18SF guys, anyone run a 25" motor?

[Snookerd]

just to be clear; you are saying that a 25" transom 18' hull with a motor that weighs more than 400 lbs will not self bail From the deck scuppers or engine well drains?

Potter and Tracker Era self bail from the deck slightly better, but over 400 lbs. or more will not self bail from the deck. With a 140 Suzuki the motor well drains ALLOW a bunch of water in the well. If you search this topic here on CSC, you will see the posts over the last 8 years.......... On our 87 18SF with the DF140 on a 25" transom, we have plugged the well drain holes permanantly and the deck drain holes with plugs.

[CaptMick]

Interesting. I will do that search before I upgrade to a suzuki df140. As of now I have done the measurements and I have a 25' motor and a transom to accommodate that motor. Yes I get water over the transom to the splash well but my deck drains work fine. my current motor is 407 lbs. Mercury 150 carb. 2000 or so.

[Snookerd]

Ball scuppers or flap scuppers over the drain holes help the drainage situation by keeping out water coming in......
CaptMick-That Merc 150 must be right at 400 lbs.. Plus, I noticed in your photo (great looking boat) that your front casting deck has been raised to be flush with the cap. That slightly extra weight in the front offsets some of the stern weight.

[2182]

i have a 1985 18 w/ a newer 150 johnson. i think it weighs 391# dry. i redid the splashwell when i got the boat. it self bails like a charm. dont get me wrong; ive backed down hard and taken some water in, but it drains right out. it sounds like it depends on the year your boat was built...

[2182]

also, i changed to flap style scuppers, no reason not too in my opinion. im not quite as nostalgic about my seacraft as many, just love the ride. i have customized a bunch of stuff w/o much regards to historical "correctness". i built a full height splashwell too, using a jigsaw to notch out the top so the motor can trim up for transport. w/ those two modifications, you can hang whatever you want on the transom and still bail, you just get a much better ride from the lighter motors.

[Keyscruz]

My 1978 Potter 18 has an enclosed transom, an aluminum bracket with 22" setback with a 36" wide floatation chamber. The etec 150 shaft lenght is 25" and wieghs about 430lbs. It will self bail at rest (very important when it rains). If I stand in the aft end some water comes in. Without the flotation chamber there would be 1 -2 inches of water on the floor.

[CaptMick]

Ball scuppers or flap scuppers over the drain holes help the drainage situation by keeping out water coming in......
CaptMick-That Merc 150 must be right at 400 lbs.. Plus, I noticed in your photo (great looking boat) that your front casting deck has been raised to be flush with the cap. That slightly extra weight in the front offsets some of the stern weight.

Right. I forgot about the extra weight from the bow deck. Thanks for the compliment on the boat. I will have a few more pics soon. I wish I could say I did the work but I cannot.

[Snookerd]

i have a 1985 18 w/ a newer 150 johnson. i think it weighs 391# dry. i redid the splashwell when i got the boat. it self bails like a charm. dont get me wrong; ive backed down hard and taken some water in, but it drains right out. it sounds like it depends on the year your boat was built...

That 150 set-up is strong. We had an ocean runner 150 that was very fast on the 87 18SF. Just did self-bail from the deck at rest without anyone in the stern, and the engine well drain holes were fine. I will check how close the engine well drains are with the 140 Suzuki. They were filled because the water line was right up to them on the 1987 18SF.

I had a chance to see KeysCruz's 18 with the Etec and bracket last year at our Keys Gathering. Great boat!

[CaptSeaCraft]

Just a quick note.I have a 90hp Johnson V4 with a 20" shaft and the weight is just over 320lbs and my 79' 18'SF deck drains do not work very well until we are under way.I too plug them while we are fishing but no matter what it seams that lots of water still gets in the bilge.I have never thought it to be a big deal but from what I think I am reading it seems that water in the Bilge is not good.I do trailer the boat so it gets drained each use and I leave the plug out and freshwater wash everything down yet I do notice it stays damp in the bilge for days sometimes.sounds like I might be venting the bilge soon.Good luck with the 25" shaft,I would like to goto that lenghth down the road and will be following the forum to see how it performs.

[MakoMike19]

I'm thinking one of the v-4 etec's are calling my name, 115 or 130. But thats down the road a ways