Any Final Advice?
 

I am going down to Florida tonight to get a boat surveyed tomorrow afternoon. Any final advice? I have a surveyor and have had the engines compression and lower unit oil checked. So far everything looks good. The boat is a 1976 23'cc. I would appreciate any final advice that I might not get from the surveyor.

Thanks in advance, CMBarnes

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB,

Have a good trip. I would be as anal as posible about the transom and floor panels. Re-doing them is scores of hours worth of work. That's OK if you buy it really cheap. I would also tend to pay more if everything is original and solid.

The next thing is the motor. If it has an older motor, how many hours does it have left dependably? The cost to repower new is at least $14,000. Only around 1/2 of that is added to the boats value.

A decent trailer is worth $1,000 to $2,000.

Have fun and good luck.

Otto

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CmBarnes-

I've bought two boats out-of-state (Florida & Texas) and hauled them both home to Boston. Both boats were in good to excellent condition but here are my recommendations for you.

Make sure you hire a good surveyor (Brian Stetler in Jupiter is VERY GOOD....www.amarinesurveyor.com) to look over the boat before you fly down. Ask him to take digital photos and include them with his report. Have him check the stringers, transom, floor, gas tank, wiring, engine, electronics, trim/tilt, and throttle/shift cables. Some surveyors only do engine compression tests, some do more extensive engine inspections or have a deal with a marine mechanic who will do it for them.

Also, be sure the surveyor water tests the boat, and everything is in working condition. Make sure he documents whatever is not working or needs replacing and use this as a bargaining tool with the seller. After the survey, I negotiated the seller down $2k by phone/email to cover some things that needed to be repaired. I would recommend that you have a pretty firm price agreed upon before you get down there...you dont want any surprises. If the boat is a total lemon when you arrive or it just doesnt seem right, you DO NOT have to buy it. You can always get on the next flight home or just spend a day or two looking at other boats in the area.

Once you're convinced that you want the boat. Fly or drive down, (make a UHaul reservation if you need one to haul the boat home...talk to me before you do this...I talked them down from $1000 to $387) and then go check out the boat. I would insist on water testing the boat yourself too...1) to see if rides the way you think it should 2) to see if you notice anything the surveyor missed.

Also, be sure to make sure that the trailer is in good working condition (bearings, tires, lights, etc) and your BOAT US Trailer Road Service has not expired. When you get down there go the local Wal-MArt and pick up a couple of sets of bearings & seals, an extra hub, a grease gun, a jack, lugwrench, etc.

All I can say is be prepared...and then prepare some more.

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB - That's a sharp one and if it were me & the survey worked out, I'd buy it and sell the motors and get a single 225 [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ... But that is a pretty boat - hope it works out for you!

Though like my fellow ma$$hole said, don;t be afraid to run! Good luck.

ED! YER DRIVING WITH ME TO FLA WHEN IT'S MY TURN, HAHAHAHA!

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John - Your time will come. Damn- if you found a boat next week I would definitely go...just so I can escape this 3 degree weather in Boston..it is freezing here.

Seriously, before you know it, a nice 23 will be sitting in your driveway. And you know what? You'll be the one to get the deal of a lifetime, because you have the used Seacraft market place wired.

Great lakes or bust?

Has anyone recently done some boatyard (non on-line) hunting for 23 Seacrafts in the great lakes region? With Michigan having more registered boats than any other state in the country, I would think that there has to be a few lying around in a boat boneyard or someone's backyard up there somewhere. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think some guy from the Cape scored a sweet deal on one from some nickel & dime marina on Lake Erie... I forget his name.

Also, maybe you can bribe that guy Otto to quietly poke around some of the yards up near him. You never know what is lurking in the weeds (or behind those 8 foot tall piles of snow).

-Ed-

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Ed - I appreciate but I'm now on hold pending better job security at work - things are tight so I'm on hold again until things tick up at work. Not down & out but seriously on hold. So bad I've only checked BT twice in 3 days [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Matt1121,

Since getting to know SeaCraft in the last year, I've paid attention to every SeaCraft ad or posting and ask at every marina. Most up here reply "a what?". If I see anything, I'll post.

As far as I know, my 23CC that will come online in April, is the only SeaCraft on the Great Lakes. Of course, we would love to hear from any members or visitors to comment on any Great Lakes SeaCraft experiences.

My sea trials this summer showed that the hull is terrific for the steep close headseas we have up here.

Regards,

Otto

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Bring your jacket it is cold down here! 22 degrees in Jacksonville this AM.
JW

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Thanks for the advice. I have already had the boats engines checked by a mechanic who does not regularly perform services on this boat. Everything checked out well.(I got the report faxed to me) The boat was "redone" in 1998. The motors (twin 200 Merc EFIs) were new in 1999. One of the motors had the powerhead and lower-unit replaced this past October under warranty. The mechanic that looked at them said they were very clean and the compression is not off by more that 2 or 3 psi on any of the cylinders. The motors are on a stainless marine bracket that is attached to a closed transom. All of this was done in 1998. The deck is said to be solid and the gas tank was new in 1998. Trailer is not very old and had bearings replaced in it this past summer. We will see how she looks up close. The surveyor has been reccomended to me by antother surveyor that surveyed a 23' '73 seacraft and did a good job. That boat didn't work out, so I am not afraid to walk away. I'll let the board know what happens. Thanks again for all of the advice, CMBarnes

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Hey CMB! Yer killing me here. I see you lurking out there right now and I'm guessing that by the lack of you being online here, you picked her up. Very sharp boat & I hope it worked out for ya.

