1967 starcraft 14 ft Seafarer repower.

[saltyphish]

As the title suggests I am looking to repower my 67 14 ft seafarer mod v this year. I know the boat can handle up to 30hp from manufacturers specs. I'm currently looking at a new yamaha 4 stroke 25 hp tiller. The motor weights around 126 lbs. Anyone see something wrong with this choice? Boat is 14 ft, 63 in beam, 54 in transom width, 16 in transom height, weighs 215lbs with a weight capacity of 850lb. Thanks!

 

[FuzzyGrub]

Welcome to Tin Boats! I think that is the third time I've said that today. That's good for the forum!

That should be enough power for that boat for most uses. For heavy loading times, might need a lower pitch prop. If speed is your primary goal, than a 30HP is going to be the better option.

What motor were you running and how did it perform?

 

[saltyphish]

Welcome to Tin Boats! I think that is the third time I've said that today. That's good for the forum!

That should be enough power for that boat for most uses. For heavy loading times, might need a lower pitch prop. If speed is your primary goal, than a 30HP is going to be the better option.

What motor were you running and how did it perform?

Thanks! Speed really isn't my primary goal. This is just a fishing boat I'm building for my boy and I to fish out of. I had a 65 evinrude 9.5 that seemed underpowered for my boat. Main purpose for upgrade is reliability, and more capability in stronger current. I wanted at least a 20 hp but noticed yamahas 20 hp and 25 hp weighed the same so thinking 25 hp. My main concern was weight on the transom. New motor is only 126 lbs.

 

[Stand Up]

The 25 hp motor will work for sure. You won't be disappointed.

 

[saltyphish]

The 25 hp motor will work for sure. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the response.

 

[FuzzyGrub]

Thanks! Speed really isn't my primary goal. This is just a fishing boat I'm building for my boy and I to fish out of. I had a 65 evinrude 9.5 that seemed underpowered for my boat. Main purpose for upgrade is reliability, and more capability in stronger current. I wanted at least a 20 hp but noticed yamahas 20 hp and 25 hp weighed the same so thinking 25 hp. My main concern was weight on the transom. New motor is only 126 lbs.

It should work well for your planned uses.

 

[saltyphish]

It should work well for your planned uses.

Thanks again for responding

 

[Crazyboat]

25 is fine enough. You can always drop the pitch for more get up and go hole shot being you aren't interested in WOT much.

 

[outboard]

I had a 1970 Seafarer, (the older version with the wood bench seat tops).
I also had a 25hp Yamaha four stroke, a 2011 model, that was on my 16ft boat.
I had gotten the motor for free when a buddy passed away and tried it on the '70 Seafarer. It was doable but likely not safe, the added weight and power combination was a bit much for that hull. They were narrower and drew more water in the stern then the newer models. I think mine was rated for 20 or 25hp but in those days it would have been a much lighter two stroke. I ended up running a 1975 20hp Johnson Two stroke on the 14ft Seafarer. It was a good balance of power and weight.
I was around 240 lbs back when I had that boat and my weight on the rear bench, the 25hp four stroke, with the fuel tank and battery mounted midship, it sat with only a bit over an inch of freeboard at the transom. It was a bit better with a big passenger up front but if that big passenger wasn't aware of the issue at hand, him moving rearward would have sunk that boat. More than once the day I had the 25hp Yamaha on it I got water over the transom just letting off the throttle.
My 25hp, a 2011 model, weighs in at 147 lbs on a scale, rope start, no tilt or trim. I've been looking for a good short transom 16ft boat or aluminum bass boat to put it on.

 

[thill]

A 25 should push your 14 footer well, as long as you have it propped right, especially with the 4-strokes, which tend to not have as good of a holeshot as a 2-stroke.

If you can find a 1990's or early 2000's two-stroke motor, you may like how it performs better. They are very reliable and long-lived, but do take more tinkering than the newer, fuel-injected motors.

Either way, I hope you get one that serves you and your son well.

 

[saltyphish]

A 25 should push your 14 footer well, as long as you have it propped right, especially with the 4-strokes, which tend to not have as good of a holeshot as a 2-stroke.

