Thoughts on Repower- Single to Twin Osprey 25

[Saltygator11]

New to the forum but a long time owner of a 175 AS and 250 Osprey. Currently on the 250 Osprey we have a 2002 Evinrude Bombardier(225hp) on a 2001 hull. After years of use it is likely we need to repower in the near future. After sifting through multiple threads I am questioning whether or not the transom with a stock single can hold the weight of twin engines(150 Suzuki's)? Any help/ thoughts/ideas would be greatly appreciated.


Attached is a photo of the transom with current engine.

[RickK]

Welcome Salty 

Here is a link to our '01 catalog and it shows twin 150s on the back of a 250 Osprey
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11752&title=01catpg10-250osp&cat=742

[Saltygator11]

Thanks Rick! I happen to have the same catalog back at home somewhere in one of the many boxes . I know it is rated for twins but want to ensure the transom of a single engine hulled boat is the same as a twin engine hull?

Also if anyone has done this with newer engines, what kind of fuel burn are you getting? On the Suzuki website the boat that is most comparable to the 25 Osprey is the Dusky with some decent looking numbers with twins. http://www.suzukimarine.com/Product%20Lines/Outboard%20Motors/Products/DF150/2012/~/media/Marine/BoatBuilders/TestResults/D/Dusky%20Marine%20Inc/Dusky%20256%20Open%20Twin%20DF150 

Thanks for any help! One of the pics my friend took as she was leaving the marina while I was cleaning her down.

[wingtime]

Your hull can easily handle the weight of twin 150s. I'd take a long hard look at the new Mercury 150 four stroke. We just hung one on a members 19-6. Super quiet and light for a four stroke. Got it for a great price too. I even mentioned that a pair of them would be a nice match for my 245.  Much better option than the Zuki if you ask me.

 There is only one problem though. Your hull has the transom cut out for a single engine. If you notice in your picture the transom dips down about 3" in the center.  The factory builds the hull with a transom that goes straight across. If the boat gets twin engines the transom stays that way. If it gets a single engine, they put a template on it and cut the notch down into the transom. This dip allows the factory to use a 25" shaft single engine and no dip allows the use of 25" twins. (Without the dip you'd need a 30" motor) So if you want twins you have to have your transom built back up to straight across. Not an easy or cheap task to be done right. If it were not for this issue I'd be repower in with twins instead of a single 250 Etec.

[Saltygator11]

Thanks for the suggestion, something to look into when it is to happen.  Interesting read on the second half of the past, I thought I had seen that from a post from years ago. Not sure if this is known but does anyone know the spacing typically used for twins when mounted?

If anyone has done this before or has any additional info it would be greatly appreciated!

[Capt. Bob]

Two approaches.

First is to fill in the cut out. Problem lies in making it structural if an engine mounting (or two) bolt goes through.

Second is to mount a bracket designed for twins. By design, the Euro transom is a molded bracket so I'm not sure it would look aesthetically pleasing.

IIRC the mounting distance between motor center lines is 27" or was it 26"?

Found this on the CW site.
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/twinEngineMounting.html

Good luck.

[Saltygator11]

  CaptBob. I am currently looking around for companies local to Jacksonville that install these jack plates as only 3 inches is needed from the previous post. I have seen there are already fab'd units offered by Bass Pro and Cabela's.  If anyone in Jacksonville(NE FL) knows of a company that does this it would be greatly appreciated!

Although this is something that is not planned to be done until next year I'm making sure I go into this will everything I need answered. All the help I have received is greatly appreciated and I hope it continues!!!

[wingtime]

Other members have done the transom fill in with good results.  I believe the inner top bolts will fall into the raised area.  I don't think manual jack plates or a bracket is the solution.  It would just look goofy and is added weight plus your pushing the weight aft.  All are not desirable.

[Levi]

You gotta ask yourself a couple questions I think:
Does your fishing style WARRANT twins?
It's cheaper to get a boat US / seatow membership than to cough up an extra 10 for twins and motors these days are SUPER RELIABLE so unless you're going out a hundred miles in questionable weather I don't personally seen the need.

Are you ready to pay double for your maintenance? Two oil changes two water pumps two belts to change all of this every 100 hours longer only if you dare.

Are you ready to give up fuel mileage and range? Twins burn more fuel they weigh more your scuppers might even be under water with the extra 300 pounds hanging out there.

ONE more thing CAN YOU mount twins??? Your transom looks pretty narrow and if I remember correctly the Suzukis need to be mounted on 28" centers which is a problem for boats that were originally designed for engines mounted on the traditional 26 inch centers. That two inches doesn't sound like much but it can be a game changer, so get out the tape measure float the boat with the extra weight on the transom and see if it will work.
If it was MY money I'd put a single 250 E-tec G2 on there and get KILLER fuel efficiency in a package that only weighs about 20 pounds more than your current motor, and save the extra $8k for fuel and maintenance that you won't REALLY need so maybe you can buy beer in bait with it instead???

[wingtime]

Bryan out in California raised his transom to install twin 150 Fichts. I can't seem to find the thread though.  I know he was getting 50 MPH out of it.

Levi makes a good point.  Like I said I'm hanging a 250 Etec on mine in the near future.  In fact I will have a 250 Etec with 104 hours on it for sale soon.  (I bought a pair of them)

 

[Saltygator11]

Thanks for the responses. Wingtime, I will have to look for the transom install done by Bryan but I feel as if I have searched this forum inside and out. Do have and will always have a Sea-Tow, problem is twins are warranted given the distance we travel to the ledge here in N. FL- 60 miles one way.

So from your response, Wingtime the jack plate will not work on the transom of the 25? In another thread I saw it was 2 inches cut out compared to 3in. Regardless seems this is a lot more than we expected and hoped for. Wish it was as easy as it seems.

[Capt. Bob]

Bryan out in California raised his transom to install twin 150 Fichts. I can't seem to find the thread though. 

Section on the transom fill in.

http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=11506.msg115301#msg115301

[Saltygator11]

Thank you! I wish the pics were still available, have heard from another forum member on another forum that a gill bracket could be used in place of a jack plate, etc.

Other than the spacing being an issue could you make the cut longer then hang the engines from there with the proper spacing? I know the main concern would be how low the stern were to sit in the water. Just going through all the motions and options. Everyone has been most helpful!!

[Saltygator11]

And it happened, a month before the trip to the Keys the 225 dies on us. Know we won't have the boat in time for the trip so now am back to the drawing board.  I appreciate all the suggestions thus far and have brought the boat to a fiberglass shop for an estimate on building up the transom. By doing this work will that allow us to hang 25 inch shafts on the back?


Know of someone who has twin 150's on the back of his 25 Mako but got 20 in shafts. Ideally would like to have the counter rotation in the engines. 

Thanks for all of the help guys!

[Aswaff400]

i personally prefer twins over a single. heres a photo album of the 250 osprey i tried to buy at my work, i'd fill the cut-out for the single. the starboard side should already have a recess in it for steering clearance http://s10.photobucket.com/user/recklesabandon727/library/250%20osprey?sort=2&page=3

if i had one that needed a repower, i'd probably put 175XS optimax's on it. they put out a little closer to 200hp each