Twins or Triples (not kids, lol)?
 

Hello,
I was wondering if I could get some opinions on a 33' TRIPLE powered outboard center console or repowering it with TWINS. I am looking for a decent, older "go-fast" center console, like Avanti, Carrera, Catera, Baja, Scarab, Dakota, Monza, Donzi (although I don't like the rear seating arrangements in their boats), Marlago or Concept. Some of them have 2 stroke Triple 225's or 250's. That would be 675-750hp. I was wondering if removing the weight of one motor and switching to twin 275 or 300 four strokes might give similar performance with the weight reduction and drag. I'm not trying to make a rocket ship, but, ideally I want to be able to cruise around 35-40mph (with decent fuel economy) and 60-65mph top end is fine. What do ya'll think?

A couple of heavy four strokes aren't a lot lighter than 3 x two strokes so the weight issue isn't that relevant.
My Fountain runs mid 60's any day with triple 275's. For a laugh one day, I tilted the centre engine up and she still ran about 55 on the two outer engines. With the right props and setup for twins, she'd probably run 60+ on two engines.

That said, having triples is nice, they almost go to sleep at lazy revs and a nice cruise speed. Very economical because they're not working hard. With the work involved to change rigging from triples to twins (or vice versa) I wouldn't do it.

Outboards are pretty low maintenance, well maintained triple set up is pretty easy on the wallet and nice to have when you're a little way offshore or when you're carrying a bit more weight than normal.

RR

I don't have first hand experience with triples so I can't comment on that. I do know that the 36 Concept with twin 400's has broke 80 MPH.

as stated tripp o/b has its advantages over twins
I have tripps on my boat and lost a gearcase on 1
still jumps on a plane and cruises at a good speed back to dock
vrsing idling all day to get back
the new CCs buiolt for the 400s are lighter layups than the older CCs
if u have the wallet for 2 400s go for twins
but older hull on twin 300 4 strokers
id rather have the 225-300 pro max tripps
very dependable motors for many hrs and 3 blades for planning,cruising and less stress on motors

check on insurance a 33 with ttripps may not be insurable or real exspensive

Yeah, the owner said he gets close to 2 mpg at cruise with triple 2003 225 Optimax on a 36 Concept I was looking at. Seems pretty amazing. Maintenance was the other consideration, but with two strokes, I guess there's less to worry about than the 4 strokes. BTW, I'm new to outboards. I'm learning as I go. An Avanti 33 boat has triple 2005 Mercury 250 EFI 2 Strokes. He also said that he gets close to 2 mpg on his boat at cruise RPM. Dang!

You've been quoted pretty good fuel numbers. My Verados, bit bigger but 4 stroke economy, on a 34' Fountain get 1.4 mpg on Smartcraft gauges at 4,000 rpm and a little under 50 mph. Difference anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 is insignificant, maybe 0.1 or 0.2 so I cruise according to the sea conditions.

thehulltruth.com can probably give you more info to help. I searched a lot of stuff there before choosing Fountain with trips. Good luck,

RR

I'm getting around 2 MPG at 45-50 MPH with twin 300's.

Here are my numbers on a 34 Baja CC with twin 250xs's

30 mph 1.9 mpg
40 mph 1.5 mpg
top speed 64.....mpg....don't ask

Running 23 Mirage +'s

Does the cost of two stroke oil impact the decision to go twin or trip ,? Or two or four stroke ?

no

From what I can tell in this market, most people prefer four strokes. So, there may be a resale advantage when opting for the four strokes. Otherwise, the oil consumption isn't a big deal.

Twins or triple....I dont know..you tell me.....

[ATTACH=CONFIG]562511[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]562512[/ATTACH]

IDK, but the twins seem a little more traditional....

Trip 2 smokes would be closer to 1 mpg I'd think

A marlago runs low 50s with 250s, upper 50s to 60 with 300s. Would expect mid 60s to 70 on 350 verados. I think verados will always run a couple more numbers than the other brands due to the rpm range they run.

My boat is a bottom painted early marlago with 250hp suzukis 4 strokes, runs 50-52 gets up to 1.8-1.9mpg. MPG doesn't drop much all the way into the low 40s, still 1.6.

Previous owner repowered from the original 225 merc 2 smokes and claimed the mpg doubled. I doubt that. But the best test report numbers I remember seeing was 1.3-1.4 on 2 strokes I think, up to 2mpg on yams or late suzuki 4 strokes with no bottom paint.

When I was buying a couple years ago, 4 strokes were worth significantly more. Repowering a 2s boat could have made sense. Since then I see people asking a lot more for 2 stroke boats. I personally wouldn't touch one and think most of the market feels the same way. 2 stroke boats pretty much should be priced almost a 4s swap under a 4s boat.

