Twin F115's on a 1995 245 explorer?

[StinkyStu]

I have my eye on a 1995 245 explorer w/o engines, and I have a pair of 2006 Yamaha F115's sitting on my old boat with a cracked transom.  Anyone know if these motors would push this boat, and what kind of numbers I would be looking at?  I am not looking to be a speed demon because I have an ageing father who has a hard time with the typical 3-4' chop in my area.  Fuel consumption is my main interest.  My old boat is a 1990 23' Bayliner Trophy that weighs 280 lbs less than the 245 explorer, and I was getting about 2.3 mpg at 20 mph cruise.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Stu

[gran398]

They will do a fine job for you.

A friend has a pair of 115 2 stroke yammies on a 250 CCP. He gets 40 mph WOT, 2.1 mpg @ 4200 rpm.

The 4 strokes will do better in terms of mpg.

All you need in terms of power, with the reliability/maneuverability of twins.

Nice ride!

[GoneFission]

A pair of F115s would be a great choice for a 245.  Not too little, not too much - just about right IMHO...

[wingtime]

Those should push it along OK  I have a single 225 two stroke on my 245 Explorer and I can cruise at 28-30 mph burning about 15 gph.  Wide open with a light load she will do 40 mph.  And thats with a hard top and bottom paint.  I don't think a single 115 will get you up on plane but it will get you back into port.  Also you could troll on one engine pretty good too.

[gran398]

Bruce, wonder what the dry hull weight of your hull is?

Reason I ask...if it is under 3200, a single MIGHT plane her....

[StinkyStu]

NADA says that the 1995 is 3400 lbs dry.  I could almost get my trophy on a plane with the trim tabs on one engine, and it was 3120 lbs dry.

[Capt. Bob]

95 Aqua catalog lists it at 3800# dry. Maybe that's with single outboard.
94 cat. lists @ 3400#

[wingtime]

Me thinks those dry weights are a tad low.  My 245 on the trailer weighs in at 6K.

[gran398]

Gotcha. Then a single 115 won't plane her.

She should get in the upper 30's though @WOT, and cruise @ 4200 around 28-29 mph.

Bruce, that sound about right?

[wingtime]

yeah Thats It Scott. I cruise at 4200 RPMs which gives me 28-20 mph depending on load seas etc.  WOT is 38-40mph.  I cruise based on my Flowscan gauge.  I try to keep it around 14-15 GPH

[Circle Hooked]

By those numbers i find it hard to believe our boats with cabins made out of wood only weight 200lb more then an Osprey.

[seabob4]

By those numbers i find it hard to believe our boats with cabins made out of wood only weight 200lb more then an Osprey.

Guaranty you that!  Between the glass and coring, the cabin berth, galley, windshield...WAY more than 200 lbs.!  An Osprey console weighed around 100, I would guess.  Maybe 125.  When I dropped it in the boat, it was easy to move around to center it, the last tweaks with just a good tap with my foot, side to side...

[Circle Hooked]

Heck I bet my windshield alone weighs more then 50lb with the glass

[seabob4]

Heck I bet my windshield alone weighs more then 50lb with the glass

Yep.  Now, although you don't have one, Scott, compare a t-top with a hardtop.  Big difference there...

But back to the 115s.  Way back in the 90s, Boating magazine, when it was still a magazine, did a boat test on a 225 Osprey with twin 115s.  Performance was...OK.  Damn I wish I could find that article.  But on a 245, later the 250?  She's actually closer to 26" in LOA.  I don't know.  Granted her standard motor IIRC was a 200, may have been a 225, but most opted for a 250 Yam or twin 150s...

What I'm saying is better to have more power than you need, than wish you had more power than you have.

[Circle Hooked]

But with the slanted windshield we have less drag when under way