Twins on a V20

[captwalt]

how would a pair of 100s or 115s work on this hull? had a friend years ago with a pair of 105 chryslers but don't rember how it worked. thanks Walt

[Skools Out]

been a few on here with twin Johnson 140's

[captwalt]

seem's like V4s would be too wide. but boy would it haul ###.can't make up my mind.use my twin 115 mercs or buy a new 4stroke suzuki.

[nipper]

I'd give the twin 115's a try and see how they work out! Bet you are right that it would haul a$$.

[Skools Out]

twins are way to heavy on these boat's stick to one motor the last several with twins were slugs and super stern heavy. twins 140's don't truely mean 280 hp closer to 180 to 210 hp in a super heavy package. your twin 115's would be close to 140 to 160 hp, but you twin V4's would weigh 1000 to 1200 lbs plus 8 carbs to feed vers a single V6 150 to 225 would weight in around 65o lbs and only 6 carbs to feed. twins don't add evenly when rated together, you would be better off fuel mileage and weight wise go this a 175 or 200 even a 225 would way out perform the twin 115's or a set of 140's.

[captwalt]

I think santas sleigh is going to make a trip to Ed's marine after the first of the year.I belive a new 250 4stroke Suzuki is in my future. I don't have the plate on mine. I hope it's rated for it. if not I guess a 200 will do.LOL

[captwalt]

Getting a bit off subject but. Skools Out how did you like that Manatee you restored? A friend just bought one that needs work and has never been out in it.was wondering how it rode? Thanks Walt

[Parrot6909]

I would highly recommend checking the weight on the 4 strokes before buying one. A comparable 2 stroke usually weighs significantly less. My V21 with a 150 honda on the back is stern heavy.

[captwalt]

I checked and the 250 weighs in at 580 lbs. the 140 @ 421lbs. don't know how much the 2 strokes weigh. seems like thats about 100lbs more then my old 200 merc. as this is my first V20 what would you guys recommend? it has to be new and push the boat about 45 wot with a load.

[Parrot6909]

The easiest way that I have done research on motor weights is going to nada.com When you go in there under the consumer and the boat link there is an outboard section. Get the year of your V20, assuming a maximum 200hp in that year (or whatever your plate says) look up a 200 of that era from different manufacturers. Then take a look at your 4 stroke options. I believe ETEC's are lighter weight....might do better there. I love the Suzuki's though. They are great motors.

[randlemanboater]

I think santas sleigh is going to make a trip to Ed's marine after the first of the year.I belive a new 250 4stroke Suzuki is in my future. I don't have the plate on mine. I hope it's rated for it. if not I guess a 200 will do.LOL


Can't wait to see the holeshot video!!!!:beer:

[bradford]

The easiest way that I have done research on motor weights is going to nada.com When you go in there under the consumer and the boat link there is an outboard section. Get the year of your V20, assuming a maximum 200hp in that year (or whatever your plate says) look up a 200 of that era from different manufacturers. Then take a look at your 4 stroke options. I believe ETEC's are lighter weight....might do better there. I love the Suzuki's though. They are great motors.

Keep in mind that usually doesn't include the weight of the prop, on board oil tank, gear oil etc.

It all makes a difference if your scuppers are already at the waterline.

[spareparts]

175 would be the best set up for a V, 150 weighs the same, might as well get the extra 25 hp

[captwalt]

Thanks for all the replys so far. talked to my Daughter last night and here's what I have.it's a 1986 V20 former I/O with a bracket that is foam filled for more floation. shop that did the work said they used this type so I could use a 4stroke. it's in NJ all wraped up like a big Christmas present.I live in florida so ill have to tow it home soon and unwrap my new pride and joy. traded my 2 Mercs for an alum trailer today. it's a 2009 tandem axle float on. now just have to pick a motor. what would be the max hp on a set up like this? my plate is broken off and it had a I/O before. Thanks for all the help so far. Thanks again Walt

[Steplift 72']

A neighbor had a 75 model with a pair of 85 Yamaha's and it ran well. An old fishing buddy had a 74 model with a pair of 70 Evinrudes and it topped out at less than 35 mph, wouldn't come close to planing on one. My old 72' model was rated for twin 115's but never saw one with over 200 hp. The old Yamaha 3 cylinder two strokes would be a good choice for twins, light and fairly fast.

