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Author Topic:   23 Conquest v. 255 Conquest

LTS 23 CONQUEST posted 09-20-2009 07:49 AM ET (US)
Hi all Just after a few opinions and views i currently own a 1997 23 conquest with twin 150 etecs love the boat the lay out ect spent some time optimising the boat, props, electronics all the normal stuff but my one only critism is the ride where i do all my boating generally we cop a lot of steep short chop and it tends to ride a bit hard if trim and speed isnt perfect looking to possibly move up to a 255 conquest the boat appears to have a sharper entry point (deadrise) to cut a long story short how does the 255 conquest ride and is there any comparision between the two any coments and veiws would be much appreciated.
jimh posted 09-20-2009 09:34 AM ET (US)
[Moved to POST-CLASSIC. Please use POST-CLASSIC for this topic.]
TRAFFICLAWYER posted 09-20-2009 04:22 PM ET (US)
Hard ride in anything over 2 feet. I have one since 2003. Want a softer ride try Intrepid, SeaVee or Jupiter.
Bella con23 posted 09-20-2009 04:45 PM ET (US)
I agree. My 23 Conquest rides the same as my 24 (25 foot)Weekender, my good friends 31 Bertram, and my 12' rowboat.
They are all tolerable once you adjust for the conditions.
I have fished on a 54 Hatteras that would take the chop pretty well I must say.
diveorfish posted 09-21-2009 11:56 AM ET (US)
First off, the 23 Conquest is a 22’ 6’’ hull. It rides as good as anything that size when the trim is correct. The 255 Conquest has a similar generation hull, and I don’t think you will get much improvement, although two extra feet can never hurt. I would guess that the entry angle of the two hulls is about the same.
As you stated, the trick to these boats is trim. The 23 Conquest/Outrage hull will ride very good if you can get the bow down. You have twins so your boat will be stern heavy when full of gas. Actually, the 23s are very heavy boats for their size and staying on plane a slower speeds is also difficult when fully loaded. Tucking the engines in and having the tabs all the way down isn’t always enough depending on how you are loaded.
I have a 23 Outrage witch has the same hull and also has twins, plus an even a larger gas tank thus, more rearward weight. My boat is very stern heavy and when fully loaded it rides a too bow up even when the tabs are all the way down and the engines are tucked. On my dealer’s advice, I got a pair of Whale tail XLs which are only $55 bucks. Once I put them on my engines, and ran my boat in some chop, I couldn’t believe how much difference they made. I fell in love with my boat all over again.
The Whale Tails really help list the stern and put the boat in a perfect trim to tackle the head seas.
With Whale tails tabs, down and engines fully tucked in a steep chop headsea:
In a real 2 foot chop: the boat handles it with ease at any speed.
In a real 3 foot chop: the boat still swooshes and doesn’t pound and I can run at about a constant 23-25 mph fairly comfortably.
In a real 4 foot chop: which is quite large for a 22 and a half foot boat, I can run at about 20-22mph and still swoosh instead of pound.
Over 4 feet you are going to catch some wrong and pound a few no matter what. If you run at about 18-20 mph you can maintain a somewhat comfortable ride if you throttle correctly.
Of course 23 whalers excel in swell, following and generally confused sea due to their extreme stability
LTS 23 CONQUEST posted 09-21-2009 07:34 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies all your points seem very valid, i played with the boat as mentioned with advice from this site, when i repowered (from single to twins) the boat rode terrible and from some advice I checked under the batteries to find 6 large lead blocks once removed totally different boat but i still knew there was room for better performance and ride so i played with props went to a pair of 18 pitch 4 blades, what a difference in all areas more top end but most importantly can hold the plane at lower speeds and seem to have more stern lift not to mention 8 l/ph better at 30knts cruise.
The 23 is a very heavy boat for its size and like you said stability is unreal but always thought looking at a 255 conquest the hull seemed to be much more aggressive and always wondered about its ride.
Been looking to upgrade in the future as the family is getting bigger and like overnighting out on the boat i still dont think the 255 will suit been looking at the 275 conquest or a grady 282 sailfish i live down here in Australia so trying to veiw one of these boats is not easy this is obviously a whole new level much bigger boat more fuel,bigger tow vehicle list goes on will just have to sift through all the info and see what suits. cheers
handn posted 09-22-2009 02:02 PM ET (US)
I had a 23 Conquest and a 305 Conquest. The ride of the bigger boat was much better like between a Pinto and Cadillac.
Like LTS, I boat in a region where there are short wind waves. When the wind went against the tide and spray started blowing off the tops, the 23 deserved its reputation as a bone shaker. No matter how much I played with the engine tilt and trim tabs. I couldn't get the little boat to ride smoothly in the slop. I would gut it out for a while, but when the passengers started whining there was no choice but to go off plane and mush along or tack back and forth like a sailboat.
Good safe, super dry little boat, but a smooth ride is not the 23's strong suit.
A 255 has to ride better, but if a smooth ride is a top priority, go even bigger.
diveorfish posted 09-22-2009 05:01 PM ET (US)
LTS 23 CONQUEST: What 4 bladed prop did you use?