If you didn't get it and it's too painful to think about, just tell me to shut up. However, if you did pick her up - tell us all about it. Right now I'm living vicariously thru the rest of you & I need a fix...

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

I am going to make an offer to the owner this afternoon. I was patiently waiting this week to get the full surveyors report (Boy was that tough). The boat is in good shape overall but needs some minor work done to it, as any 1975 hull would need. Mainly just cosmetic things need to be addressed but I want the boat to look perfect so it'll go right to a local guy that specializes in restoring Seacraft. (This of course all hinges on the owner meeting my offer.) I liked the closed transom. It gives you a lot more room in the stern. As you can imagine, the boat flat out moves with the twin 200s. We got up to about 60mph on my handlheld and they still had a little juice left. I am definitely excited about the boat and hope everything works out. I am thinking about getting it repainted....any ideas for colors...I was thinking Navy Blue awlgrip on the outside and bright white on the inside. I'll keep this thread posted as to what happens.
CMB

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB - good luck - hope he accepts your offer (or close to it)

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

The owner and I agreed upon a price. I will be driving down to the Keys as soon as I can get down there to pick her up. I am ecstatic. I know there could be some issues that "appear" out of nowhere but the surveyor said the boat looked good for its age. I made a low offer and he countered at a price that was not much higher. I would get in the truck right now if it wasn't for that thing called work. I found a motivated seller....after 8 months of searching I'm bringing her home. Boy am I excited!!
CMB

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB - Fantastic! Glad it worked out for ya...

I believe this is the boat, right?

http://www.theboatzone.com/albums/sh.../red7623cc.jpg

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

A [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] W [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] E [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] S [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] O [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] M [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] E [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] !!!

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

SWEET! What'd that puppy go for? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Everyone seems to be getting these nice SC's, I'm starting to feel like a red haired stepchild [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

That is the boat although that picture is a bit deceiving. The boat is not in as good a shape as that picture shows. I think that picture was taken in 1998 when the transom, paint, bracket and engines were all new. The owner was asking 20,500 but I talked him down significantly.

CMBarnes

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

That boat is sweet. I'm sure it is a bit rougher now, but you seem to have made out like a bandit, especially since you talked him down considerably. Well done. Geez, that trailer alone is worth a few thousand.

Fly down, rent a UHAUL and haul her home. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!

-Ed-

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Thanks for all of the replys and well-wishes. I am excited about her potential. I am going to restore her fully and am excited about the work, although a yard is going to help me with a lot of things. She really only needs some cosmetic work but I think I am going to go all out. New custom T-Top, paint, new electronics, redo part of the deck, redo hatches and fittings, redo the console...ect. I am sure the list will continue to grow. Thanks again, and I will make sure to get some before and after pictures.

CMB
If I have any questions I know this web-site will know the answers!!!!

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Looks good CMB! I bet she rides nice on that triple axle.

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Sharp boat [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] , good find! Have a good trip back!

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB,

Ya done good!

Otto

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Good luck!

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

NICE !!!!!!!!

LOTS OF LUCK WITH HER !!!!!

Scott

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

She is finally home. I drove down to Key West and trailered her back. Long drive with horrible gas mileage and one blowout but I know it will be worth the trouble. I am taking her for a spin tomorrow afternoon and then to a shop later in the week to start the restoration process.
CMB

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

hello gang,

PRETTY BOAT, congrats i love the color is it orig? if so may want to keep that scheme, it just might grow on you?? any more pics? again lovely looking SC-looks timeless, no other brand looks as great as our boats!!!

I added a picture of our restoing 23 on
rbrboats.com

Best,
Christian

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Congrats [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB, CONGRATS!! you went through a bit of an ordeal getting her home, but, man, what a buy! I have to agree with Christian, though - you ought to think about retaining her current colors - she's a beauty!! Does she have a name?

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

I will think about keeping the color. It is a nice red but it is a not the boat in the picture up above. Lots of scratches and some fading. The previous owner did not love the boat like he should have...his loss is my gain. She doesn't have a name yet...any ideas? Thanks for all of the support.

CMB

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CmBarnes-

Congratulations on the new boat. I know how tiring driving a boat cross-country can be....one blow out isnt bad at all compared to some of my horror stories [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Anyway good luck with the boat. You should think about calling her the Red Baron.

Ed

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB,
Congrats on the boat. Keep the red, there is no better looking boat in that color than a 23 CC. I saw a picture of her on BT, very nice! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

CMB, i like Ed's idea (The Red Baron) but how about "The Flaming Mermaid"? Have you taken her for a spin?

Re: Any Final Advice?
 

Real nice looking boat....I like the red too - you don't see too many boats in red these days...try it for at least a season!

I just did a re-gel coat on my 23' - did it in Fighting Lady yellow....I just need the weather to break so I can sand her. I heard that will be about 30-40 hours of work to get it smooth - so if you have any doubts, stick with the red!

Red Barron is cool. How about Red Herring....or Red Dawn (good 80's movie)...