If you can find a 1990's or early 2000's two-stroke motor, you may like how it performs better. They are very reliable and long-lived, but do take more tinkering than the newer, fuel-injected motors.

Either way, I hope you get one that serves you and your son well.

I believe I did. Pulled the trigger on a new 4 cycle, electric start 25hp! Thanks for the response

 

[influx99]

Thanks! Speed really isn't my primary goal. This is just a fishing boat I'm building for my boy and I to fish out of. I had a 65 evinrude 9.5 that seemed underpowered for my boat. Main purpose for upgrade is reliability, and more capability in stronger current. I wanted at least a 20 hp but noticed yamahas 20 hp and 25 hp weighed the same so thinking 25 hp. My main concern was weight on the transom. New motor is only 126 lbs.

I have a 14' 63 seafarer with a 1988 2 stroke 25HP merc and the boat flies. GPS has me up around 28MPH with 1 person on board and that's with a big 3/4" plywood front deck, size 31 AGM TM battery near the bow and a Terrova TM, so there's some weight in the boat. Curious if your Seafarer has 3 transom supports at the back like mine does? I could have sworn I found an original spec sheet on my boat and it said it was rated for 5-40HP! 40 would be bananas. I wouldn't do more than 25.

 

[saltyphish]

I have a 14' 63 seafarer with a 1988 2 stroke 25HP merc and the boat flies. GPS has me up around 28MPH with 1 person on board and that's with a big 3/4" plywood front deck, size 31 AGM TM battery near the bow and a Terrova TM, so there's some weight in the boat. Curious if your Seafarer has 3 transom supports at the back like mine does? I could have sworn I found an original spec sheet on my boat and it said it was rated for 5-40HP! 40 would be bananas. I wouldn't do more than 25.

Yes sir, it has the 3 transom supports. Definitely a beefy transom. I found the manufacturer sales brochure for my model and it states 35hp. I'm sure 25hp will do me just fine!

 

[seahorse]

I had a '67 14ft Seafarer for years, it came with the original 1967 Evinrude 18hp on it.
The motor weighed 86 lbs on a shipping scale plus the 42 lb 6 gallon tank it needed. The spec plate on mine said only 20hp or 850 lbs max hp and weight. The motor, full tank of gas, a 34 lb group 24 deep cycle to run a fish finder and lights, and myself at around 265 lbs or so back then plus a few rods and reels and a tackle box at about 30 lbs or so, then add another 250 for a buddy and another 30lbs of tackle, since that 18hp was real thirsty it meant carrying a second tank of fuel, so another 42lbs when carrying two guys. It put the total load at 779 lbs and if you count a bucket or minnows, a cooler for lunch and an 8lb anchor we were probably right at the 850 lbs if not over it.

Fast forward 30 years and my retired self is closer to 325 lbs, the 18hp rope start gave way to a 130lb Yamaha four stroke a bigger tackle box and a fishing buddy that's close to my weight I suppose plus a small anchor winch and an 8 lb danforth anchor, a bow mount trolling motor, and a pair of group 27 batteries to run the trolling motor and fish finder.
I upgrade the hull in 1999 to a newer 14DLX with a 955 lbs and 30hp max rating.
They upped the hp rating when the SF went to a 67" beam width.
When I added the 20hp Yamaha the motor weight became 132lb but I no longer needed to carry two 6 gallon fuel tanks. so the added motor weight was a wash overall. At that time the 25hp was a heavier motor and not an option weight wise even on the newer hull. As it sits now a typical day out on the river would be,
20hp 4s motor - 132
6gal gas - 42
two group 27 deep cycle batteries 110 lbs
trolling motor - 42 lbs
tackle 41 lbs
me - 325
buddy -240
buddies tackle 10 lbs
cooler - 10 lbs
anchor 10 lbs
The boat is still overweight but there's not much I can do about it other than go back to an older, smaller two stroke motor
The new hull is the Alaskan style hull, similar to what they currently marketed as the Alaskan 15.
The newer hull was a major improvement overall in the amount of power it took to push the boat along and in stability. The sleeker bow rake and wider beam made it more like a 16ft boat than a 'big' 14,