Looks like I'm joining the Seacraft family...

[DonV]

This is where math does not work, you know zero times anything still equals zero.....zero for the boat times money put in the boat does not equal zero

[FLexpat]

Nice Score – now you have some decisions to make…
It looks like you are opening two long running discussions; single vs. twins and I/O vs. OB. More opinions on both than you can believe.
You probably know all this but I will throw it out anyways:
The twin I/O motor box was designed around the 165HP/250cid I-6 motors. It is about 6-8” wider than the single V8 (small block) motor box. Twin I4 470s (170HP) or 490s (190HP) would be nice but are harder to find and some of them had ‘issues’. There is enough room there to put a BBC in but you probably don’t have the width to run twin V-6s or V-4s unless you stagger the motors – it may be worth checking though. If you go to a single I/O you can make the box narrower to get more room on the deck. Blue Heron did a really nice job with making the box narrower on his 25 – look at his rebuild thread if you go that direction. Deck/box mods mean fiberglass work and quickly lead to the concept of going to a bracket. Those Alpha gimbals are probably worth a few hundred bucks if you are pulling and selling them. EBay usually has several on it for comparisons. The 23 works well with a bracket unless you put too much weight back there; twin 600# 4S would probably make you unhappy. Twin 2S on a bracket is sweet nice and gives you a backup but two motors cost more than 1. A single big 4S is awesome.
Good Luck and have fun.

[Gypsyman]

I picked up the titles last night so we are one step closer to the Friday pickup and ride home.

The options I'm considering are to keep the twin 130 HP I/O's or go with a bracket and a single 4S OB. Leaning heavily towards the latter to gain rear deck space. I know that most people love the looks of a bracket but I'm having a hard time getting used to the way it changes the look of the boat.

Come on Friday! =)

[Fr. Frank]

Mercruiser 2.0L Diesel. 115/130/150/170 hp.
170 hp version is only 67 lbs more than the 3.0L gas motor. 130 hp version is only 36 lbs more. All are 4 inches wider, 2 inches less height, 1 inch longer. I dunno about mounts. Uses the alpha drive, and is available for repowering 3.0L gas motors.

MFG suggested cost is USD $24,972 for complete 130 hp/Alpha sterndrive power package.

The 170 hp 2.0L is currently only available in Australia at a advertised price of au$38,648.00, or about USD $28,450.

[Handful in NC]

I have nearly identical boats with one being a standard V8 I/O and the other an I/O converted to a Hermco bracket with a 250 Etec. Both have cabins. There are plenty of comments on the forum about weight distribution, but my experience is forward weight is not an issue.

Addressing I/O versus OB conversions: It's REALLY nice to get that I/O engine box out of the way - like making the boat 3-4 feet longer - and the gain in storage space under the deck and at the transom is significant if you do it right. Furthermore, a motor outside of the hull envelope is cleaner, quieter, and easier to service.

If you run in salt water and are not meticulous, make that fanatical, with the care of your I/O, you are going to have unavoidable corrosion issues, which can be expensive.

My I/O lives in fresh water, and it still requires significant and frequent maintenance. My salt water Etec has required exactly one scheduled servicing in 3 1/2 years, and other than keeping the head doused with anti-corrosion spray, I don't baby it. What an amazing piece of technology.

If this tells you anything... when my I/O needs major work, I get tired of messing with it, and/or I move the boat to salt water, that I/O is coming OUT and being replaced with a Hermco bracket with an outboard. Maybe even a 4 stroke!