Mako 254 keep, sell, swap power?

[thejeepguy87]

So last year I spent a small fortune to put a bracket and add a twin engine to the boat. At the same time I replaced the fuel tank, all the lines, new wiring throughout, and a new trailer.

Now after back and forth to the shop a bunch of times, and back and forth to the gas station, I am contemplating removing the bracket and twins and going with a single engine.

One time I was able to get the boat to plane with the single 225, but never again. They are heavy motors, and no reason to keep twin 225s on there if I cannot plane. I figured the cheaper option was to just buy a second matching motor instead of two smaller motors.

My thoughts of options are this.

1. Sell this boat and buy something different, maybe a 23 or 241.

2. Keep this boat and remove the bracket and twins and go with a single 300.

3. Remove the bracket, sell the twin, and go back to a single 225.

4. Suck it up and deal with what I have done.

We originally did the second engine and bracket for more offshore fishing trips and a crossing to the Bahamas for redundancy. I have taken two offshore fishing trips in the past year. The same number as I took previously with a single engine.

We also just bought a new sailboat and spend a lot of time and money on that, so not much money in the budget for 100 gallons of fuel for a fishing trip, or a vacation over to the Bahamas.

I am really toying with the idea of removing the bracket, twins, selling all that and getting a single 300. We do not tow long distances, but what little I tow is a huge strain on my Yukon XL as it is a 2004, and 200k miles on it. Second transmission has 26k miles on it.

I also got reported to codes compliance as the boat is not behind a fence at this time, and with the bracket and twins on the trailer it is 35' long. It is going to cost me $700 in materials in fencing to enclose it, and then I have to do the work. I have the boat stored at a friends now so it is fine, but that is not a permanent solution and it is a pain to get it out of his yard.

In the next two months I have every weekend busy, so the first chance I will get to use the boat again is after Memorial Day. That will be the first chance to do the fencing as well.

Should I sell, should I remove all that I have done, or should I just hold tight and then do the fence in June when it is 100 degrees out?

[snappergapper]

Man you are in a pickle. Real world....Why spend money on a motor you will use 2 times a year. Jump on a friends boat.Heck I fish over there about 20 times a year. I could squeeze you in.

If I had the boat I would ditch the two motors and add the single (250-300) but on the bracket. I like the space a full transom provides. You are chasing issues on those older motors. Does not give me the confidence feeling I would be looking for offshore.

The truth is you are not using the boat. Would you use it more without a sailboat? Can you fish during the week since weekends are booked? How much gas are you burning on a fishing trip. I fish 48 miles out of JP and fish several spots and burn 45 gals.

People are going to give you a lot of ways to spend your money. This is a tough call and only you can choose the right path. What do you think you can get for the boat as is? Prob not going to recoup your investment.

[Keven]

What 225 is on there? Either way it sounds too heavy for that boat. If you could sell the motors to fund a single 4 stroke 300 that sounds like the ticket to me.

[mickyb]

There's something very wrong with your setup. I can plane on 1 engine and top 28 knots. When I had the Optis I could do the same and they were 200hp. My boat was a fwc boat so its a little bit heavier.

[Sailor]

A single 225 will plane a 25 and run it, although it is less then ideal. I would sell both motors and get a 250 or 300 and enjoy the boat.

[thejeepguy87]

I am leaning towards a single 300 and enjoy the boat really.

The engines are just becoming a headache. I think I will use it when I can through the summer and then try to sell the whole package to someone restoring a 25. They could buy everything and I could start over, bracket, engines, wiring, binnacle, steering system, gauges, cables, and whatever else would go with it.

Maybe I should do that now since I am not using the boat.

Going to talk to my mechanic.

I planed out one time with the single 225. Not sure why it won't do it now, but I have tried it twice now with no success.

The boat came with a single 98 225 Optimax and I could run at 4400 RPM at 28 knots. Max speed was around 31 or 32. I added a 99 225 optimax.

I cannot fish during the week, and I am not getting rid of the sailboat. The sailing is my main hobby/sport, which is why the offshore or Bahamas trips don't happen.

I figure I have close to 25k into the boat. I know at most I will get for it is probably 18k out of it, maybe.

[1985Mako224]

Scott,

Do you happen to have any pictures of the boat? I also live in st pete and would love to take a look. You can text them to me at 941-seven one three-0879 (not sure if spelling it out does anything). Thanks!

Dustin

[73mako22]

If you changed the prop to a lower pitch you should get it to plane. You will lose a little top end and may have to back off to keep from overreving but wont be but a few mph.

[thejeepguy87]

quote:

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Originally posted by 73mako22


If you changed the prop to a lower pitch you should get it to plane. You will lose a little top end and may have to back off to keep from overreving but wont be but a few mph.

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Now that you say that it makes sense. That is why we got it to plane off before. Different props previously!

Thanks!