23 cc twin vs single outboard

[Elite]

can anyone out there tell me if i would be better off putting twin etec 150s or a single etec 250 i have a 1986 seacraft 23

[Grneyedloki]

you ask 10 guys this and your going to get 15 different reasons why you should go one and another 15 why you should go with duels. I personally think these boats like a big single. If you decide to go with duels you will want a flotation bracket to handle the extra weight. For the safety issue i could see going with duels but you are going to pay for it in maintnence for two motor as opposed to one big single. Single and BoatUS of SeaTow. Again its your choice in the end. I personally went with a single 250 yamaha OX66. What are you going to be using the boat for mainly? Where are you located? How big is your budget? All important factors

[Elite]

im gonna be using it for fishing mainly, im in fort lauderdale and ive priced out both options the twins is a bit more but my biggest concern is the weight.

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Elite

can anyone out there tell me if i would be better off putting twin etec 150s or a single etec 250 i have a 1986 seacraft 23

These new motors are so reliable that I don't think you're actually reducing your odds of getting stranded very much by going with twins. Also, unless you have separate fuel tanks, a bad tank of gas will probably affect both engines.

One potential advantage of twins is less draft, if you rig them right. Carl Moesly, who invented the SeaCraft hull and had great success racing the old 21's with twin outboards in the 60's, said most guys with twins have them mounted way too close together! He said they should be mounted in the center of the center panel to get the cleanest water where the props will have the best bite, and you can also mount them higher on the transom at that location. Of course if you mount them on a bracket you can also mount them higher. The CG shift is significant with a bracket, although the 20 is a lot more sensitive in that regard than the 23. I suspect a lot of boats running brackets are so stern heavy that they won't plane at less than about 20 mph! 4 blade props will help a lot in that situation. I'd recommend one of Don Herman's brackets designed for twins, but mount a 30" shaft single on it.

If you're considering an E-Tec, check out the http://www.etecownersgroup.com/ web site. Great bunch of guys and knowledgeable techs there, much like CSC, that can answer virtually any question you might have on them.

[Elite]

Thank you bushwacker u been very helpful i actually have hermco building me a bracket right now.

[Blackfin26]

I'm in this same situation and will be repowering a scepter 23. Everything seems to point to a Hermco double wide with 30" setback and a big single. I think these hulls with a narrow 8' beam have a hard time floating twins and getting out of the hole. Now if they would build a 375 lbs 150-200hp engine things may be different!

[Elite]

yeah i think your right. Im gonna stick to the single the more i ask around i keep getting the same reply.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Blackfin26

Everything seems to point to a Hermco double wide

Oh, Sammm. Now serving number 23.

I would choose a big light single.

Cheers,
GFS

[Old'sCool]

I have a single Yam 250 2S with Hermco's twin big bracket. I will probably repower w/single 300 if-when this dies. I fish out of Chas. SC and it's ~ 50 mi. one way during spring trolling season. Sea Tow is ~ $165/yr. It would take a long time to recoup the cost of a twin IF that's the decision maker. The single handles very nicely on mine and it's a 40 mph boat the way mine's propped.

[junior11]

Reelescape, I just bought a 250 yamaha 30" shaft, I have a twin armstrong bracket. I am curious as to what you are seeing for performance and what prop you are using?