30 Concept Info wanted
 

looking at a 30 w/ 225 efis, is this a good motor for the 30? I have seen a couple with 4 strokes, how do they run with an F250 or other 4 strokes?

The boats I'm looking at are 1994 and 1999, any difference in build quality over the yrs? they all look basically the same from 1994-2012, have they made any major changes?

Thanks

225 efis aren't a bad motor for the 30, but I'd prefer a boat with 250s. My 30 originally had 200s and the boat ran in the low to mid 50mph range. I swapped to 250 efis and mounted the engines as high as they would go on the B-bracket. The boat ran much better- mid-upper 60mph range everyday and 70mph on a good day on gps. My guess is that a boat properly setup with 225 efis should run in the low 60s. I've never run one with 4 strokes.

The 30 hull was originally a 28' Concept, but due to changes in coast guard regs, the B-Bracket was added to the length and the boat became known as the 30. My boat would porpoise (this is normal with the 30s), so I added K-planes to keep it under control. With the tabs even with the bottom, the porpoise is gone.

I've found that the Concepts are fairly well built boats. They do have a tendency to develop stress cracks at the corners of the deck in the cockpit area. I have also heard that some of the 30s are wood construction while others are composite. I'm not sure when/if Concept made the change from wood to composite.

FYI, 225 EFI's can be turned into 250EFI's relatively easy, especially if they already have the 4 butterfly intakes.

They are nice boats - rigging is top notch.
2 strokes are the way to go if you talk to any of the local tech's. A bunch of the 4 strokes are having problems with ethanol. This info is from Lynnhaven Marine's owner as well as 2 other techs from elsewhere.

Go for it - esp if the price is right!

just looked at it, very clean boat, motors have 85 hrs on them so there brand new, it has a T Top, I prefer an arch but probably not a deal breaker, trailer does not have brakes so I would have to add brakes to be legal in VA, he's asking 36K, not a bad deal.

That sounds like a good deal. Where is it?

it's in Naples, just looked at a 302 Scarab that we also liked, might be able to scoop it up for a real good deal. Everyone I talk to says stay away from the merc efi's due to poor gas mileage

Like my 302! Mknow someone trying to buy one tonite, another guy sold his Cig and bought one - a trend?!?!? Can't offer any advice on Merc's.

EFI's are fuel hogs, but reliable as can be, very rarely any serious issues, those 225's can be modified to over 300 HP. Optimax is great on fuel, but the early ones had issues. The only way I would own an Opti is if I was the original owner with warranty.

Be careful with fuel vs oil.......the EFI's burn more fuel, but motors like the Optimax burns ALOT of oil. 4 strokes will burn the least.

I'm trying to learn as much about outboards as I can, seems like the more I learn the more confused I am to which ones are any good? I hear the EFI's burn gas and oil though, Verados seem like a very reliable motor if all of the upgrades were done.

I think that whatever you choose will be better on everything vs. the stern drive motors.
Let's see some pics!
There is a NICE renegade on eBay..........

Only 4 things you need to know about outboards.

They MUST be Black
2.5's(unless they are 280's and rebuilt often) are antiquated
3 litre EFI's burn gas but last forever
Optimaxes sometimes blow up:drink:

Im also looking at a 30' with 250 w/ Opti's, I think I'd prefer the 2 strokes over the four strokes. Weight is one factor, second would be top end. Third is repair costs.

Does anyone have any info as far as what these hulls will do compared with 2 stroke Opti's and say 250 Yamaha's ?

Side note I have a 2011 300xs on a 21Rt, the fuel economy is amaising and yes the 2cyc oil is expensive. I use about 3gal of Oil for every 150gal of fuel which isn't that bad IMO

Yeah, seems like a light boat for 4 strokes but there are quite a few of them out there so I guess they run fine, they sit pretty low w/ 4 strokes, I can imagine if a couple people are on the rear bench or bracket the bow would be straight up in the air.

I am between a 30 scarab and a 30 concept, I like the size of the scarab but the concept would tow a heck of a lot easier with my Yukon.

Pics / details - we will help you decide. LOL :lolhit:

As far as Scarabs go. I am very happy with mine. Nice solid ride, surprisingly well built, and will handle the snot the bay dishes out. "Kinda" sorta has a Cig feel to it. It also rides better than my old PQ 340, and I get a blistering 62.7 out of it - woohoo!

The Scarab is 29.5 wetted length and would compare more to the 32 Concept since they include stand off box in their length. Thus a 30 Concept would be about 27.5 wetted length - just like your old PQ. However, you don't see many Concepts around here. It would be nice to see more; they are bad azz looking!

I have a 30' Concept with twin 250 EFI's.... So far I like them they do smoke a little more the the Opti I had on my other boat but I've read over and over they are way more dependable and basically bullet proof. Last time I took it out was about 2' seas and she ran 68mph all day long. Still getting a feel for the fuel mileage but its really not that big of a deal to me..... 150 gallons of fuel is plenty to go anywhere I plan on going.

What oil are you using? Oil Injection still in place, or Premix? I premix at 50:1, and dont see any more smoke than any other 2 stroke outboard, except maybe at startup.

Injection is still in place was running the quicksilver just changed over to Amsoil but havent taken it out yet. Mid March I have a trip planned to the coast so should be able to see if it helps.

Try Penzoil, I am not familiar with the Amsoil, but the Quicksilver DEFINITELY smokes more than most others.

http://products.pennzoil.my/industri...cycle-oil.html

Cheap at Auto zone

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=143762_0_0_