New SeaCraft 20
 

Hey guys, I'm new to the site and I'm thinking about buying a 2003 SeaCraft hull. I'm talking with a dealer who can sell me a SC20 for $18,000. I've heard the new hulls aren't as good as the classics, but what's the consensus on the new ones? Are they crap? I mostly flyfish and the the SC20's clean, simple design has a lot of appeal. Any input would be appreciated.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Hmmmm - spending 18K on a new hull (guessing left over without engine and otherwise stripped, right?) or the roughly same coin for Hammer's schweet 1972/2003 restoration http://www.classicseacraft.com/cgi-b...c;f=4;t=000460

Tough call but add another 11K for the engine & trailer and Hammer's is a better value (and possibly boat too)

http://www.classicseacraft.com/hammertrailer1.jpg

http://www.theboatzone.com/albums/hammers20/20sc_3.jpg

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Ha Loren B
I have a 1977 23 CC so I am not the best guy to guide you on a 20 footer but for me I personally love the hull of ALL SeaCrafts boats because of their over all look, which I thing is very appealing, plus the longitudinal steps in the hull which provides a great ride and entry into the water, and the variable dead rise which provides a stable platform for any type of fishing. As for the new ones verses the older one’s again this is me talking, the older one’s usually need work, lots of work to bring them back to new or nearly new states and some of the materials that they were made out of were not as water resistant as the new composite materials that the newer one’s are made out of. So it you are handy and like working on boats maybe the older ones are for you, but it you want to get on the water with one pretty boat and can afford the $$$ go for it. Either way SeaCrafts will always turn heads and be something that you will be able to build many great memories with.
FellowShip [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Loren B,
It dosen't seem like an excepional deal to me. Once you add 10 to 12K on a motor and trailer your aound $30k. I sell new boats for a living and at a recent boat show saw a new 20 with a motor for $29,900. I woud suspect that he could have a little more room in the hull than $18K. Also its almost 2004. That leftover should be eating a hole in his floorplan by now. Tracker should be throwing some incentives at his leftover stock to help him move it so he can stock up on 04's. Two things you can do.
1. Go after the total deal motor and all. Most Dealers buy their product pre rigged or matched to a specific motor brand or type. If you buy only the boat, the floorplan company still requires the dealer to pay for the whole package boat and motor. You pay 18K but he might owe 24k and have to come up with the difference out of his own funds. Therefore your deal on the boat alone may not be as good as if you purchased the entire package form him. You may be able to get the entire package for 26 or 27K and not have to worry about doing your own rigging and your in a better position when it comes to warranty.
2. Stick with the hull alone, but offer less. Be prepared to do your own engine hunting and rigging. You could save money this way but don't expect much from the dealer on Mechanical or performance issues .
I don't see anything wrong with the new SeaCraft 20s. Nice boats--whish I could afford one.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

I'm with John R on this one, buy Hammer's boat. Restored to BETTER than new condition, recent power, new trailer. etc. No t-top, so perfect for flyfishing. Yeah it's in Mississippi, but so what, make a road trip out of it and get an awesome boat. However, if you're looking to finance the purchase, you may be out of luck because of the boat's age.

Yes, the new ones are nice, but this one is better. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ December 11, 2003, 11:18 AM: Message edited by: Scott ScottM ]

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

$18,000 includes being pre-rigged for a Yamaha outboard. He's asking $29,300 with a single-axle aluminum trailer a 150-EFI Yamaha. I think I can get him down to $28,000 pretty easily. I would love to buy Hammer's boat but I don't know of anyone that will finance $20k on a boat that old. Thanks for everyone's help.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Hey That70sBoat, do you remember the dealer that was asking $29,900 at the buy show? I may give him a call and see what he has. I think the dealer I'm dealing with is now jacking me around.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Banks that deal in the marine business have no problem holding the paper on a older boat. All you will need is the boat gone over and the money is there.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

LorenB-

It's HAMMERTIME.

Seriously, I think John's idea is great. Buy Hammer's vintage boat restored with all the bells & whistles for significantly less than a new one.

Ed

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

As a fellow Charlestonian, now living and fishing a 1999 20 footer, I think you are good to go, either way. The 20 is great for fly fishing for all the reasons you indicated.

