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Mark,
Nice job, makes me think twice about raising the stringers in the boat seeing as im about 225#s.Did Wildfire Marine use Gel-coat or did they paint it?

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Meads910-

the boat was painted (PPG "Concept" paint in "Polar White").

If you are going through the trouble of redoing your boat, you really should consider raising the floor. I consider that to be the single most important thing done to my boat. I've owned two SeaCrafts and my main complaint with both was the inability to self-bail with people standing in the aft end of the boat. Now that the floor as been raised, that issue has been solved. Talk to anyone who has raised the floor in their SeaCraft, I doubt any of them regret that change.

Good luck-

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Hi Mark,
It was such a site for cabin fever eyes to be able to get online and see your boat after Frances!!! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] What you've done is what we all are trying to do...start with a great design and turn it into our boat! Yours turned into a work of art! I'm hoping to have mine done this Fall!
Bill

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Mark,

Did you paint the hull with the PPG? My painter wants to paint my hull with Concept but others have questioned using it below the waterline. My painter says he has painted dozens with no trouble.

Trey

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Mark,
Thanks for answering all my questions . . . I've only got 2 more. What type of material(s) did you use to raise the stringers 2.5" ? Also what was used for core material in the floor? (3/4" Marine Ply?)

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To both the the last two questions:

yes, it is PPG Concept on the boat. I plan on keeping the boat on a lift, so I really wasn't concerned about the below waterline aspect of the paint. I have left it in for a few days at a stretch with no problems though. I have no idea how it would do long term.

Stinger raise and floor material are both marine ply.

I am on my second evac in less than seven days and I am not predicted to have electricity for at least another two weeks. I am in a motel in GA right now and will likely not be able to respond to any email or postings on this site.

To those who called Wildfire Marine, his phone machine lost all your messages do to the storm. If you don't get a reply in a timely manner, call again after the dust has settled a bit.

First Charlie, then Frances, and now Ivan. This is getting VERY old [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

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Excellent restore Mark.
Some more questions for you, when you get a chance.

1)Where is the fuel fill

2) what is Fantastic Plastics located. I can't seem to find a web address for them. The console door is perfect.

thanks

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If you look at the only overhead shot taken of the boat above, the fuel fill is easy to see: it is the shiny round thing on the port gunnel directly across from the console. The rod holders were put in the following day, so the fuel fill is the only thing on the gunnel in that photo.

Fantastic Plastics is on A1A in Stuart. Their phone number is 772.223.8005 - ask to speak to Brian and reference Mark Lewis' 20' SeaCraft that was done at Wildfire, that should jog his memory a bit.

Good luck/
mark

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Mark, first of all, let me join the rest and tell you that this a great job, exactly what I have been dreaming of doing since I acquired my boat. I am presently working on raising some capital to restore my 20' Seafari and I would appreciate it if you could give me a ball park figure on how much this type of restoration could cost, not including the engine, of course, so I can work towards an attainable goal. If this is possible, you can contact me at my email, nestorpr@bellsouth.net. Thanks!

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Mark; I tried to post when you first put the pics up, but for whatever reason, it didn't get there. Congrats, you have eclipsed (big word) any other rebuild I have experienced or seen..!!!!. I should let the forum know that I (unknown to Mark and I) have the pleasure of knowing the previous owner very well, and have run that boat (and run out of Gas at Columubus Day Regatta) a number of times. I am sure Mark found some beer cans hidden in the inards..) I hope to be able to run it again some day...

An unbelievable job that should inspire more than a few folks here. That boat should be in a Museum!. you took an extremely methodical approach to the whole project and I can't begin to count the small details that make it more exceptional...please call when you are in the area.,.

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That is one sweet boat. I hope mine comes out half as good as yours.

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Tom,

I'm sure you notice many details that I took the liberty of copying off your Whitewater (still the nicest boat I've been on). You are certainly welcome to run this boat again anytime you want - maybe I can tow it down for the Columbus Day Regatta next year and we can see how long the current fuel supply holds out [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I am still out of power up here in Stuart due to hurricane Jeanne but am over at Capt Chucks house doing some email and REALLY enjoying the air conditioning (you don't thoroughly appreciate it until it's gone).

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Hey Mark-

How did your new home make out during the last hurricane? I was hoping that you were in Colorado when it blew through...

Ed

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Hi Ed,

Thanks for your concern, I was fortunate in that the house did very well during the two storms that made direct visits here. The boat dock was covered with debris due to high water and we lost a tree or two, but that was about it. People within a few blocks of here did far worse.

It has been a Summer devoid of boredom to be sure [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

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I would love a smaller 20' to get in and out on the water faster and easlier to trailer. But now seeing your project's success.....I cannot imagine owning anything less than yours.

Man O Man what a fantastic boat. You did an over the top job...if thats possible.

Well done is all I can say.

