Thanx for the info Don

IB`s ride so well.

IB's have their place, manuverable, fast, leaky?? I'll stay w/ the straight inboard or outboard.

Mine doesn't have the tunnel. I was a little disappointed in the performance with the 454. Seacraft makes a fairly heavy hull to start with so the extra weight of a big block doesn't help. I think it would have run just as well with a 350 and a 1.5 to 1 gear. It only turns a 13x13 now. I can't decide to put in a 350 or put aluminum heads and exhaust manifolds on the 454.

Hi sharp: We're not familiar with the hull w/o the tunnel (Yours) but as you noted the SeaCraft 23' has some glass in her. Sounds like you have what you aimed at. "30" is way above the speed of our Cummins. I'd run the 454 until it was ready for change out. Then decide. Don

I dont think any straight inboards were made without a pocket. Yours must be a conversion, the steep shaft angle from not having a pocket probably doesn't help your preformance problems.

Sorry Boatboy, I mis-stated. My 23' has a tunnel. Dsharp is the conversion. Sorry.

Don, Cool thread. I love reading the stories behind these boats, particularly the straight inboards. Got any more pics?

Hi Zen. Thank you for the kind remarks. More pictures coming as we uncover new interior paint job. She looks good!

Hi Don,

I always thought the 6bt was too heavy for a 23, but I guess. not. How many knots do you cruise at say 2400RPM?

I have 370B's in my Blackfin, so if I could fit one in my SeaCraft after the 350 gets tired that would be great. I could make a little Cummins parts section in my garage. :)

FYI talk about a 6bt being heavy. THE 24 BLACKFIN CAME WITH A 636cubic inch 3208 Cat!

I thought they only put the 3208's in the 25 Blackfiin. Good to know they went in the 24 as well. I almost bought a 25 years ago, but there was about 5 gallons of oil in the bilge. I had my dad with me, as soon as he saw that he said get off this boat now and never look back.

My Son an I will be dropping a 240 Yanmar in our 23 inboard in the next couple of months.

It should be a fun project.

For Riprunner. Yes, the 6bt5 Cummins is heavy and add 100 of fuel and I have to put in my scupper plugs 'til I burn off as few gallons. But, all the weight makes for an unbelieveble ride is 3-5' seas. Boat does 30 top end.

Yes Briguy is so right. The first "Black-Cats" were heavy. That was the 3208 Cat in the 24' CC Blackfin. But that was the first production boat with small diesel. It is also the boat that pushed SeaCraft to try the same trick in my 1975 SF using a lighter 200hp Chrysler/Mitsubishi inmport. I later pulled that engine and tossed it for the Cummins.

Hiway 12: Don't know the weight on the Yanmar but thats a big engine. Good luck!

nah......800 lbs/4 cly. should drop right in. it's smaller than the gasser we took out!

It should be a pretty cool rig.

Have you purchased the 240? The reason I ask is Yanmar makes a nice 260 6 cyl.
I have looked at several charts of power curves and fuel flow. The 260 puts out quite a bit more torque and burns slightly less fuel midrange. I have been on boats with the little 240's and they are nice but vibrate IMO. The 6 is smoother and it think the price is pretty close.

I found one with 400 hours on it and was able to buy it for less than a new 350 gas motor.

I had the same motor in a much larger boat and the only thing I ever did to it was change the oil and impeller. It had over 4000 hrs on it when I sold it and is still running strong!

They do vibrate at idle but smooth out nicely just above idle. The 260 is a BMW motor full of electronics.....enough said.

Highway: I am only familiar w/ the 260 6 cyl. I don't think a four will do anymore than "push" a 23' SeaCraft hull.

The same motor "pushed" my 28' X 10.5' lobster boat 24 kts. at cruise. So, I'm pretty confident it will do very nicely on the little Seacraft. The motor was designed to replace a 454 big block. My calculations project a 28 Kt cruise and burn less than 10 GPH It should have top end of 31 Kts.

Please, let's stay with Vintage SeaCraft discussion. Thank you.

Sorry, thought you might have an interest in a similar Potter 23 inboard diesel project.

Sorry Hiway. Another member had asked who was doing my electric panel work. I contracted Bob at Shallow Water Customs in Pompano to help me. He is doing a new lettered panel with LED backlights behind with switches for each pump & washdown. He is putting the name of the boat on the panel also. Bob has pulled new color coded wiring for each appliance with all new battery cables, etc. Hope to have pictures soon now.

there was one named spirit for sale on this site quite a while back. boat had a diesel volvo and many upgrades asking 30k. good luck with sale unfortunatly people dont appreciate what your boat is anymore.

