20' seacraft history
 

did't seem to find the history on the 20' seacraft. is this boat design more for inshore duty based on the 16 deg deadrise and smaller gas tank?

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

Is this what you're looking for?

SF20 Specs

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

I think the inshore/offshore intentions are limited more by the 19'6" length than by any fuel or deadrise issues. I've been out when no amount of deadrise or gas capacity would make me comfortable in a 20' boat [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

I'll second that. Length does matter in this case... [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

no doubt that bigger is always better. maybe i should reword my question. for the owners of 20' seacraft. where is their primary and secondary use of their boats. ie bay, inshore, offshore(sometimes?), etc etc....

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

That's what she says [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

Typically within sight of land. Always seem to find fish without going further [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

Me too, offshore between 100' and 800' is far enough to catch just about anything. The length is important but also the weight, the heavier the boat, the better it handles the waves (within limits of course). Mine loves the offshore swells but takes a beating in the short chop that Biscayne Bay can throw at you. This is where a deeper V and a few extra feet come in handy!

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

I consider it sort of an offshore bayboat.....

hows that for an oxymoron?

I use mine to cross Buzzards Bay and get in close to the rocks, very close ask Capt. Chuck, around the Elizabeths

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

I think we hit a couple of those rocks that night. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

Often had my 1988 20' cc over 20 miles looking for dolphin, probably will not go any further with the 21' as most fish are within 7- 14 miles out in the middle keys, made a couple of trips to the marathon hump but not eager to repeat anytime soon

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

As trayder said it is a pretty much an offshore bay boat. Down here in Tallahassee I have to run 20+ miles to get to the grouper holes and it gets the job done if you dont mind occassionally getting wet. It also gets the job done for fishing some of the deeper flats for reds and trout.

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

My boat's previous owner used to make an annual run to the Bahamas every year on my 20' Seafari with no problems. Just have a full Coast Guard safety package, at least a handheld VHF, extra water and food and an EPIRB if possible. Keep an eye on the weather and go as far out as you feel comfortable with.

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

I have a 20 seafari with fairly new power, I take mine out 20-40 miles in the gulf all the time. While down in the keys twice a year every year for the last 6 I have no problem hitting the islamorada humps 12-13 miles offshore. Like any other boat If its nasty out you stay in more This boat has handled the rough better at times then my 25 aquasport while getting twice the economy.

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

When I owned Elpez's boat I ran her 50 miles offshore out of New Smyrna and OC Md all the time(weather permitting)and other than a wet butt she preformed fine. I also run a 15ft skiff 26 miles to the Marquesas,but 20 miles of it is in a foot of water. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

i run a 21 carolina skiff out of morehead city dolphin fishing about 25 miles out, i used to be 6ft4 but the 2 hour rides out and back shortened that up somewhat. Les

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

I have had my '73 Seafari 20' with a 150 Merc out from Homosassa all the way to the Florida Middle Grounds twice. That's 78 miles one way. It took right at 3 hours to get there having left at 4:00 am. I carried 24 gallons of fuel in two portable deck tanks to go with my original 43 gallon tank. We fished for 6 hours before heading in. Last time, I had just hooked up the second portable a mile offshore on my way back.
I was sure that I would be the smallest boat out there, but when I got there there was a guy by himself in a 17' Whaler Montauk and 60 hp Yamaha 4 stroke. He said he could go out and back from Holder Florida (71 miles) on his 30 gallon underseat tank, but he carried an extra 6 gallons just to be sure.
Oh yeah. We both are SeaTow members. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

Back in the early 80's, I used to run a '78 20' Seafari with a 1500 inline Merc from Lake Worth inlet to West End 2-3 times a week to go diving. 54 miles, one way. No extra fuel, just the 70 gallon tank it came with. I did have an Evinrude 15 hp kicker. Never used it, though. I sold that boat after making more than 50 trips to the Bahamas.

I also NEVER made the trip alone, always in convoy with other boats, as are my trips to the Middle Grounds.

I believe in managing my risk-taking.

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

thank you for the input. notice that a couple of members mention that the ride is a little wet. how about the ride quality from a 'pounding' standpoint for this boat. for instance, looking at the picture of the red seacraft in the main website, how hard did it land on its way back down? did the "seacraft" hull did the trick to a certain extend?

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

The only way to answer your questions is for you to go down to your local marina and offer some guy a cold beverage or two for a 20 minute ride in his boat. Coming to a website that is dedicated to a certain brand of boat will get you a string of very biased opinions. If most of us didn't like them, we wouldn't own them [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

As to pounding, I presume an SC20 rides as well in the chop as any other 19' boat. Better than some, but there are likely others that do nearly as good.

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

Elpez,That boat rides very soft,but very wet.Trim tabs help on both,however,the real equalizer is the throttle.When it gets nasty you HAVE to pull her back.My 25' boat that I run now is an abosolute pleasure to fish out of but not near as comfortable of a ride as your boat.It will run 40 kts,but very rarely can I run her much past 20kts.

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

As to pounding, my Seafari responds well but she does pound a bit in quartering seas, if you take them head on there's almost none. She does pound less at higher speeds when her whole hull gets into the act but a short choppy bay taken at 45 degrees will play hell with your back!

Re: 20' seacraft history
 

Bot, Your right, with a little speed you don't even feel the chop.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/DSC03196.jpg