-Sean
Southport, CT

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Mark,

I have a 83 23' CC Inboard with a Jackdrive Seacraft and am thinking about a total renovation, much like yours. Wondering if you can share estimated cost of your restoration.

Thanks

John

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Although I have posted a few photos of the restoration of my boat, they really don't come close to showing everything that was done. And, as stated at the top of this post, I didn't do the work myself. I would suggest putting together a list of the things you want to do, or have done to your boat. Then, determine if you can do it yourself or if you need to hire it out. If you are within driving range of Florida (I drove mine down from NC), give Mike at Wildfire Marine a call and see what sort of estimate he gives you on the list of changes that you have put together.

To be honest, I don't have any immediate plans to add up all my reciepts, so I don't have an exact figure to give you as to what mine cost. I have all the reciepts in a bag, just not real motivated to tally it up. Suffice it to say, I spent some real money.

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Mark - have you been back to colorado? If you get a chance I am wondering if you might be able email me some pics of the floor being installed and the "under the gunnel" work.

My email address is wtbarber@yahoo.com

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I'm in Boulder now, give me a day or so and I'll email you some pix.

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Thanks so much Mark. It'll be a huge help to see the pics.

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what a job, truly an inspiration, could I ask you roughly what the restoration cost you? and could we talk, I'd be interested to see if your place could make that same console again?

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Mark, do all three of those flush mounted drains (starboard side) run gravity off the deck because the floor has been raised 2.5"? Not sure if I reinstall my deck drains will be below waterline (on the transom). Thanks Mike.

PS. Boat looks freakin' awesome. Don't have to tell ya. Vezo.

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Mark,
Smokin' boat. I have a 1986 20' with a 150 yamaha that I use for fly-fishing here in Maaassachusetts. People are constantly telling me I should put a t-top on my boat but I haven't as I have always thought that it would be a fly/line magnet. Do you find yourself being bothered buy the t-top?

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No, I've never found a t-top hinders fly fishing at all. Most people cast somewhat side-arm anyway. In fact, when I am driving the boat with a friend fishing at the bow, I often fly fish in the stern area as well where the top overhangs even more. The majority of people that fish with me are doing so with fly gear and the ONLY person to EVER wrap a fly line around the top/antenna was the advertising art director for Sage fly rods....go figure (I use Loomis now [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]).

Additionally, I find the t-top far less bothersome than my dermatologists' scalpel [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

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Holy Cats [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] BEAUTIFUL vessel [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Congrats on an exceptional piece of art [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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Speaking for myself: I've used both and definitely prefer no t-top for fishing here in NE. Especially if fishing to pods of moving fish where accurate presentation is critical. Also, for bottom fishing, no top allows you to fish from the helm and to set the hook without breaking the rod. It's especially useful when trying to stem the tide while fishing.

You can't do this with a t-top (pic is of member Alarie's former boat)
http://members.cox.net/rhstg44/Misc/Seacraft%20SF.jpg

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hi mark, i talked to you over a year ago when you did your 18, still working on my 75 18, great job on your new one, mike

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Man I gotta say looking at the job that was done on that boat has me reaching for my stash of cash to buy the 20 down the street from me, heck I could be grinding/cutting by Saturday, of course I would have no idea what I would be doing but it sure would beat the honey do list [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

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This is not aimed at anyone in specific and should have been included in the original post. I am contacted about once every six weeks and asked what I spent on the glass work on this boat. While I can certainly understand the desire by all of those that have asked me this question, I seriously doubt that anyone will get the EXACT boat done that I did (some will go further and some will stop short of what I did). As such, anyone interested in the pricing of work done at Wildfire Marine would be best served by contacting Wildfire Marine at ph, 772.286.1925. The pricing for my boat was a package deal that included everything you see in these photos and a good deal of work that is not included in these images. I don't know what individual transom/floor/paint/etc jobs are charged at.

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i just did my 1988 23" walkaround over new paint new tank raise the transom to 30" from 25" and im having a pissing match with the the guy that painted it he is trying to tell me he spent 135hrs at 50$ per hr getting the inside just the inside sanded and painted so im a little curious if u can let me know if my guy is a little out of wack .....the inside was not perfect but in my opinion no way did he work approx 17days just on the inside of my boat not including the new transom that he put on that was a seperate price.....if u dont want to post can u send me a private email thanks. oh and no work was done inside the cabin this was just prep and paint plus materials in addition to the 50$ per hr .....someone else was putting the boat back together :eek:

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WOW, thank you for sharing this great boat with us.

73's
KE7GCJ

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Captkev111,

As I stated in my previous post, my boat was priced/charged as a package deal that included glass work, paint, rigging, new fuel tank, custom metal work, and a whole host of other stuff. I don't have the slightest clue what portion of my bill the paint job was, nor do I know how many hours were spent prepping for the paint job. Sorry not to be of more help/
mark