New Purchase & Questions: 1972 20 CC

[mjc]

Greetings everyone,

I’ve lurked this site for YEARS as I grew up in South Florida in the original Seacraft, Bertram, Mako, Aquasport era and have always wanted a Seacraft.

Finally pulled the trigger: a 1972 SF 20 CC that has sat idle for the last 5-6 years.

My goal is to restore as near to original as possible.
The condition is not bad (all things considered) but the transom was wet and had rot so we’ve started on that project.

Repair is being done from the outside utilizing Coosa for the core and polyester/vinylester for the layup, and will raise height to 25.5” (+5”). (I will post photos when I figure out how).

My question concerns engine / weight. I would like to use a new generation engine but the weight (and distribution) concern me.

Here’s the plan for weight reduction and relocation:
1. Move battery and wooden box forward to console (-50lbs).
2. Replace marine ply with coosa (-39 lbs).
3. Close off stern live well to increase buoyancy: based on size and depth underwater at rest (-50lbs).

The original engine was a 125 hp Johnson PTT (264lbs) and a 9.5 hp Johnson kicker (60 lbs) which put 324 lbs on the transom). In 1989 the engine was replaced with a 140 hp Johnson V4 looper (340 lbs); don’t know whether the kicker came off but the bracket was still there.

So…………… do you think that I could do 400lbs engine weight without upsetting the distribution and / or buoyancy?

[RUSTYNTABATHA]

I am pricing a 90 hp ETec... search the forum and there are a couple posts on here about it .. I was looking at the 115 to 150 but it is 400 instead of 330... the performance should be close to my 83 115 mariner but burn 1/4 of the fuel and oil !!

[DonV]

Moving the transom to 25" is without a doubt a no brainer, it's been covered many times on this forum. Sounds like you are not going with a bracket so you plan with new power is right on. As Rusty said new technology beats the heck out of carbs, lots of oil, smoke etc.

To answer your last question, with the weight distribution improvements mentioned you should be good with a newer engine at 400#. Strictly a personal opinion, whatever brand you choose if a 115 is the same weight as a 140 go with the 140.

[Ryan]

The Mercury four stroke 150 is 455 lbs. and supposedly strong and efficient. I'd look at that if you are going new. Or the etec 150 is only 420. Both the Yammy and Suzuki are around 490, but quite a few guys are running em and I don't think they are too heavy with moving batteries forward.