bracket question

[dave law]

Well I am 90 % done with my overhaul on my 86 23. I put a 30" bracket and a 300 e tec on the boat along with a new deck and enclosed transom. The first test run the boat ran 46 mph and was bow heavy the sam way it was with a 250 merc on the back. I filled the bracket with water to see if weight would help and the boat ran superp. 53 mph with 55 gal. of fuel and 3 adults and gear. My question is have any of you run into this. The boat handles better in a sea and in the river with the added weight. I was shocked>

[Snookerd]

Were the stringers opened up to inspect for moisture when the deck was done? Is the motor height dialed in?

[CHANCE1234]

Bow heavy with a bracket and 300 etec??? That sounds very curious to me. How much is the setback on the bracket?

[Blackfin26]

What type of bracket with what amount of positive floatation? Did you move and/or change the size of the fuel tank? If it's a Hermco double wide with 800lbs of floatation and the etec weighs around 525lbs maybe it is "bow" heavy?

[jongolds]

I have a Hermco double wide with the 300 Etec on my Tsunami with a hardtop and my setup is slightly bow heavy too so your experience seems reasonable to me.

I have a windlass and 30ft of chain on the bow which doesn't help but future plans call for adding a transom bench which will add some stern weight that I hope will balance things out. If that doesn't resolve it, I will consider adjusting my chain. I don't find the ride suffers much though. I can correct for it with motor trim. It just bugs me when i clean the boat and the cockpit doesn't drain as fast as I like. I need to stand in the stern to make sure it drains completely. The cockpit drains rain water just fine when left on the mooring though.

[dave law]

I did check the stringers, they were good. I raised the deck 3/4" higher when I redid the deck. I have a single stainless bracket and the boat sits perfect in the water at the dock. Cruise speeds are great, the bow just seems to grab at top speeds. Im thinking its just the max speed for the hull design. The 300 etec is the perfect motor for this boat though. I put the livewell in the transome so I have lots of room in the bildge. Ill try to post pics soon.

[Bigshrimpin]

did you put in a new fuel tank? how big and how far forward did you put the tank? . . . somehow the balance is off on your boat. What was the transom angle of your bracket?

[joshmon71]

interesting. not bow heavy for me at all: Armstrong bracket on a 23. verado 250 with 25" shaft, close to 660 lbs in engine alone. guess that accounts for no issues with the bow heavy . 130 gallon tank ends under my front console seat and tank goes to under my leaning post so basically smack in middle of boat. my boat is tank like.I would prefer a hermco, and want it even larger made to the second panel even. for a 30" single. but that's for float at rest. and cant justify the cost to redo whats fine.

something is odd. someone put lead in the bow along the way? its got to be fuel tanks, or something heavy in the bow. take a pic of the bracket/engine out of water for mounting height looksee. how far is the prop from the hull bottom if you extend a straight edge and how much setback on the bracket from transom?

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by dave law

Well I am 90 % done with my overhaul on my 86 23. I put a 30" bracket and a 300 e tec on the boat along with a new deck and enclosed transom. The first test run the boat ran 46 mph and was bow heavy the sam way it was with a 250 merc on the back. I filled the bracket with water to see if weight would help and the boat ran superp. 53 mph with 55 gal. of fuel and 3 adults and gear. My question is have any of you run into this. The boat handles better in a sea and in the river with the added weight. I was shocked>

Dave,

You might want to check your hull back near the transom with a straightedge to make sure it doesn't have a hook in it! I looked at an 80's vintage Sceptre for Island Trader a few years ago that had a hook in the hull back near the transom, in the center panel, both sides, although the port side was worse than stbd side. That might make a boat act like it was bow heavy.

My understanding is that Potter told SeaCraft Industries that there was one bad mold that they should not use, but evidently they used it anyway. I've also heard that SeaCraft Industries used plywood cores in the decks instead of balsa core, and that would add a lot of weight up front, especially in a Sceptre. Those fiberglass boxes they mounted the seats on would also add some weight up front. Denny

[OilFieldMan]

I have the same problem with my 87. I think bushwacker is onto something with the molds. It has to be something with the vintage of the hulls.

It's fairly unmolested minus a new 93 gallon tank. Next season I plan on moving it aft about a foot. But I have to run with my 30 gallon baitwell full of water or she rides like a 80's station wagon with bald tires on an ice patch. Doesn't steer for crap, and wobbles all over the places. PLus bow down. This is a new to me boat this season and it was rather frustrating and made me want to sell. But with the water in the baitwell and tuning the trim in she rides nice.

Thanks bushwacker for those pictures I'm going to check it out.