[QUOTE=hogie roll;4507726]A marlago runs low 50s with 250s, upper 50s to 60 with 300s. Would expect mid 60s to 70 on 350 verados. I think verados will always run a couple more numbers than the other brands due to the rpm range they run.

My boat is a bottom painted early marlago with 250hp suzukis 4 strokes, runs 50


Thanks for the numbers hogie. The Marlago is my boat of choice, however, it seems like everyone I have seen for sale is double NADA values! :eek: I realize that NADA is a "guide", but damn. Oh course, they are all still for sale after being on the market for several months. One of the nicer ones I have seen that is fairly close to me has a pair of Evinrude ETEC's with like 600 hours. It's an 04 boat & motors and they want $63k! Hello? Add $40k for a pair of new 300 Verados and I'm in for $100k on a 13 year old boat. No thanks! At that point I'd just go buy a new 36 Concept with Verado's!

Etecs will bring closer to 4stroke money.

The boats have gotten more expensive just in the last few years. I bought the cheapest 4s boat on the market and paid $58k. But I suspect I could have made a quick $10k by taking it down to florida.

I think you could get into new 300 suzukis for $35k but it may end up 40.

When I was shopping there were some nice and some used hard 2s boats for 30-40k. They may have all been Repowered by now.

Don't forget that Marlins and Dakotas are the same hull.

2003 Jefferson FS 35 marlago
Cape Coral, FLORIDA 33914
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...c=ipadfacebook

[QUOTE=hogie roll;4507966]Don't forget that Marlins and Dakotas are the same hull.

2003 Jefferson FS 35 marlago
Cape Coral, FLORIDA 33914
[url]http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2003


Thanks for the link! That is a really clean boat, but, it's been for sale for a long time. I suspect due to the 225's (instead of 250+) and being priced ~$20k over NADA.

What is the Marlin brand? I haven't heard of them before. I HAVE heard of the Dakota. I keep that brand in my regular searches.

Great choice to go with a performance CC. I can seat 9 comfortably and I cruise all day in the range you mentioned. Of course under any rough your two forward pax should move aft. My advice if you're gonna pay the full shot is repower with twin 350 Verados. Don't bother with any older EFI model from any company. Not even comparable to Verados. The 350's are now stock power from Mercury and come with great warranties. The Verado is an amazing engine. Quiet, reliable, no smoke or stink and awesome gas mileage. Mercury Marine also has a Repower Financing program that may be worth looking at. All the required preventative maintenance can be easily done by a novice boater. 100 and 300 hour oil changes. I do the lowers every season though.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...os-o59689.html

I know another guy selling a 2001 PowerPlay CC with twin 2008 300XS's. I tried to IM you but your mailbox is full. Send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward his info if wanted.

Not sure what your budget is but for 75k, you can have this....

[ATTACH=CONFIG]562641[/ATTACH]

Including McClane trailer, 280 hours and I'll throw in the two two freeloading friends on board.
There is a catch however, you'll have to ship the boat from Thailand and pay some taxes back in the U.S. Sorry!

RR

Fountain's, obviously made in the USA, are considered US Goods Returned for Customs duty purposes so not dutiable if anyone had a real interest. lol

[QUOTE=formula1;4508919]That's just where the market is. You can wait on the dock for a recession and have your money ready.

Marlin is the brand. Other brands that made or make a similar or identical hull:
Gulf Stream 33
Sonic
Spectre

Be sure to shop under jefferson and marlago as the brand too.

Also, I've never referred to NADA for boat values. And I've done more shopping than anyone.

There was one firesale etec boat that sold in a day for 50k I remember. You just have to be ready and lucky to score one of those deals.

I'd recommend asking brokers or marinas. Make offers on boats you like. Worked much better for me calling around when I needed a used outboard engine. I also bought my boat from a response on a wanted add I put on the hull truth. I'd seen the listing but it helped convince me to go look at the boat.

Thanks for posting, I wouldn't have known that. No duty, no vat, nothing?
When I bought it from the U.S. I think they deleted from coast guard registry and it had to leave the country within 10 (?) days. Paid vat here in Thailand and is now Thai registered. Shipping to the U.S. Would be about 20k roll on/roll off. Still not bad buying IMO....!

RR

No VAT in the USA my friend. C'mon man...this ain't socialist Europe LOL. Trump baby! Only US Citizens can document vessels in the US so that's why it was de-registered by the USCG and you had to export it. A foreign citizen has to own a foreign flagged vessel and obtain a cruising permit authorized by US CBP to cruise US waters. Really nice boat BTW! Sorry for the minor thread hijack.

been real happy with my Dakota, doing a few upgrades this year but still immersed in house projects so the boat has been on the back burner.

I'd love to repower it someday
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psjioybaow.jpg

Nice boat