How feasible are triples on a rum runner?
 

Looking to rebuild my Rum Runner to be a one of a kind and contemplating what it would take to run triple 300XS. Stainless marine makes a bracket or will customize one for the application. What else do I need to think about before chasing this dream or throwing it out the window.

Thanks for in advance for your advice.

Check out pricing for a triple install on steering, I have IMCO for my twin 300X's. What speeds are you looking to obtain ? Twins on my MAGNUM SEDAN put me at 78 GPS. "HIGH LIFE"

Would like to get into the 90's. Also want the reliability for longer runs. I am on the east coast and like the idea of hitting the keys and The Bahamas on good days. Having some redundancy would make crossings a lot less stressful.

get a hold of Jimmy. James gang!

He has tripples on his 31 spirit. They had to do all kinds of strengthening to the transome and he has lots of pictures of what they did to it.

Basically a huge micro lam beam added in hoizatally.

(2 ) 300XS on that boat would probably run in the 90's imo

but it wont be one of a kind because one is being built AS WE SPEAK.

Thanks for the response. My plans were to redo the transom so that's in my thought process. Will definitely reach out to James G. Seen lots of pics and vid of his Spirit on the water.

Definitely interested in a one off. I posted on S&F for thoughts on verado 350sci. With the weight gain on the verado would definitely stick with twins if that becomes the route.

Yeah that boat is going to be AZZ heavy for sure. My boat with twin 200 mercs was heavy in the rear IMO and my 31 is a little bit but much better.

Theres a 34 down in FLA with twin OB's for sale right now?

I know your lookking for light weight and high MPH.


That hull is going to be a handful with tripple 300x's and thier torque I can tell you that much

I saw you post on S&F today.

what's the weight on the merc 200 compared to the 300xs. I thought it was 485lbs for the 200, 300xs is 505. Plus the stainless marine bracket adds positive buoyancy.

Comparing the verado, adding twins on that hull is 300lbs over the current setup and a net of 300hp more over the current 400, total engine weight 1330. Trips would be an additional 180lbs over that at 1550lbs and an additional 200 hp gain.

So:
2-Verado - 1350lbs - 700hp
3-300xs - 1550 - 900hp

I think the trips might be lofty and overkill. Won't rule it out.

btw, where's the 34 listed?

Bob posted on here that he was getting 88 with 2.5L 285 mercs. 20" shafts on a 22" bracket. I'm sure with 2x300x you'll get 90. More if they are built to like 335.

I really want to check out your boat when I get back. I plan on drive to get mine on the 28. As long as the owner meets with the surveyer and it goes well. Which it should.

tripples on a 26 will be a waste of time....300xs,s are very heavy but thats not the end of the story....add steering plates, tiebars and pistons (rougly 100lbs), 3 oil tanks (rougly another 100lbs), 3 batteries (rougly 50lbs each), a setback bracket (roughly 200lbs), props fuel and oil in the motors (the advertised weight is DRY so add another 20lbs to each motor) and after all you are going to wind up with 2000+lbs hanging way off the back of a 26ft boat....

get yourself a nice used pair of 300x motors which made about 320 to the prop and call it a day...you will probably have a high 80s if not 90 MPH boat....you want something uniqu then put a crazy paint job on it or something....

My .02.....

In our backyard !!!

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/boa/1834825003.html

Trips on that one definitely !!!

Good luck in your quest......

C.B.

Thanks for all the feedback. Will focus on updating the current twin setup.

owner supplied the info that a tree limb had fallen on the deck and it was repaired professionally.

To RR owerns w/ twin OBs:
what was your setback?
could you tilt the motors all the way up?

yes I could and I think it was 18 inches.
I had a armstrong box on mine and I really liked it other than the fact that it would get a little watwer in it sometimes so I drained it every time out.

WTF is a rum runner...

A 26ft Sutphen

I second what George Yurick said. Also you wont have very good range for trips with 3 and a small gas tank. When I picked up my boat in 91 there was a 26 RR with triple 2.4s in the yard at Ocean Outoard. Tony told me it was a real handful but ran about 100. I think 2 300x will be about 90 with proper rigging and dial in. Also I'm just running 2 batteries for the 3 engines, saves a little weight.
Pictures of what Jeff was talking about.
Attachment 428961

Attachment 428962

Attachment 428963

Attachment 428964

I have amicro lam beam like that HOLDING UP MY HOUSE!

Ok maybe its not quite that big! lol

That aint no microlam. 3 layers of 1/2" marine ply with 2 layers of biax between each layer and 2 layers top & bottom, then glassed in. All done with West System epoxy.

Christ its stronger than a freakin micro lam beam!


Thats one nice set up Jimmy!

what setback is that bracket?
My RR has a 35" setback bracket!!! probably a foot too long haha. i also have a skyscraper motor tho.
trying to figure our the best idea setback for offshore conditions with twins.

I rigged it about 9 years ago and can't remember exactly. May be either 24" or 28". I'll measure and let you know. When I had the V8s on there it was 32", needed all that to tilt engines.

wow maybe I am remember in the set back on mine wrong?


seems like It had to be more inline with whats on that little single sutphen you have.

i have 35" setback and i was talking to Richie and he was saying with all that setback, the boat didnt know if it was a rough water boat or not.
He was also telling me about rigging boats with those v8s, and with the stock steering, they looked like bumper motors bouncing around into each other because of all the play in the steering.

ive seen this possted a few times:

JamesGang, that boat of yours is bad ass! I've always liked v-hulls with outboards for some reason.

Ill have to measure mine on the 31 too I have no Idea what it is, but I can tell you that my 26 did like to fly! It was very different from a 30 OP we had with big blocks, it never had that plow thru thing going for it.

It sat very light in the water and my 31 has that too to some degree. you have to use the tabs to artifficially make that happen , but you also dont wanna stuff the nose if it lands tail first so its a balancing act.

At least thats what I find, Jimmy may have more input I still am learning my boat everyday.

Jimmy has finessed his boat for so many years he really has it down.

I can say that our BBC ocean pacer, was a VERY forgiving boat that you really didnt have to be that good of a driver to run in rough water where my 31 and all my OB boats took some more thought and made me learn more

on my 26 it seemed like the fulcrum point of the boat was way back. Like if you were to put an imaginary rod through the boat from side to side and give it a point where it would balance in the water when porpicing the BBC boat would be way closer to center where the OB boat was almost at the transom. You would think the BBC boat would be more tail heavy of a feel but it wasnt that way.

My 31 sits so high in the water at its nose that almost a 1/3 of the boat isnt even touching the water when tied up in the cove. six I should send you some in the water pics of my 31 email me at [email protected]

so would it be better for less setback? trying to keep the weight forward and bring the Center of gravity more forward?

22" set back with the 20" centers seemed to work pretty well in the rougher stuff. Here are some poor quality pics in a relatively calm river chop.

holy trim tabs batman!

how high did you have the motors mounted?

That looks very much like how mine was set up. same huge trim tabs too.LOL

I really liked that boat allot. It was very versitile although its nice to have the extra size in the rough.