What motor should I go with

**vt200rocket** · 10-28-2016, 09:44 PM

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Want to repower my SST Stoker should I go with a 250 or 300 XS OPTI MAX
or a 260 or 280 ROS
Any opinions would be helpful
has anybody out there gone from the older style motor to the new OptiMax and not been happy

**XstreamVking** · 10-30-2016, 09:12 AM

What a dilemma! I vote for a 280 if i'm spending your money. A 250XS opti if it were my money....

**HST Madman** · 10-30-2016, 11:40 AM

250 XS - great fuel economy and much more reliable than 260 or 280.

**David** · 10-30-2016, 12:04 PM

300XS with anyone 's money. Unless you need to buy lake gas.

**XstreamVking** · 10-30-2016, 12:20 PM

2000.00 price jump from 250 to the 300 at jaco's marine. The 250 is near 280 hp and the 300 is near 305. So 2 g's for 25hp.....

**bearclaw** · 10-30-2016, 01:01 PM

I could be wrong, but it seems like I've heard the 300XS is a little stronger than 305. Maybe more like 325+?
On identical hulls, there seems to be a pretty significant difference between a 250XS and 300 XS.
Still, $2K is not exactly couch change, but - "A Stroker on a Stoker", I like the sound of that!

**vt200rocket** · 10-31-2016, 01:26 PM

I like the way that sounds
so the new motors are a lot better better than the old 260/280 all the way around

**mikiedreb** · 11-01-2016, 03:33 PM

I've read numerous posts where Al has recommended NOT powering with the larger Opti due to balance issues.
Has anybody 1st hand knowledge? I've been contemplating the same combination but would like feeback...

**DEMOMAN** · 12-11-2016, 09:25 AM

All of the newer motors are heavier than what the boat was built with. I was told that the Stokers set up better with the lower unit on the Gen1 Etecs. I am currently repowering my Stoker 20 with a Gen1 Etec 250HO. The Gen2 Etec is to heavy and has to much set back to work right on the Stoker.

**RocketMan** · 12-11-2016, 11:32 AM

That's my old boat. I bought it new and owned it for 25 years. Always ran Merc High Performance motors starting with a 1985 Mod VP Carb, then several 2.4 Bridgeport EFIs. I ended up with a 2.5 EFI Short Shaft. I ran in calm water rivers for the most part. The boat ran best with 6-9 inches of set back. In rougher water or with a heavier motor less set-back would be better. Keep in mind that my Mercs were all in the 350 lb. range. The V6 Evinrude Loopers that Stoker sold were considerably heavier motors.

When I wanted to go fast I'd pull the rear seat out and go out by myself. If I really wanted to go, I'd pull the whole interior and put one light fiberglass bucket seat in. That hull, like most tunnels, does not like weight. One extra person will knock off 10 MPH!

Is that a ProMax on the boat in your picture? What is your objective? Are you trying to set economy records or go faster? With a good 2.5 Merc
Carb motor and a 4 hole CLE the boat should run 100 MPH when lightened up and 90 with the stock front seats in. Have fun, be safe and by the way I didn't put the junk cleats and lights on that boat! One more thing don't take the trim plates off the boat, it will slow down if you do. The plates are supposed to be adjusted slightly down and help lift the tail at speed!

**Stoker88** · 12-11-2016, 01:02 PM

I have 2 Stoker 20 ft boats, my red one needs a new engine rebuild, its had the same powerhead since new (1988) and has ran like a champ. I've always wanted a 2.5 280 Merc on it for top speed, but after the research with high quality fuel & mixing oil and my age I will have my Evindrude rebuilt. The Etec HO 225 or 250 will be going on my blue Stoker project I am working on in the future, I just want an engine that will run over 80 and be turn key for year & Quite as well

My 2 cents

**vt200rocket** · 12-11-2016, 05:11 PM

Hey thanks for the info I absolutely love the boat and I'm going to do the full restoration on it this winter and just tighten things up and get rid of things that were done by other owners that are junk
I'm not looking to be the fastest thing on water I'm on a small lake and I'm already the fastest boat out there although everybody is chasing down fast as they can afford too
so I think I'm going to put it 280 on it
If I could get the boat to run consistently in the 85 to 90 mile an hour range I would be thrilled
if I want to play around and go real fast I've got some options with removing the backseat etc.
Would you recommend going with a 6 inch jack plate backset there is a manual one on the boat now and I'm going to switch to a hydraulic to be able to have just ability
any recommendations on what style or type of prop to run
I was going to sell the boat was looking at an STV but this boat just handle so good and I love the old-school color scheme can't part with it right now so I'm just gonna dump more money into it sounds like the smart thing to do ha ha

**Stoker88** · 12-11-2016, 07:47 PM

Al Stoker recommends a 4" maximum setback, my red Stoker has a Atlas jack plate on it and it works great, clean and simple installation.
When my Evinrude XP200 was new, the boat went well over 80 MPH so putting a 2.5 will push it pass 90 mph in my opinion. Lastly,
in ruff water this boat really comes alive, I boat in Lake Havasu AZ where the water can get pretty choppy and I rarely seen STV's or boat similar and boy do they turnnnnnn. I will try and look for a picture with the jack plate on it.
Ken

**Stoker88** · 12-11-2016, 07:57 PM

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**RocketMan** · 12-12-2016, 10:14 AM

When I sold the boat it had a 5 1/2 inch set-back/manual plate set up on it. A new 4" Hydraulic Plate is probably your best option. If you stay with light (Merc Performance Products 2.4 or 2.5) 20 inch motors a 6" will be OK. Keep in mind that a factory 15 inch Merc has 2 inches of set back built into it! With a 15" Merc 260 it would run 100+++ in race trim. I drag raced it in the 1650 lb. (with driver and fuel) class. Ran against Mirage and STV boats and could easily run with them. Ran a Merc 14.5x22 Chopper II. RPM was high but never scared me. My Merc had no rev limiter and could take it! For General river running a 14.5x28 Chopper II will work. I also ran a 14.25x27 DAH OMC SSTRX.
The DAH 27 was a great prop! That boat ran best with a CLE or a stock case/Bob's Nose Cone Lower approx. 1/2 inch above the bottom of the pad. I tried a Sportmaster on that boat and it was horrible.

Again, Based on 25 years of experience with that boat >>>The boat does not carry weight well. If you objective is to run 85-90 with two fat guys and a 54 qt cooler in the boat, it may not happen.