Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

I currently have a 17 ft Boston Whaler Montauk, looking to upgrade to a 20' Seacraft. Issues with Whaler are it is a rough ride, even in normally calm Cape Cod bay, also powered by '88 Evirude which sucks gas. Looking at a mid seventies to mid eighties Seacraft CC with new power, perhaps 2-4 yr old engine. Need some guidance.

1) What do you get on Potter Build hull vs pre/post potter, is something that can be quantified (stronger hull design) or is it just a classic. What years are considered potter built?

2) I have owned whalers for a long time , comfortable with self bailing , "unsinkable" boats with low maintenance. I understand that the '70 20' Seacraft are not self bailing but, at some point mid '80s they did go self bailing, can anyone tell me what year this happened. The thought of relying on a bilg pump and battery in 4-5 foot seas for saftey is somewhat concerning.

3)I have heard various opinions on putting a 4 stroke on a 20' CC Seacraft, is it to heavy an engine, or performance wise are you better off going with 2 staroke?

4)Any opinions on buying a new 20' Key Largo vs used Sea craft, I have been told the Key Largo hull is the Sea Craft hull which the patent expired on and was picked up by Key Largo, any comments (fact/fiction)?

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

1. I owned a 20 Whaler Outrage-I prefer my 20 Seacraft it does not rattle my teeth.
2. 1980 and prior-opinion better hull lay up. I have two bilge pumps and an emergency pump. I really only use them when my bait tank overflows.
3. Running a 140 Suzuki 4 stroke-very good match for the hull. Batteries mounted in console and console moved forward for better weight distribution.
4. Owned a 16 foot key Largo when I bought my Seacraft and the Key Largo build quality is entry level but gets the job done (I don't think many people will be rehabing 30 year old Key Largos).

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

I own a 20ft. 1986 seacraft powered by a 140 Suzuki 4stroke.I also fish the same normally calm Cape Cod Bay. Boat is perfect except on days of north blowing winds.Hull is self bailing and has gotten me home safely in some unexpected 4-5foot seas.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

note - the 70's SeaCraft 20's -Are- self bailing, unless someone has done a modification and removed that -

motor choice - kind of depends on whether you have a 20" or a 25" transom. On a 25", the Suzuki 140 is an excellant choice, based on a number of users here. On a 20" transom, perhaps better to stick with a 4 cylinder - 2 stroke, to keep motor weight down.

the Potter built years are handlaid fiberglass, with one of the strongest layup schedules ever used in a boat this size.

and yes, it will outride just about any other boat you care to match it with, size for size.

and I never would have believed that, until I got mine.


Bill

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

I own a 17 ft. Montauk (since 1996) and the ride is very rough. Before I bought my 2000 23 ft. seacraft which is my current offshore boat, My father and I had a 1978 20' (potter built) seacraft master angler that we purchased brand new and picked it up at the factory which was in Homestead (Miami area) at the time. We had it built with a 25inch transom, which was an option. It turned out to be the right decision as we fished primarily offshore from Tarpon Springs, Florida until we sold it in 1995 (still regret the decision). I agree with Oldbluesplayer that you want to stay light if you get a 20" transom. If it was me, I would add the five inches right away if the boat you buy has a 20" transom , especially if you want to go offshore. Our hull was self-bailing. In 18 yrs. no issues - even minor ones - with the Potter built hull.
The ride on a 20 ft seacraft is fantastic and 100 times better than the 17ft. BW... Not even close. As with any old hull, make sure the transom is sound, no soft spots on deck and no issues with the gas tank.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

Just a note, mine has a 20" transom and they put some Starboard on top of the transom, about 5" and it works very well to keep the splashing down just an FYI, but weight of the motor is still very critical as mine with 406# gushes when you walk back there but will clear at anything above an idle.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

I have a 1986 SC20' CC with a 2005 4-stroke 150 Yamaha. The motor has plenty of get up and go, but is probably the max in weight for the 25" transom on my boat. If two people stand in the stern water will come in thru the drains, but it drains fine otherwise. I have a friend with a 135 erude that he says has plenty of power for his 1970's SC20. I did move my batteries (2) under the console and I removed the unnecessary oil reservoir left behind from the old 150 merc black max. Hope this helps.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

I understand all Seacraft have plugs in the rear to drain but my understanding is that in earlier models they were skuppers which were below the water line (more to be used for draining off once you have the boat back on a trailer). I thought that sometime in the eighties the drains were moved above the water line such that you could drain water on a plane, and did not have to worry about the plugs being out and waking to the back of the boat and having water shoot stright up and start flooding the boat. Is this the case or did I get some bad info along the way...did they chnage the design in mid 80s?

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

It seems that around 1979 or so the drain wend from through the bottom to out the transom at about the water line or a little below. This lets you use the ping pong scuppers to prevent water from shooting in when stopping.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

Just to add to my previous post: our 1978 20' master angler had through holes for the motor well and it had two drain holes, through the transom, which were right at the water line (maybe slightly above) They would spend some time below the water line, but we had litte black rubber doohickies (we used to call them duckbills, but dont know their technical name) that would allow water to drain but not enter the boat. We always carried an extra one or two and replaced them every couple of years or so. Water drained out fine on our boat and we occassionally went out in weather we probably should not have.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

Ogaff - maybe I can add a little clarity - there are plugs / drains, in the bottom of the transom, to drain the bilge when the boat is up on a trailer, out of the water -

But - also - even in the early 70's models, there were scuppers, to make the cockpit self bailing. In the 70's boats, these went straight down from the cockpit, down thru the hull - not out the transom. On the hull bottom, just in front of the scupper outlet hole, was a small wedge plate, this created a sort of venturi effect, so that, with any forward motion at all, water from the cockpit was drawn out the scuppers. At rest, if 2 or 3 guys stand in the back of the boat, yes, water will come up thru these holes, you will get a wet floor / feet, but not so much as to sink the boat.

See the following pic - look just in front of the forward face of the rear seats - this is a '73 Seafari, but the CC models are built the same - the small pockets on either side of the floor, right next to the sidewall, are the scuppers, which drain straight down thru the hull.

hope that helps some...

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...nside-rear.jpg

Bill

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

Yes as people have said water does come in the boat thru the scuppers but as bill said not enough to worry!!! But I never have had it shoot up in the air or anything like that!!!! Basically just when i'm pulling my lobster traps water will come in. as soon as i start moving forward the water exits no problem!!! but if i don't want water to come in i simply put plugs in!! Nothing to worry about. When my boat is on moring i always make sure to pull the plugs to the boat will self drain!!!! Just another voice to convice you!! Good Luck!!!! They are Great, Fun, SOLID Hulls!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/alarie/reality2.jpg
I have owned 3 different 20 SF's and this is the best option I could come up with. Riased the floor 2.5" on this 1972 hull and have it drain out the back. There are NO thru hulls in this boat for ultimate peace of mind.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

I will add another comment, the 70's boats are self bailing, although when built the motors availible only weighed about 275lbs ( inline Mercs) so drop 400 on it and you will get some water coming in the scuppers when standing back there. Move a little and it drains right out, feels pretty good on your feet down here in July though :D I have to use plugs on mine as I have 400 lbs of 200 Merc on it, but my 18 with a 115 Merc was fine with 3 guys standing back there, thats why we recommend 2 strokes.

Re: Looking for used 20' Seacraft - need advice
 

Go into the for sale forum look at mothergoose's boat. Don't know if you are looking for a sceptre but this boat is clean and the motor is new.