasonable, but no speed demon. One good thing, torque is more important that HP, and I think, at cruising rpm, a 350 is a 350.

The boat is very sensitive to adding weight. Load it heavy, vacuum at cruise goes way down and I don't think the 2 barrel will work. For sure, get a vacuum gauge, or you are likely to eat the engine up.

My 350 is about 285 hp, with a duoprop and is near perfect for the boat if not loaded heavy. If I was going to load it down all the time, I'd need to reprop or go to a bigger engine.

It's a 4 barrel Holly carb. 99% sure a TRS gimbal based on pics. There appears to be some sort of electric shifter mechanism . . . big clunky thing that mounts at an angle.

Looks just like this one STERN DRIVE MC II-TR

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-Mercrui...item19d6e64615