I have a 1988 25' sailfish that had the twin 250 OX66 under water. They are now parts motors so I am looking for an alternative. The boat is only rated for 400 HP so I was thinking about twin 200 HDPI or Optimax motors. Not having much luck finding good motors at an afordable price. I have run across a deal on a 300 HDPI and a 300 Verado. The older 25' Grady that I am replacing has twin 470 engines which are only rated for 350 Hp. Anyone have a single engine 25' sailfish that could share how the boat performs with a single? I have a kicker motor on my older Grady that I could put on with a single that would give me an economical trolling motor with autopilot.
Single Engine 25' Sailfish????
- Thread starter GPappy
- Start date
My '83 had the twin 470s also. When I repowered a few years ago I went with a single I/O, a Merc Bravo I 496. It is rated at 375 HP. It is not apples to apples with your outboard option but the single 496 is a great power package for my 25. How much does the 300 Yamaha weigh? I guess that would make a difference, IIRC my 496 and drive weighs in around 1200 lbs. The motor is a torque monster and as you are familiar with the 470s my fuel mileage is better now and the twin 470s I always found to be a cheap date. The 496 package is lighter than the twin 470s. I am very pleased with the result, the single handles fine around the dock, I cruise at 25 or 26 knots usually at 3300 - 3400 RPM or so and I am over the "I don't have twins anymore" issue. Your 300 would be less HP but I am thinking less weight too, perhaps that works out. Hopefully someone will be along with more OB 25 powered info.
Edit - I just looked up a 300 HDPI and the site I looked at said that motor weighs 539 lbs. Does the weight savings amount to similar performance of my 375 HP in my heavier package? My old 470s were only rated at 170 HP so I had a total of 340 HP now I have 35 more HP and less weight which has resulted in better mileage and performance.
If you do a search I think there have been some threads lately dealing with the twin to single swap.
Edit - I just looked up a 300 HDPI and the site I looked at said that motor weighs 539 lbs. Does the weight savings amount to similar performance of my 375 HP in my heavier package? My old 470s were only rated at 170 HP so I had a total of 340 HP now I have 35 more HP and less weight which has resulted in better mileage and performance.
If you do a search I think there have been some threads lately dealing with the twin to single swap.
Would it be similar to this 6700 lb Gulfstream?
http://www.gradywhite.com/232/performance_data/1/F300
http://www.gradywhite.com/232/performance_data/1/F300
Between the two choices I'd go with the Verado.
You will need a bracket wide against the transom, and perhaps with a flange for a future kicker, just in case. I like the Parker single brackets that have the feature for adding a kicker.
My buddys Parker pilot 25 had a singe 225 Yami 4 stroke as factory /dealer equipped and got the job done. The Parker was not the Deep V hull, but a very heavy boat nonetheless as compared to the Grady, mine.
You will need a bracket wide against the transom, and perhaps with a flange for a future kicker, just in case. I like the Parker single brackets that have the feature for adding a kicker.
My buddys Parker pilot 25 had a singe 225 Yami 4 stroke as factory /dealer equipped and got the job done. The Parker was not the Deep V hull, but a very heavy boat nonetheless as compared to the Grady, mine.
Im sure it wouldbe a serviceable boat with the single 300 but not ideal of course. Cant tell you anything about it except that my 1988 sailfish 25 has twin 150 hondas and with a grand total of 300hp and 1000lbs of motors it performs pretty decently. Consensus on the internet was that it would be a pos and only 400hp would do. That proved to be inaccurate.
Dang it BobP...you stole my single engine 25 Parker example. 
A buddy of mine has the mod-V 2520 with a single 225 OX66 and it performs just fine now that the engine height and prop have been tweaked. I probably wouldn't hesitate to put a single 300 on a 252.
Does either the 300 HPDI or 300 V-rod require premium fuel?
I'm still waiting for someone to put a single F350 on a Sailfish...
A buddy of mine has the mod-V 2520 with a single 225 OX66 and it performs just fine now that the engine height and prop have been tweaked. I probably wouldn't hesitate to put a single 300 on a 252.
Does either the 300 HPDI or 300 V-rod require premium fuel?
I'm still waiting for someone to put a single F350 on a Sailfish...
I don't see how a 300hp single couldn't work. You see a ton of 25 sailfish with twin 150's. why not a single 300. same hp less weight. I've seen guys run a single on these boats they look like they go along just fine.
