Gulfstream shopping.

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Jns1981

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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?
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
The Gulfstream is a wide boat when compared to its length. Tight quarter maneuvering or strong winds and currents can be a challenge with a single engine.
The type of waters you sail is a factor to consider when choosing a single or twins.
Another factor will be ongoing maintenance costs. Two motors are almost twice the cost to maintain.
Be careful if thinking about a single 350. Early versions up to the C version model can have serious issues.
 
There is one on Long Island for sale .. 2003 twin 200 with like 500 hours has trailer think 45k.. On facebook market place...
I would love this boat wont fit driveway.
 
Jns1981 said:
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?
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Every guy would love to drive something with the get-up-and-go of a Corvette, but a Chavy Cavalier will get you to the grocery store. Grady put out hundreds of Gulfstreams with the 225 and they wouldn't do that for years if it flat didn't do the job. It's all about money balanced by your desire for sporty performance. Back in the old days, it wasn't unusual to have to ask some of the folks on board to move up front till it got over the hump and on plane. I probably had as much fun with my first boat in 1960 with a 35 horse Evinrude as any boat since and those memories wouldn't be any sweeter if I would have had one of those hotrod Mercurys like my neighbor had that I dreamed about.

I vote that you go for a ride in the one you found that seems nice. If you are not familiar with operating a boat recently, let the present owner operate it for you. If it is a bit alien to you, the whole experience will seem overwhelming. That being said, if you know going in that you want to be able to blow the doors off your buddies Contender, keep looking.
 
I know an original owner of a 2001 232 who repowered last year with new Yamaha 250. He loves the new motor & performance he is getting.
I have a single 300 on my 2016 232 and it is more than enough.
To each his own.
 
I'm sure that the F225 would likely be marginal and probably get the job done if it's a healthy motor and propped correctly. But having an extra 75+ hp with something like an F300, I imagine would be much more preferable. I also remember hearing a rumor awhile back that the early Yamaha's could be off in terms of horsepower by a factor of 10%? So, in theory an F225 could really be closer to 200 hp? As mentioned above, several 232 Gulfstream's came with a single F225 and as stated, I'm sure they will get the job done. I'm sure that my boat could also work with an F150 on it, but I wouldn't want to purchase something with what I feel like would be an inadequate amount of power to get up on, and maintain staying on plane. I don't need a Corvette out on the water, or anything close to it, I don't need to do 50+ mph or anything like that either. I'm more than content with a 40-45 mph boat @ WOT, and 95% of the time I'm fine with cruising around 25 mph max. But I also don't want to feel like I'm driving a Pinto and having to keep the engine up at almost WOT just to see the high 20's mph, or so. To the OP, it's your potential boat, take a test drive if you're seriously interested and then see how you personally feel. I imagine you're going to be severely underwhelmed, but that's just my thought process on the matter. Good luck either way!
 
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Halfhitch said:
Every guy would love to drive something with the get-up-and-go of a Corvette, but a Chavy Cavalier will get you to the grocery store. Grady put out hundreds of Gulfstreams with the 225 and they wouldn't do that for years if it flat didn't do the job. It's all about money balanced by your desire for sporty performance. Back in the old days, it wasn't unusual to have to ask some of the folks on board to move up front till it got over the hump and on plane. I probably had as much fun with my first boat in 1960 with a 35 horse Evinrude as any boat since and those memories wouldn't be any sweeter if I would have had one of those hotrod Mercurys like my neighbor had that I dreamed about.

I vote that you go for a ride in the one you found that seems nice. If you are not familiar with operating a boat recently, let the present owner operate it for you. If it is a bit alien to you, the whole experience will seem overwhelming. That being said, if you know going in that you want to be able to blow the doors off your buddies Contender, keep looking.
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That is VERY well said. There are so many variables at play, it really comes down to what works best for the owner... not us. What you said is so true - 25 years ago, a 21' bowrider would have a V6 175HP stern drive engine and it was GREAT - everyone was happy. Then smaller boats like that started being produced with V8's and all of sudden people said you HAVE to have a V8. I wonder people will say someone "needs" in another 25 years?

Like you said, the boat will do just fine with 225HP. Will it do better with more HP, well, of course. But then... that's more money, as well. And it's real easy for us to spend someone else's money :)

Around and around the circle... the best answer is always going to be for a person to run the boat and value it based on their own needs.
 
Saw this Gulfstream for sale on Marketplace in Mystic CT - no affiliation. she has the Yamaha 225 power. Looks like she’s in good shape.

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1782170292493.jpeg
 
Ackdog said:
Saw this Gulfstream for sale on Marketplace in Mystic CT - no affiliation. she has the Yamaha 225 power. Looks like she’s in good shape.

Marketplace

Buy or sell new and used items easily on Facebook Marketplace, locally or from businesses. Find great deals on new items shipped from stores to your door.
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
View attachment 39559
Click to expand...
NOBODY LOOK AT THIS BOAT! Nothing to see here!

lol.

Yep. It’s gorgeous and well maintained.
 
Finders fee beer at Dogwatch if you buy her.
From the photos and description, sounds like a good deal. Even if you decide to repower down the road not a bad investment.
 
A few thoughts on the matter... there are 19 Grady White 232 Gulfstream's on Boat Trader as we speak, 10 of those come with single outboards, 9 are with twins and only 2 of those boats have outboards that are at 225 hp or less. Most of the ones on BT seem like they've also been listed on there for quite sometime, making me think it's a bit more of a buyer's market as opposed to the opposite. In regards to pricing... $45k seems a bit steep to me, as there are at least a handful of 232 Gulfstream's available on BT, Facebook Marketplace and other sites that are of the same year or newer, with similar power or a newer repower and for the same, or less money. The ad on Facebook Marketplace also says that it was listed a month ago, making it again seem like it's more of a buyer's market than not. Not trying to bash on anyone's boat, I've just been looking off and on at Grady White prices since 2019, specifically 208 Adventures, 228 Seafarer's and 232 Gulfstream's, of which I would say I have a fair amount of knowledge with pricing. There's also even a 2003 Grady White 232 Gulfstream with twin F200 Yamaha's @ 400 hours and a trailer listed on Facebook Marketplace in Brightwaters, NY for $45k. Again, not trying to bash on anyone's boat, just trying to help out the OP if possible, of which hopefully he'll come back again and tell us what exactly he's looking for, single vs twin outboards, budget and how far away he's looking to travel for the right boat? As with any purchase, especially with boats, be patient and wait for the right one to come along, as opposed to buying one out of impulse. Lastly, I always recommend paying a marine surveyor to inspect the boat for you so that there aren't any surprises after you purchase it. Good luck.
 
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It’s way more than just the horsepower. I’ve run both the single and twin screw versions of what is one of my very favorite GW hulls. The boat runs totally different with twins vs. single. Once you have tried both you will want the twins. It’s less about HP and more about the way it handles. The 232 is a wide beam to LOA ratio. The single screw has far less stability and no where near the ride of the twins. Also, the above comment about handling around the dock is spot on. With the bracket and single screw it is much more difficult to handle - Though it can be done no problem if you know what you are doing. Twin 150’s work great for that boat. 200’s even better but not necessary. You won’t have the single screw version…Still a great boat. But if you test both you’ll but the one with twins - Not because of speed, but because of ride.
 
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