You didn't say where you are going to run the boat. Seacrafts are "happier" in salt or big fresh water lakes. It is overbuilt for bass lakes and your $ are better spent on a bass boat if you are doing rivers/lakes without real chop/slop/waves.

Don't plan to put a poling platform on it as it is a heavy boat and with any wind you will be too pooped to double haul...

Nobody mentioned electronics, spend what you can afford, but you will want a good GPS that can be read in bright sunlight (unlike mine), a good radio and a great antennae 9my radio is OK and my antennae needs another 3 foot of height, which should extend the range, but not be so tall as to mess up a backcast...Finally, you'll want a depth/fish finder. If these aren't in your "new" 2003, plan on at least another $800-1500...
Good luck and we hope to welcome you to the fraternity.
Sincerely,
"On the Fly"

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Rick,

It will be in the salwater 3-4 weeks out of the year(Oregon Inlet, Moorehead City and Panama City). I also wakeboard during the Summer months at Summersville Lake. I have a 16' Carolina Skiff that I bass fish from. I already have a Garmin 188 GPS/Sounder that I'm taking off my Key West. I will be looking for a new radio though. Any suggestions on a radio would be appreciated.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Everyone it seems raves about the ICOMs so 2 years ago I replaced my old Standard with an Icom. Ever since I have had noise in my radio from my bottom machine that will not go away no matter what Ive tried(and it has been everything, believe me). I have had to have it repaired once for switching to low power everytime I keyed the mike when it was new also. Just my opinion but from here on out it will be standard for me.- On the subject of gpsplotter/ bottom machine combos, I have been playing around with my friends x-16 lorance color machine lately when I fish on his boat.(a real nice machine when trolling) We tend to fish wrecks a lot and if you do you need to go with seperate machines (I suggest). It is very difficult (or in laymans terms a pain in the ass) with a split screen trying to turn back over a wreck when trying to watch it and the track plotter at the same time. I much prefer my set-up with 2 seperate machines. JMHO- good luck whichever way you decide to go. craig

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Hey Craig, I have a handheld Standard Horizon and it's been a great unit.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

LorenB,

My suggestion, buy all that you can afford. You dont want to do this twice (and your wife will probably not let you live with yourself if you wind up making a mistake)

I have a '99 21SC with an 03 Merc 225 Fourstroke. I love it, my wife loves it, my friends love it.

You cant go wrong as long as you buy a 1998 model or newer. I would just look around for the one that you and your family can agree on.

PS. These boats weigh a lot, be careful on the flats. If you get stuck and the tide is going out you could end up spending the night out there.

Tight Lines!

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Loren,
Sorry I was away from the computer for a while and did't see your question. The answer os i can't remember the name of the dealer but He was local in Ft Myers FL. or Pine Island. I'm sure that SeaCraft will have them listed in their dealer locater. You can use 33912 as a zip. Either way, New or Old SeaCrafts are great boats.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

That70sBoat, thanks for your help on the dealer in Fort Myers. They have one '03 left with a 150 Yamaha hpdi. He's says $29,995 is as low as he can go...I'll let him sit on it a little longer and then call him back. They've already received the '04's.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

I agree, Sit a bit more or let him know that you have considerable transport costs to get it home and you need a better deal than that. I'd be willing to wager he has more room.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Loren you might want to check in with Outdoor World over near Baltimore. They are a SeaCraft dealer (duh...they own the brand) and I have seen SC20's go for around $27-28k there, all with Mercs (125 saltwater to 150 Opti) and alum. trailers.

They will likely run a Mercury sale at some point this winter, at which point another $500 comes off the price. However, they have a really bad reputation as a sales staff. They don't negotiate at all and if you don't want to buy the boat today they will not call you back.

Re: New SeaCraft 20
 

Just my wee little opinion, but for fly fishing I prefer either the new 21's or the older 20's - both have a raised casting platform up front.

I have fished in the new 20's, both the classic layout as well as the master angler, but really prefer having the casting deck there. Others prefer a level deck, so take that issue into consideration. It's a personal preference thing, with one setup not necessarily being better than the other [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

If storage is an issue at all and you really want a new 20', you might want to consider the master angler version (what used to be called the Lefty Kreh model). I was at Bass Proshops this morning and looked inside the console on the new '04 20' Classic that they had on the floor - nothing but a forest of wires (ZERO storage).

[ January 01, 2004, 08:39 PM: Message edited by: Mark ]