Seafari 25 Conversion Thoughts on Power?

[FishStretcher]

I am just learning about my hull. But I do have pics of the inside of the hull.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...5&postcount=82

I didn't have a tank deck. Like the others, I would be concerned with LCG. Some ballast forward and low would be a good idea, I think.

I am leery of an I/O, also. This is my first. I am curious to see how you do with a single big O/B.

[GameOnSalmon]

Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin

On craigslist there is a 25 with a 225 etec and a notched transom. IMO a 250 EFI would be plenty of power. If my 25 wasn't so clean . . . I'd do the same and free up cockpit space. I got to ride in strick's 25 recently and it's very different from the 23.

Bigshrimpin - I tend to agree as a 250 2 banger is putting down some heavy torque and massive power... Looking at evinrude site the #'s on other boats via weight all showing Top speed at WOT between 44 and 49mph all the boats between 3300 and 4000 lbs dry weight no engines which is right in line with the Seafari...

I am kicking around a ton of ideas and am 90% convinced that the 250 EFI is the way to go... For now I can pick up a Super nice 25" Merc 250 for around $5000 Looking like I am the 25' Seafari Guinea Pig.

Robert

Originally Posted by kmoose

I like the idea of the notched transom with a 30 inch df 300. The balance would be preserved and motor would be low enough to make it to the right depth. I have the same set up on my Tsunami with a df 250 on a small adjustable 10" bracket that would works well too. A big single just off the back wouldn't be any more than the pair of cast iron engine and drives that were in it.

I checked ebay and there are no 300s right now but I have seen some great deals on there with reasonably low hours and controls included for around $13k or less. The df 300 has forged everything and is a rock solid motor you can run on the cheapest pump gas with no issue. I also agree you could do it with the 250 as well and save $3k but for the price difference and fly by wire I would go big if you could squeeze it in your budget.

Moose - If i Ran a 30" Foot with a Notch on it the Notch would still be 23" deep not far off the deck at all... But I tend to agree that a Jackplate mount would be a great way to go... I like the idea of the Powertran which is a 7" vertical travel electric jackplate, they use them all the time around here with Aluminum outboard boats, so the guys can switch between a Jet foot and Prop, they work pretty dam awesome...

My budget wont allow that kind of dough for Power right now... I am setting a cap limit of $5500 for Repower... and Probably better since there is not a lot of data on this set up...

Thanks for the Input...
Robert

Originally Posted by FishStretcher

I am just learning about my hull. But I do have pics of the inside of the hull.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...5&postcount=82

I didn't have a tank deck. Like the others, I would be concerned with LCG. Some ballast forward and low would be a good idea, I think.

I am leery of an I/O, also. This is my first. I am curious to see how you do with a single big O/B.

Fishstretcher,
We are in the same boat...LOL There is no way on this planet I will run an I/O under any circumstances...and no way I would run one offshore 40 or 50 miles and only one Power Plant...

On Your boat... I would run the Bracket in a Second...

Robert

[Islandtrader]

Originally Posted by GameOnSalmon

Fishstretcher,
We are in the same boat...LOL There is no way on this planet I will run an I/O under any circumstances...and no way I would run one offshore 40 or 50 miles and only one Power Plant...



Robert

I know people think this way all the time...but folks cruise across the ocean on a single engine. Hell I cruised from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Of Mexico on one engine. And yes at times I was way off shore.

[DonV]

My two cents........if you get the EFI you will love it UNTIL you go the the gas pump, ask me how I know! Then in a year or two you will say "I want to re-power with new technology" to cut my gas bills. In the end, do it right the first time! Then you won't have to go through the justification process over and over......I know, I do it every time I go out!

[GameOnSalmon]

Originally Posted by Islandtrader

I know people think this way all the time...but folks cruise across the ocean on a single engine. Hell I cruised from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Of Mexico on one engine. And yes at times I was way off shore.

Islandtrader - My Bad i should have elaborated more... and I just realized as i was typing this, in the Northwest here you tons of single engine Boats... But here we all run kicker motors 8hp to 15hp 4 strokes depending on the size of boat. From Previous experience i have just come to loath the I/O personal preference only. Agree that the newer technology Single Engine plus Seatow is all a guy needs, Then toss in a Great Kicker motor and ur set. My boat will only see 20 to 40 miles offshore about 6 to 10 days a year for Tuna... Outside of that, I can get it too the ramp most times without to much effort.

Thanks for the Clarification of my post..
Robert

Originally Posted by DonV

My two cents........if you get the EFI you will love it UNTIL you go the the gas pump, ask me how I know! Then in a year or two you will say "I want to re-power with new technology" to cut my gas bills. In the end, do it right the first time! Then you won't have to go through the justification process over and over......I know, I do it every time I go out!

Donv - It's not so much as what I exactly want, My Ideal engine would be the Etec 250 H.O. used or not, but even then still looking at $10,000 plus.

The Merc EFI 250 or a Yami 250 ox66 is gonna be a huge upgrade over the 92 Johnson 200 Looper I have been running for fuel economy. That looper on its best day got about 1 mpg if it was running good.

I am already dumping serious money into this boat... I can live this year with a 250 EFI and the Pumps vs digging up another $5,000 for newer Technology. It will beat the hell out of owning a boat that sits here for a year getting a Make Over ... I wanna Fish and Hunt out of this Machine.

Thanks for the Reply though.

Robert

[Bigshrimpin]

That west coast seashore is way way more unforgiving than the east coast. Gotta have the kicker. 4 stroke kicker / trolling motors save a lot of fuel.

[GameOnSalmon]

Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin

That west coast seashore is way way more unforgiving than the east coast. Gotta have the kicker. 4 stroke kicker / trolling motors save a lot of fuel.

Bigshrimpin... Love that shot of the Oregon Coast there and yes I could not agree more... Lots of debate between one Big Engine vs Twins... Out here you seen a Lot of 225 and 250 Yamaha Engines the coastal crowd loves the 4 strokes.... On ocassion you see the big 2 bangers like the ox66 and the merc efi and the Etec 250 h.o.

Every last one of them will have a 8hp Yamaha High Thrust kicker or a 15 Hp Yamaha kicker with Extra Long shaft on them... The dreaded day you gotta come in from 15 miles out on the kicker sucks... but I am really leaning towards a 15 HP Yamaha Xtra Long High Thrust and a single 250 EFI or OX66 motor for now. I can get that done together for under 6,000 total...

Toss in a porta bracket and this should work... Huge difference between 17" of setback and 30" fixed bracket...

Unless someone chimes in with a great reason to forgo this I am going to end up being the Seafari 25' Pig Tester I guess....

Just so tough when there is no data on this boat to speak of outside of the I/O situation...

Appreciate the feedback my friend... Do you have any other Ideas?

Robert