A 300 hp or twin 150's for my Osprey 24.5

[icemanbryan]

Last year, November, I purchased a very clean 1996 Aqua Sport Osprey 24.5
I have the original 1996 Yamaha 250 (saltwater series)
The boat is almost perfect (after a full rewire and electronics upgrade, new seats,
Life raft, rod holders, outriggers,
New hydraulic steering, etc, etc, etc.
(not bragging, just giving insight on what has been done)
The original outboard is in excellent condition with only 350 hours total.
I have just done a major service this past spring.
Full service, new 4 blade prop. Carbs rebuild all six, etc, motor runs like a Swiss watch.

Just a little worried because of the age, first question,should I be?
This is the oldest outboard I have owned.
I am considering a new outboard and would like to go up to a 300 hp.
(The max hp for the boat).

I am also considering adding a pair of 150 hp Outboards.
I like to go to an Island or down south, (by Mexico),
Would like to be able to get back on one outboard.
My question is this,
What would you guys recommend?
I like the idea of a pair of 150's.
I really like the new Yamaha 300 hp.
What are the pros and cons of the weight?
I would assume that the twins would weight more?


Thanks in advance for any input

Bryan

[seabob4]

Bryan,
Here's my opinion on the 245/250 Osprey.  She's a good solid low to mid-fifties boat (depending on load/gear) with twin 150s.  She would even be better with 200s, but the additional weight of the bigger blocks on 200s may cause an issue with the transom.  Sure, a single 300, be it Yam, Etec, even a Vrod will be faster, use less fuel, create less hydrodynamic drag.  But it craps out, and there go your ideas of getting home on one motor.  Your best bet is the 4S Yam 150s, saves you on rigging for 1 motor, they're inline 4s, so less weight than the 6's.  

I always tried to get Todd Biddeson to add a twin 200 option to the boat, guess it was a transom issue...

[icemanbryan]

Thansk Bob, I appreciate it.
I do like the idea of twin 150's.
I do like the twin 200 idea even better.
With the Insurance problem last year, and If you remember it was a big problem,( however, in the end
they did the right thing).
I will not go over the 300 hp limit.
(I could see the transom damage and the insurance saying sorry, overpowered, insurance void).

Come October, I think I will upgrade to a pair of 150's!
I really dont care about being the fastest I can be.
I do like the idea of reliability out there.
Like my friend who races cars says there is always someone faster.

[seabob4]

Bryan,
Yeah, I remember ALL too well!  Glad they finally listened to you, me, whomever!

You'll be happy with the 150s.  Maybe not so much with the fuel consumption (go easy, it's fun to open them up in the right conditions!), but the hull can definetly take the speed, no problem.  We would hit 54MPH on the GPS with a tower, full fishing load, ice, gear, and damn near a full tank of gas, 150 Fichts.

I will have one someday...WITH TWIN 200 Etecs!

[gran398]

You'll really enjoy those twins at the dock, too. Once you get used to the way they handle...you'll be tickled pink.

[Aswaff400]

Last year, November, I purchased a very clean 1996 Aqua Sport Osprey 24.5
I have the original 1996 Yamaha 250 (saltwater series)


Just a little worried because of the age, first question,should I be?
This is the oldest outboard I have owned.
I am considering a new outboard and would like to go up to a 300 hp.
(The max hp for the boat).

I am also considering adding a pair of 150 hp Outboards.
I like to go to an Island or down south, (by Mexico),
Would like to be able to get back on one outboard.
My question is this,
What would you guys recommend?
I like the idea of a pair of 150's.
I really like the new Yamaha 300 hp.
What are the pros and cons of the weight?
I would assume that the twins would weight more?


Thanks in advance for any input

Bryan

no, you shouldn't be worried, unless you let her sit alot, that goes with any motor. one of my customers had a 1997 250 efi yammi on a 26 ft century CC, he got tad over 1500 hrs on her before he re-powered with a 250 4S... if you take care of the motor, run her often, keep good fuel in her she'll run damn-near forever...

im a fan of twins, rule number one: dont touch the steering wheel when docking, ive uttered that line many of times... too many...

ill run my mosquito fogger till she dies, then a optimax is goin on her

[GoneFission]

My vote would also be for twins.  Same reasons as others, but one more - you may find twin 150s are actually less money than the 300 or 350.  I don't quite understand why, but big outboards are really expensive as HP goes up.  Check prices and I bet you will be surprised.  

One more advantage of twins - you can troll on one engine, going slow, and reduce your fuel consumption as well.

[icemanbryan]

Yeah, I see that, dont get it myself.
Maybe ther is more expense in the bigger ones?

[pete]

if you can do it,twins,nice to have a backup,however twice the upkeep