How to power a 22-2

[gwhitley]

Hey guys, I think the title says it all but let me elaborate a bit further. I'm hoping to embark soon on having a 22-2 rebuilt; Eugene over at Shipoke has been extraordinarily helpful and I'm excited to begin the process.

I'm debating power options and would like to know: for those of you who have rebuilt one, and especially if you have it hanging on a porta bracket, what kind of power did you go with? What do you think about the handling of the boat? What kind of performance numbers do you get, if you know?

Thanks in advance for the time and info!

Greg

[Capt Matt]

Welcome and good luck with your rebuild
You have a flatback 22 or a 22 semi V?
On my 69 flatback I run a 2011 175 pro XS Mercury opti on a porta bracket.
I wanted the lightest most powerful motor available.  Winter fishing in SW FL is all about how shallow you float and run if you want to be the first to the good spots on the low water. She will jump up on top in about a foot of water and run in much less than that,  The pro XS motor is only 431 pounds on the tried and tru 2.5 liter block. Once you move up to a 200hp opti you gain 130 pounds as it goes to a 3.0 liter block   The 175pro XS is roughly 205hp at the prop  

As you probably know flatbacks are not as fast top end as a semi V
3600rpm is 30mph @ 6gph perfect cruise speed
5800rpm 46mph  WOT
17P Mercury Revolution 4 blade SS prop
I had right at 50mph out of her with a 19P 3 blade marage prop but could not turn up over 5200rpm and did not have the handling and bow lift of the 4 blade.

Capt Matt

PS Don't forget to get the smartcraft gauges with your opti they are the bomb

[gwhitley]

Sorry, should have clarified: probably going with the semi V.

[GoneFission]

I like the 200 Opti on a 22-2.  The 3 liter engine (there's just no replacement for displacement) has great torque and will pull out of the hole better.  The 200 is heavier, 505 lb. versus 431 lb. for the 150 (the 175 is not sold anymore).  But the 2.5 liter 150 is a sweet engine and uses less gas than the 3.0.  You can wind those 2.5 blocks up to 6500 RPM and they are pretty bulletproof.  

I would see what kind of deal you can work out and go with the best deal.  Either the 150 or the 200 would be a nice setup on that boat.  

[Group W Bench]

Matt,

Did your XS come with the Sportmaster gearcase or the standard Merc lower unit?  Not that an Aquasport flatback is going to do the 80+ mph for which the Sportmasters were designed, but it's nice to have all those low water pickup passages when running the Porta Bracket.

[gran398]

When in Tampa early this summer...the 175 Suzi seemed to be the engine of choice, closed transom/ Porta-bracketed.

Only an observation, not a recommendation. That 200 Opti would be a stroker. Especially since you're from North Carolina. We tend to carry an extraneous amount of fried chicken when fishing. Refreshments too. Additional HP may be needed.

Looking forward to seeing what you guys settle upon

[Capt Matt]

My 175 pro xs has the regular lower unit/gear case. On the 225 and up they seem to run with the verado lower unit.
Capt Matt

[gwhitley]

Scott, I am factoring into my total weight 5-10 lbs of fried chicken. I am a big fan of its dual purposes, a delicious treat and the nice slick you can get going with all that grease!

I have a 175 Suzi on a 23 Carolina skiff now, I've been pleased with that motor. It weighs just a few lbs more than the Yamaha F150.   Definitely considering both of those. Eugene likes the 150 e-tec which I've heard/read good things about, so that's on the short list as well.

[GoneFission]

Scott, I am factoring into my total weight 5-10 lbs of fried chicken. I am a big fan of its dual purposes, a delicious treat and the nice slick you can get going with all that grease!

You also have to consider the beer factor.  Of course, like the chicken factor, the boat weighs less as the day goes on...     However, at the end of the day you have to think about the extra couple hundred pounds of fish you are hauling!      

The Zuke 175 is a nice motor and everyone I know who has one likes it.  A little heavy, but sweet...

I agree on the XS Merc if you are going to run a bracket and get skinny - the low water pickup is nice for that - keeps the motor from sucking air when you run it up.  A friend of mine toasted his 225 doing that - ran it up high and the water pump was pulling air - after a while the motor started losing speed (the overheat horn never sounded!).  When he stopped the motor locked up - overheated and siezed pistons.  Now he's running a 225XS with the low water pickup and has had no problems.

[Skoot]

When in Tampa early this summer...the 175 Suzi seemed to be the engine of choice, closed transom/ Porta-bracketed.:

You beat me to it Gran.  I was going to say the same thing. Alot of the 22-2's and the 23 Dorado's around Tampa bay are rigged with 175hp on Porta-Brackets. I think you'd be very happy with a 175-200hp. If you plan on adding a tower or T-top, 40gal Livewell, Fried Chicken etc, you could get away with a 175, but I would lean toward the 200hp.

Hell, Im running a 90hp on my 19-6 and with 3-4 people on board she hops right up on plane with a top speed of approx 32mph.  Thats one of the cool things about these boats, They dont require high horsepower to get on plane or maintain speed.

GoneFission has a good point about the low water pick up, but alot of the guys around here just install a water pressure gauge (which they state is mandatory with a porta-bracket or jackplate).

[Group W Bench]

The Etec 150 H.O. comes with a high speed nose and low water pickup. That's why I think it presents a good value for jack plate applications. The 300 hr service interval is nice also. To ensure no warranty issues in the future, I have an authorized dealer do scheduled maintenance on engines while under warranty. Including the 25 hr initial service, I spent almost $4k in regular service for the twin Yamahas on our Contender in the first 325 hrs. Though the Yamahas have been reliable, I now wish that I had purchased Etecs, as 4k buys a whole mess of synthetic 2 stroke oil at 100:1.

[Capt Matt]

Etech are the worst about not covering stuff under their warranty,  On the big boat I ran for two years with a 300 etech when the injectors got recalled they would only fix them one at a time as they broke instead of replacing them all in one shot. 10 injectors later at only 600hrs are they still putting bad ones in there? Lower unit went out too and since there was some paint missing off the lower unit like every other boat around here they would not cover it "you must have hit something". The digital gauges have never worked right and after running out of fuel with clients on board we finally went back to a old style fuel gauge. That motor is now up for sale with 2yrs of worthless warranty left. My buddy that owns it is simply done with trying to deal with warranty claims.
More than a month out of warranty mercury has still covered stuff on the past motors I have owned with out even a question.
I have only heard good stuff about suzuki' too but its sometimes tough to find someone to work on them.
Capt Matt

[Circle Hooked]

Matt just curious, how did the lower unit go out ? I don't hear that one often, without hitting something anyway.

[Group W Bench]

Matt,

Sorry to hear about the Etec issues. I have heard horror stories about Suziki warranty issues, but not Evinrude; quite the opposite actually. BRP typically has a great reputation for honoring warranty. I can contact the BRP rep, Tim Wilkinson, to see if he can be of assistance to your buddy. It may be a dealer issue. Do you know who is the dealer?

Many builders in our area have stopped rigging with Suzuki altogether due to warranty issues. Often times even if the warranty is covered, the part is not available for many months. This condition existed even prior to the tsunami in Japan.

[gran398]

Guys, just a slight de-rail: before Greg decides on a motor...he is still looking for a nice hull to work with.

I've been searching, and ask you all to keep a lookout as well. He has expressed a preference.

Since there seems to be a temporary shortage (ain't it funny that there were so many, until you need one) will suggest that we PM gwhitley as to our findings. Thanks.

Now back to engine recommendations.