[randlemanboater]

It all depends on how fast you want to go.....mine has a Johnzuki 140 4 stroke and gets 40 mph loaded light.

I believe I have seen guys with 200 2 strokes say they can go 50 - 55 mph.

What is the bracket rated for?

[RidgeRunner]

I like bracketed boats, you will too captwalt. The potential problem is having a outboard hanging on the bracket with a lot of setback and causing the boat to be stern heavy. A modern 150 4-stroke weights in about the same as the older 2-stroke 250's. I like the power of the 250EFI on mine but at 500 lbs with 30" of setback it is not the most practical. The boat was much better balanced with the old 2.4 liter 200 at about 375 lbs. Speed is why I chose to mount the 250 on my center console and it still ain't fast enough. Twins would be sweet but the weight distribution would be all messed up on the bracket.
Just one more thought, filling any normally dry part of the boat with foam does not make the vessel any more bouyant under normal circumstances because you have not changed the displacement. In fact it will decrease the bouyancy by the weight of the foam. However, if you start to take on water, the foam will help by preventing water from filling the areas where the foam was installed and should prevent the boat from sinking to the bottom.(Floatation Foam) Kinda like a empty water bottle with the lid on is very bouyant. Take the lid off and you can make it sink to the bottom. Fill it with foam lid on or off and it will still float.
Get that thing down to FL and take the wraps off. We need boat porn, ie. lots of pictures.

[captwalt]

Thank's for the replys guys. I understand about the foam and agree it's great for floation when your sinking.but somehow whats in this bracket lifts the back of the boat way up. she had a 235 johnson and it still sat a bit high. im used to a 30ft gradywhite with twin 4strokes. it sat level even full of fuel. the bracket is custom made by a fab shop on LongIsland NY. it has a platform and enough room for twins. I dont know what it's rated for and cant see plate with shrink wrap and i guess alot of snow.LOL was going up this weekend but not in all this crap. added brakes to the other axle on the trailer over Christmas weekend.now i have a top of the line trailer,new electronics and no boat. but on the up side Santa brought me a new reclining chair for Christmas.LOL

[RidgeRunner]

Sweet. I got new funiture too, I figured Santa would know I was bad this year. I guess I can step it up a notch.
I don't know how your bracket is constructed. I asked Stainless Marine about how much floatation the single 30" setback added. It is just a big hollow space, kinda like a box. They said around 350 pounds when submerged. Hard to figure how much it is actually aiding in floatation at rest because it is not fully submerged. I am not against the idea of foam, it just wouldn't be a great idea for my bracket as it has an access cover that you have to remove to get to the mounting bolts for the bracket to boat as well as the lower motor mounting bolts.

[captwalt]

Just got a call back from the fab shop. bracket has a 30in back space,6ft swim platform made for single or twins foam filled that is encased in fiberglass(no rotting or water log problems) hp up to 600 for twins 300 single. he said not to put more then a 175 or 200 4stroke becouse of the weight being so far back it will cause your bow to raise real high in following seas and an overall crappy ride. he recomended a 2stroke. his advice is from a aquasport 20ft cuddy with same setup. guess he's moving to NC as rent is to high in NY. he said if i buy my motor from ed's on the way back he will hang it for me.

[Skools Out]

Getting a bit off subject but. Skools Out how did you like that Manatee you restored? A friend just bought one that needs work and has never been out in it.was wondering how it rode? Thanks Walt


the best riding boat ever owned and i have alot of boats and had alot.of all i had it's the one i wish i had kept.

[captwalt]

thanks for the info on the Manatee.it just got a new floor and transom over the holidays. it's his first boat and he can't wait to go out in it. I guess it's getting a new 115 Evinrude etech.

[Skools Out]

mine had a 140 evinrude on it just had 120 badging due to 135 HP rating

[THEFERMANATOR]

Sounds like you have a high flotation style bracket which simply means it is larger and displaces more water when your not on plane. Once you're on plane though, the bracket is out of the water and doing nothing to help you, and this is when the extra weight KILLS your performance. Think of it like a see saw, fat kid on one side skinny kid on the other. What happens? The fat kid will go down and the skinny kid goes sky high. Same thing with a boat. The stern is heavy and goes down, while your bow goes for the sky which results in you having to use alot of negative engine trim and trim tabs to keep it down to get on plane and go level which results in excess drag and a LOSS in performance. Unless your bracket is built into the hull and made structural into the hull to extend the whole boat hull, then the bracket will only amplify the see saw effect of a heavy engine hanging on the stern.