I'm just about done with my 23 with a 300hp Yanmar straight inboard but its super tight fit but will be worth it. Don what's the HP on your 6bt

how do you like your 315 yanmar?

that rebuild will be a real machine with the cummins in it. i would keep it or hold out to find a guy that knows what the boat really is. Diesel power is definatly more economical. Also with the engine in the middle of the boat it really must be quite a a ride. The metan marine boat was a total rebuild but it had an i/o i think. That thing was selling for 100K i think. some guy with a ton of money that wants a good one may pay it. You never know. Seacrafts r very unique. I had a 86 23 superfish that was an unbeleivable boat. Everyone who rode on it could not beleive how well she rode. The boat also raised quite a few tuna. Almost everytime out on that boat I was amazed at the way it handled.

I hope I'll love it

Yup, Yanmar 260 to a jackshaft Yanmar Aqua-Drive I/O. Beautiful boat but definitely gonna take a special buyer for that one at $150K asking price.

150 is a little to much think of what you can get for that!

Sorry for the late reply guys. Bob Reichert from Shallow Water Customs.com (see site) was down this week to finish up my electric panel. Looks good! My Cummins 6bt5 is the standard (fool proof) model 210 hp that handles the 23' well and does close to 30 without a puff of smoke. She carries 100 gallons of fuel and averages 2gph idling out, running a bit and idling in. Having the tunnel hull allows for a modest 16" draft on beaches when netting bait. The almost 1500 lb engine w/ Warner Drive centered under the console allows the vessel to walk across 3-5' seas without pounding or slap. The most remarkable thing about this configuration is that "She" drifts perfectly sidewise to a breeze when livebaiting and kite fishing, no sea anchor needed.

Anyone have a set of Lee gunnel mount outrigger bases for l8' poles? Shown in Lee catalog but not being made today. I have available original marinium hausers, cleats, etc. for 1975 23' SF. Condition rough but will polish up nicely. Anyone need same?

Yanmar 260HP Turbo Diesel with 370Aquadrive
Cruise 30Kts at 3200RPM burning 6.4GPH
Max speed 47Kts at 4100RPM burning 14.6GPH

2012 Metan VB Seacraft 23' "Official Launch Seatrail"
http://youtu.be/Cqe04oS2qUY

2012 Metan VB Seacraft Final Roll
http://youtu.be/IDLwnWmhYtc

2012 Metan VB Seacraft 23' "The Build"
http://youtu.be/ZPj4rBlZyPo

Nice job! Interesting that this was a red hull. So was ours origninally, now off/white. Performance video seems very close to what the Cummins is doing for us. The one drawback I see, the I/B - O/B.

is that one from metan still on the market. im curious how much they will get for it.

Hey Joey. Don't know if Metan for sale, contact them direct.

It was at the Boston boat show in February for sale...asking around $140-150k if I remember correctly. Definitely north of $100k at any rate. It's a beautiful boat but will take a very special buyer to come along and claim it.

real special. nice work sure. but. you can have a 30-35' downeast diesel tuna boat at the same price albeit used not new. but not much used. a real nice calvin beal 34(35?) ft rigged for tuna pulpit and tower, was asking 169K. and when you start adding in a T-Top or pilot house, outriggers, electronics, yikes.

Items I don't like:

-open console to engine prob for air , whats noise DB running?
-no Pilot house
-small scuppers, well same size as mine, looks like deck not raised? curious if 2 guys stand in corner does water come in?regardless of deck raise or not, not having larger scuppers in a total rebuild bothers me...one item on my boat I would certainly address in a rebuild of this order. and deck height to make sure self bails even with 2 huge guys in a stern corner.
-console looks okay on size, be nice to have more space to mount more electronics though.

CC diesels around cape cod/south shore are for tuna fishing pretty much, long days trolling and running, to warrant the diesel cost. and being limited in range, just being a 23', its a small niche. you compete with the albin 26 and cape cod marine 26 for example in trailered tuna CC. sure not as pretty. nowhere close even. but....I have to wonder what special person this boat is aimed at...inshore for a family its a lot easier to have a bracket and OB both for approaching sandbars and beaches and getting on/off, IO keeping in water is less than ideal at least for me imo, so forth.

A beauty for sure, but....out of my price point by far, and the special niche special person not sure who that would be. And in that price point I dream I see new Onslow Bay, Conch 27, Yellowfin, Albin 26, down east boats 32-35 footers used...a mix of OB and diesels for sure.

Fyi for the seatrail it did not have the teak louver door on the console
The scuppers are 1 1/2" and a 300lbs man can stand in the back and no water
The deck is a 2" vacuum infused composite that is raised 1 1/2"
And this boat has a legendary history of catching more tuna then we all can't imagine.
Not being defensive just giving you correct information.
Have a good day guys!