[Isn't the boat under discussion in this thread the same boat as discussed] in the second post of another thread [discussing a different boat, the 235 CONQUEST and the same boat as discussed in this thread, a 23 CONQUEST] at
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/004484.html[In the other thread linked above the first comments refer to] a 235 Conquest with a weight without engines of 3,730-lbs and a 300-HP rating. The second post [in the other thread refers to] a Conquest 23 with a dry weight, without engines of 3,650-lbs. I believe the second post was [in reference to the 23 CONQUEST which is] the earlier model and more like [the boat under discussion in this thread].
I didn't see a maximum horsepower rating in this thread, and mambo minnow's 250-HP may have indeed been the maximum rating. (No--see below for the actual rating of a c.2001 23 CONQUEST boat being 300-HP maximium--jimh]
My [eight] thoughts:
--My 1995 OUTRAGE 21 was rated for a maximum 300-HP and the weight without engines was 2,500-lbs. The 1993 to 1997 OUTRAGE 24 weight without engines was 3,300-lbs and had a max HP rating of 400. There is an 80-lbs difference between the older Conquest 23 and the newer Conquest 235. I feel this is immaterial.
--The weight of both Conquest boats exceed the two aforementioned OUTRAGE models. I have a friend with a like-sized Robalo with a Yamaha 225, I have been out to sea many times with him, and I found the boat to be grossly underpowered.
--I have [read] many debates here at continuousWave (and elsewhere) whether insurance companies say you can or cannot re-power above the rated horsepower. People have asserted that you can, but I would recommend checking with the insurance companies beforehand.
--If there are headwinds, I would argue highlighting the similarities between the earlier Conquest 23 and the later Conquest 235 and that the latter was rated to 300-HP (insinuating that maybe the earlier Conquest 23 may have been under-rated with respect to max power).
--For people who have re-powered above the max power rating to chime in in this thread will be great.
--[The proposal engines are] not comparable to sticking a 7-Marine 625-HP on the stern.
--If this were my decision, and given the thousands of hours I put on my OUTRAGE 21 in the ocean, I wouldn't think twice about adding the Yamaha 300. In fact, I would even consider a pair of Yamaha F200XB's.
--Definitely do the research with the insurance companies.