When the V-20 was designed, the biggest outbaords weighed in around 400 pounds or less as all you had was a 200HP flywheel rated outboard back then. And the 235 OMC became the XP(175HP) in 86 when OMC went to propshaft ratings across the board. The 235HP GULPED fuel like no tommorrow, weighed in around 375-385 pounds, and made decent power(around 235 at the flywheel), but it pales in comparison power and weight wise to even an 86 225HP OMC. And like mentioned before, 4 strokes normally have the weight rating on them as just the engine without oils, propeller, and some engine manufacturers were even stripping the alternators off when stating there weights to make them sound lighter. A good example was the first large VERADOS that came out. I believe MERCURY said they weighed in at 580 pounds, but actually weighed in at close to 700 when rigged on a boat. That is about what 2 of the 235's weigh.

If you want a new engine I would limit it to a 175 SUZUKI(the 140 is a better option as it is a bit lighter), the 150 HONDA, or the 150 YAMAHA. As for 2 strokes, I would consider a 175 ETEC(the 200 small block is a good choice, but it is more of a performance oriented engine), or a 150 OPTIMAX(there is a 175 2.5L, but it is a PRO XS performance built engine).

[captwalt]

A guy at work has a 21ft stamas with a 2009 suzuki 140 on it and is willing to sell it to me for $6000.00. it includes 6yr ext warranty.the boat was Way under powered he needs a 225hp.also will sell me a 15hp suzuki kicker for $1200.00 it to is a 2009 with 6yr warranty. so i guess the HP game has been decided. it's a zuki 140hp..

[THEFERMANATOR]

A guy at work has a 21ft stamas with a 2009 suzuki 140 on it and is willing to sell it to me for $6000.00. it includes 6yr ext warranty.the boat was Way under powered he needs a 225hp.also will sell me a 15hp suzuki kicker for $1200.00 it to is a 2009 with 6yr warranty. so i guess the HP game has been decided. it's a zuki 140hp..

I don't think you will be disapointed one bit unless you're a speed freak. The 140 is a fuel sipper as I believe RM said he gets close to 5 MPG with his on his V-20 loaded down with people. And these new 4 strokes are so efficient idling that many people aren't adding on kickers anymore unless you want the safety factor.

[Stinky_Hooker]

I seen one down my way with twin 75's and it was sweet. Not to heavy in the rear and moved great. Twice the prop in the water more than account for a few horses. He said it would run high 30's and fuel was pretty good. Id love to have a couple of 90hp 3 cylinder yammies on one.

[RidgeRunner]

Stink, I agree but those 90's still weight 275 lbs each. Is there enough flat transom for twins to be hung there or is a bracket the only way?

[Bruce]

twins are a huge safety factor, but remember weight isn't the only issue, twice to upkeep as well.

[Blue_Runner]

There was enough flat transom to mount twin 140 Johnsons on my old '73. Luckily no one ever tried to launch it like that (can you say instant SINK?). I bought the boat like this with intention of using one engine and selling the other. Ended up using one for a while, then sold both motors to Skools, had the transom redone, rebuilt the entire trailer and sold the boat/trailer with new transom & no engine to buy my V21.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/albums/album33/S2010007.sized.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/albums/album33/WellcraftV20_Overhead_2005.sized.jpg

[randlemanboater]

I love my Johnzuki 140 on my V20.

40 mph top speed, 5 mpg, quiet as a mouse, 8 years with no problems so far (knock on wood).

[Bruce]

I'd love to know how your getting 40 on a v20.. My zuke 140 only gets me to about 43 on the 180.. I sure miss the old Johnson 150 2 stroker, i've had that boat up to 58 when it was newer and low on fuel.

[spareparts]

Bruce, looks like you got bottom paint on that 180, thats worth quite a few mph, especially if its been recoated a time or two

[Bruce]

Well thats true, but damn i hate to think its that much drag.. at the resto, the bottom was sandblasted then epoxy coated, theres 1 coat of blue base coat, and then a coat of black.

[spareparts]

could be an issue of balance as well, the 20 may be better at offsetting the weight of a four stroke than the 18