Gulfstream shopping.

[Jns1981]

Shopping for a Gulfstream.

Found a beautiful boat with a single 225 but concerned about being severely underpowered.

Looking for experienced feedback.

Would it be slow but offer decent fuel consumption? Or would twin 150’s be comparable?

 

[luckydude]

I think you'd be better off with twin 150 or 200s. 225 is way under powered for that boat, I have the next size down and I have a 250 and she is rated for a 300.

The gulfstream is rated for 2x 200 for 400hp max. I think they are fine with twin 150s but anything less than that is a hard no in my opinion. If I were buying one (I'd love to but I can't get it down my narrow twisty road) I'd want twin 200s. They are going work less hard and get better MPG. And twins are way better for getting into a slip, you can run them like an excavator and spin the boat around. I'd never buy that boat with a single, even if it were a 400HP. You want twins.

225 for that boat is just no, I have to say I'd be surprised if it could get on plane and hold on plane, if it does, you are going to be revving that engine like crazy.

I feel for you, you found the right hull but with the wrong engine. Very wrong. Sorry.

All that said, I've never run that boat, just know a bunch of people who do. The twin 150s work, people are happy with them but they have to run them pretty hard. Twin 200s are the sweet spot. What I have been on a lot is a Canyon 271 with twin 300s. Different sled, the 300s on that are sort of like the 200s on a 232. Some people would say you don't need 300s for the 271 but they push it easily and my buddy gets 1.6 nautical / gallon. He was the guy that pointed out it is better to have too much engine and then run them less hard. I've come to agree with him.

Good luck in your search!

 

[DennisG01]

I suppose alot of the answer will depend on how you're going to use it and your expectations/wants?

It's NEVER bad to have more power... but do you NEED it?

I've never run one so I can't say anything definitely. I have a 250HP on my Offshore and it absolutley screams - PLENTY of power... but I think it's a solid 1,000lbs lighter. It's narrower, too - but I'm not sure if that helps or hurts in terms of hole shot and planing speed.

I think the best thing to do would be to go drive it yourself.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

Not exactly an apples to apples comparison here... but I've got a 2004 Grady White 228 Seafarer with a single F225 on her, and I definitely wouldn't want to go with anything less in terms of horsepower. My boat will hit about 42-43 mph @ WOT around 6k rpm, while being roughly half full of fuel and weighing in at right around 5,300 lbs. Comparatively, a 232 Gulfstream has a dry weight of around 500 lbs more, 4,025 lbs for a single engine 232 Gulfstream, and 3,510 lbs for the 228 Seafarer, along with the 232 Gulfstream having a beam of 9'3" as opposed to an 8' beam like I've got on my 228 Seafarer. Between the wider beam and the extra weight of the 232 Gulfstream, I think you'd definitely be wanting more horsepower, and while you could go with a single outboard on a 232 Gulfstream, I don't think the 225 is the winner. Something like a single 300-350+ hp outboard would be much better imo, or as you mentioned twin 150's/200's if you're specifically looking for something with twins on it. Just my thoughts on the matter, of course. If you're really interested in the boat, take it out for a sea trial run and see what you think.

 

[wahoo33417]

Not a direct answer, but I had a friend who had a Gulfstream with an F225. I never rode on the boat. He was new to boating but it didn't take him long to realize for himself that he had bought an underpowered boat.

You say its a beautiful boat. Like Mustang suggested, maybe you can make an offer that allows you to repower with an F300 or 350. If the seller doesn't take the offer, there are many other Gulfies out there.