LTS 23 CONQUEST posted 09-22-2009 07:09 PM ET (US)
18 pitch Solas 4 blades ,original where 17 pitch rebels very good prop but in comparision to the 4 blades no good.I wanted better cruising economy and to stay on the plane at lower speeds and thats what i got

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Author	Topic: 23 Conquest v. 255 Conquest
LTS 23 CONQUEST	posted 09-20-2009 07:49 AM ET (US) Hi all Just after a few opinions and views i currently own a 1997 23 conquest with twin 150 etecs love the boat the lay out ect spent some time optimising the boat, props, electronics all the normal stuff but my one only critism is the ride where i do all my boating generally we cop a lot of steep short chop and it tends to ride a bit hard if trim and speed isnt perfect looking to possibly move up to a 255 conquest the boat appears to have a sharper entry point (deadrise) to cut a long story short how does the 255 conquest ride and is there any comparision between the two any coments and veiws would be much appreciated.
jimh	posted 09-20-2009 09:34 AM ET (US) [Moved to POST-CLASSIC. Please use POST-CLASSIC for this topic.]
TRAFFICLAWYER	posted 09-20-2009 04:22 PM ET (US) Hard ride in anything over 2 feet. I have one since 2003. Want a softer ride try Intrepid, SeaVee or Jupiter.
Bella con23	posted 09-20-2009 04:45 PM ET (US) I agree. My 23 Conquest rides the same as my 24 (25 foot)Weekender, my good friends 31 Bertram, and my 12' rowboat. They are all tolerable once you adjust for the conditions. I have fished on a 54 Hatteras that would take the chop pretty well I must say.
diveorfish	posted 09-21-2009 11:56 AM ET (US) First off, the 23 Conquest is a 22’ 6’’ hull. It rides as good as anything that size when the trim is correct. The 255 Conquest has a similar generation hull, and I don’t think you will get much improvement, although two extra feet can never hurt. I would guess that the entry angle of the two hulls is about the same. As you stated, the trick to these boats is trim. The 23 Conquest/Outrage hull will ride very good if you can get the bow down. You have twins so your boat will be stern heavy when full of gas. Actually, the 23s are very heavy boats for their size and staying on plane a slower speeds is also difficult when fully loaded. Tucking the engines in and having the tabs all the way down isn’t always enough depending on how you are loaded. I have a 23 Outrage witch has the same hull and also has twins, plus an even a larger gas tank thus, more rearward weight. My boat is very stern heavy and when fully loaded it rides a too bow up even when the tabs are all the way down and the engines are tucked. On my dealer’s advice, I got a pair of Whale tail XLs which are only $55 bucks. Once I put them on my engines, and ran my boat in some chop, I couldn’t believe how much difference they made. I fell in love with my boat all over again. The Whale Tails really help list the stern and put the boat in a perfect trim to tackle the head seas. With Whale tails tabs, down and engines fully tucked in a steep chop headsea: In a real 2 foot chop: the boat handles it with ease at any speed. In a real 3 foot chop: the boat still swooshes and doesn’t pound and I can run at about a constant 23-25 mph fairly comfortably. In a real 4 foot chop: which is quite large for a 22 and a half foot boat, I can run at about 20-22mph and still swoosh instead of pound. Over 4 feet you are going to catch some wrong and pound a few no matter what. If you run at about 18-20 mph you can maintain a somewhat comfortable ride if you throttle correctly. Of course 23 whalers excel in swell, following and generally confused sea due to their extreme stability
LTS 23 CONQUEST	posted 09-21-2009 07:34 PM ET (US) Thanks for the replies all your points seem very valid, i played with the boat as mentioned with advice from this site, when i repowered (from single to twins) the boat rode terrible and from some advice I checked under the batteries to find 6 large lead blocks once removed totally different boat but i still knew there was room for better performance and ride so i played with props went to a pair of 18 pitch 4 blades, what a difference in all areas more top end but most importantly can hold the plane at lower speeds and seem to have more stern lift not to mention 8 l/ph better at 30knts cruise. The 23 is a very heavy boat for its size and like you said stability is unreal but always thought looking at a 255 conquest the hull seemed to be much more aggressive and always wondered about its ride. Been looking to upgrade in the future as the family is getting bigger and like overnighting out on the boat i still dont think the 255 will suit been looking at the 275 conquest or a grady 282 sailfish i live down here in Australia so trying to veiw one of these boats is not easy this is obviously a whole new level much bigger boat more fuel,bigger tow vehicle list goes on will just have to sift through all the info and see what suits. cheers
handn	posted 09-22-2009 02:02 PM ET (US) I had a 23 Conquest and a 305 Conquest. The ride of the bigger boat was much better like between a Pinto and Cadillac. Like LTS, I boat in a region where there are short wind waves. When the wind went against the tide and spray started blowing off the tops, the 23 deserved its reputation as a bone shaker. No matter how much I played with the engine tilt and trim tabs. I couldn't get the little boat to ride smoothly in the slop. I would gut it out for a while, but when the passengers started whining there was no choice but to go off plane and mush along or tack back and forth like a sailboat. Good safe, super dry little boat, but a smooth ride is not the 23's strong suit. A 255 has to ride better, but if a smooth ride is a top priority, go even bigger.
diveorfish	posted 09-22-2009 05:01 PM ET (US) LTS 23 CONQUEST: What 4 bladed prop did you use?
LTS 23 CONQUEST	posted 09-22-2009 07:09 PM ET (US) 18 pitch Solas 4 blades ,original where 17 pitch rebels very good prop but in comparision to the 4 blades no good.I wanted better cruising economy and to stay on the plane at lower speeds and thats what i got