Thanks everyone for your input. I may just have to try it. The fact that twin 150s seem to be acceptable makes me think that a single 300 that weighs less and has less drag should be OK. That way I could put my small kicker on it easily and trolling would be easier. Twin 200's of any type are just too hard to find.
Hi Brian, it's been some time. And to others.
The modified V Parker, ironically, side by side to my 252G is identical in length tip of pulpit to rear most of engine down. At least from eyeballing it. And the Parker is a very heavy construction, the pilot house has to be about an inch thick on top, he added a contraption (swing out boom) that pulled up his few lobster traps. Had a guy with a welder at the boat dock custom make and fit it. The 252G is a lot taller though, longer bridge structure and huge cabin, relative to the Parker.
The boat had an F225. That's it. Don't think the F250 was out yet. He added a 9.5 yami 4 stroke kicker in case he got stuck to at least make some headway until the troops arrived.
The deep V Parker model has twins, I believe, only, no single (on a bracket), unless they are using the V8 Yami.
The 252G is a Deep V, IMHO.
I also see Yami has an F175 out now, it's a modified F200 (in line 4) not the old V6 "F". Stripped out some features, but I expect same weight as is similar to 2 stroke V6s. Suzie has competition now at the 175HP range, finally.
The modified V Parker, ironically, side by side to my 252G is identical in length tip of pulpit to rear most of engine down. At least from eyeballing it. And the Parker is a very heavy construction, the pilot house has to be about an inch thick on top, he added a contraption (swing out boom) that pulled up his few lobster traps. Had a guy with a welder at the boat dock custom make and fit it. The 252G is a lot taller though, longer bridge structure and huge cabin, relative to the Parker.
The boat had an F225. That's it. Don't think the F250 was out yet. He added a 9.5 yami 4 stroke kicker in case he got stuck to at least make some headway until the troops arrived.
The deep V Parker model has twins, I believe, only, no single (on a bracket), unless they are using the V8 Yami.
The 252G is a Deep V, IMHO.
I also see Yami has an F175 out now, it's a modified F200 (in line 4) not the old V6 "F". Stripped out some features, but I expect same weight as is similar to 2 stroke V6s. Suzie has competition now at the 175HP range, finally.
Gpappy, depending on the waters and wind you fish in, you will be wasting your time trying to troll with a kicker.
Boat is going to be blown off course and all around, plenty of arm work for whoever is in the wheel house!
By the way for many years Grady equipped the Marlin with the Yami 250 OX66ss you have (and the carb version before it). Grady's flagship walk around boat from 1989 on, for more than a decade ?
Canvas down will help some.
On one 200, I have to make plenty of corrections at trolling speeds for stripped bass (rockfish to my buddies south), in wind and seas (fall season - as usual). When so, I run both CCR twins to lock down the stern otherwise forget it - drift bait or jig.
-----------------------
Brian, tons of Parker pilots up here, no real competition in quantity. I like the 2nd station option at the cockpit.
Few Steiger pilots around, relative.
Boat is going to be blown off course and all around, plenty of arm work for whoever is in the wheel house!
By the way for many years Grady equipped the Marlin with the Yami 250 OX66ss you have (and the carb version before it). Grady's flagship walk around boat from 1989 on, for more than a decade ?
Canvas down will help some.
On one 200, I have to make plenty of corrections at trolling speeds for stripped bass (rockfish to my buddies south), in wind and seas (fall season - as usual). When so, I run both CCR twins to lock down the stern otherwise forget it - drift bait or jig.
-----------------------
Brian, tons of Parker pilots up here, no real competition in quantity. I like the 2nd station option at the cockpit.
Few Steiger pilots around, relative.
BobP,
Thanks for the advice. I have an older 25' Sailfish with the kicker on it that seems to do ok. It does have a TR1 autopilot so we don't have to run it manually.
The engines I was looking at are gone so back to the hunt. I have found a couple of 250 OX66 packages but thinking that I will hold out for some more modern 200 hp versions.
GP
Thanks for the advice. I have an older 25' Sailfish with the kicker on it that seems to do ok. It does have a TR1 autopilot so we don't have to run it manually.
The engines I was looking at are gone so back to the hunt. I have found a couple of 250 OX66 packages but thinking that I will hold out for some more modern 200 hp versions.
GP