a mistake or what else
 

I have a guy interested in my 23 cc, I have had it for two years now and have worked out all of the bugs and it is perfect, this guy comes along and is willing to pay for a finished product. but now the dilemma , the 23 runs like the devil, and I have been looking to get into something bigger, in the 31 ft category
granted I don't think a bigger boat will run any smoother or in any tougher conditions than the seacraft, more room and making day trips 80 miles off is the reason for getting something bigger. now do I take the deal and expect to fish offshore more. or keep the 23 and fish offshore with it
how much better would a 31 run than the 23 in most conditions.
keep it simple and keep what I have, or open up a new can of worms with another boat
this is going to beat me up.

Re: a mistake or what else
 

If you've got the fuel capacity to travel 300 miles, keep the 23'. (160 mi RT + 25% [40 miles] trolling + 50% reserve [100 miles])
Unless you go to a beamier as well as longer boat, you're aren't going to see much improvement in ride or fishability, if any.

Re: a mistake or what else
 

If you're thinking 31 you'll keep thinking it. If its a Bertram 31 or similar sport yacht style, I get it - more creature comforts for long runs, weekenders and over-night trips. If it's just a longer cc then I don't see the point especially now that she's dialed in, but that's just my cheap a$$ talking in circles. :D

Re: a mistake or what else
 

I use to run a 31 bertram, that boat does not run as nice as the 23 I will swear to that. now the newer style 31 say contenders, regs, don't know.
run another boat now it is a 42 downeast, only makes 16knts. need a good two day weather window to do a trip way off. happens sometimes, mostly not, would like to have more speed to do day trips. but how much will a 31 gain anything on a 23? this is going to kill me

anyone here ever run a 32 sea craft? could that thing run like a 23 on steroids?

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Roger that on the ride comparison, Dog. I was just referring to the cabin and accommodations of a sport yacht. I haven't ridden in a modern 31 cc, but by all accounts they do fly and ride well. The Contender 31 Fish-around or a similar express fisher would be worth the change, but for me it needs some form of napping zone - cuz if momma ain't happy, nobody's happy :D

Kinda nice to have such a tough decision to make...

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Any 31 is going to ride way better than your 23.
I have ridden on and fished on many 31 and bigger class boats. Hydra Sports were the worst, with Contenders, yellowfins, and Regulators being the better ones.
There are some pretty cheap 32 Seacrafts out there but I would do one of the ones I just mentioned if I where going 30ft or over.
Although I have always said if my boat is going to be 30ft or bigger she is going to have A/C and some where to sleep. A 30-32 Carolina Style Express boat would be where I would steer towards. My father just built a 21 Carolina Style boat and the ride is very surprising. Year after next he is going to build an express stlye in the upper 20s to 30ft.

Re: a mistake or what else
 

A CC just plain beats you up on long rides, I noticed a big difference in my Sceptre even

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Hi Dog

I’m with SeaCraft 84 on this one. I love my 23 CC But it’s still just 23 Feet long.

Sea Conditions are seldom talked about and often overlooked.

If you are running your CC in 1-2 or 1-3 footers a 23 can do what ever you ask her to do but if the seas become 3-5 or 4-6 and higher you just need a bigger boat to run on plane simply because your 23 cant reach over to the next wave but starts heading down the other side of the wave just when the next wave is coming at you.

With a 31- 36 CC the bow is going to reach over to the next wave and you ride on top.
Now I am only talking about CC type boats, when you talk about twin inboard express fisherman and convertibles you are talking about another animal all together they weigh twice as much and the whole dynamitics of the ride is totally different.

If only I was wealthy I would have 3 boats
One 18’ bay / flats boat
My 23 CC and
One 31- 36’ for those trips to the Bahamas.

All 3 types of boats do exactly what they were built to do the problem is US trying to make them do what they were not designed to do.


FellowShip

………………………….

Just for the Grins :D

Official 23’ SF Antique Classic SeaCraft Owner

Re: a mistake or what else
 

I'm with Fellowship and seacraft84, we all love our SeaCrafts, but a 31 fter is a lot bigger than a 23, even a 23 seacraft. Fishing in the northeast with the long runs we have to make I think a bigger boat would give you a larger window to fish. If the forecast is spotty at all I have to pull the plug, with that size class you could have more of a margin for error when (not if) the weatherman is wrong.

Plus you should be able to fish the canyon in a 31 on nice weather windows.

Re: a mistake or what else
 

In short, the difference would be night and day and the narrower the better, for ride at least. Long, narrow, sharp= good ride in most cases.

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Maybe one of the newer 26 foot Seacrafts?? Longer and almost 1K lbs heavier. There are some deals on '09 leftovers. Ask me in a month and I'll let you know first hand. A charter captain on the Cape has one and loves it.

Re: a mistake or what else
 

It just depends on how much you fish and do you want to fish 80 miles more often. The bigger boat is going to be better no doubt about it for those far off shore trips esp if it gets snotty. The 23 is a great all around boat.

strick

Re: a mistake or what else
 

I can trailer it easily and operate it on a single motor and catch as big a fish as the top dogs :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...24-08_1120.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0037.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0046.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...hoowalkers.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ckDolphin2.jpg

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Well said, Chuck.

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Most of my experience in “moving up” in size has been on sailboats (now have a 40 footer), and I’d offer that there’s probably no easy answer – it really depends on your idea of how/when/where you’re going to use the boat. Bigger boats generally seem to get used less than small boats, I think because it’s usually a bit more of a production to get the bigger ones ready to go + more to clean up afterwards = less spontaneous “Let’s go out for a few hours.” Single handing a larger boat can be a PITA around the dock (& trailering).

Boats grow geometrically, not just in length, so trailers, dockage, haulouts, paint, wax, canvas, hardware, cordage, ground tackle, fuel burn, etc., are all bigger/more expensive, so the up front and ongoing dollar commitment grows fast. All that said, if you have the time, money, desire, and it fits your expected use profile, a larger (quality) boat will probably be a lot more comfortable and safer when the weather turns cruddy.

If after thinking it through it feels right, I’d say go for it…you should be able to get a good/great deal in this market, if you’re careful you may be able to feed the “big boat bug” with limited downside $ potential. Good luck!

Re: a mistake or what else
 

"With a 31- 36 CC the bow is going to reach over to the next wave and you ride on top."

We have freinds that own a "sea tow" outfit and one day we were talking about boats and he said the same thing about a larger boat being able to reach the waves and have a better ride.

And here is a guy that makes his living on the water

Re: a mistake or what else
 

I went through the same exact dilemma earleir this year. I loved my 23' and had both time and money invested in it.

However, the offshore bug bit me. In NJ, offshore fishing means going up to 100 miles offshore.

I wanted to stay with a cc because I am well versed with twin engine setups (my last two seacrafts were twin engine run).

I wanted to spend no more than $50k to $55k.

Here were the boat manufacturers that I looked at:

Favorites:
Contender - both the 27 & 31
Regulator - 26 (shorest boat that I looked at but a real tank)

Other good boats (IMO)
Intrepid
Jupiter
White Water
SeaVee
Hydra-sports

I ended going with a 26 Regulator. I took several of them for test spins in real snotty conditions and was very impressed.

I went with the Regulator becuase I could buy one with a good power pack (twin 200 HPDI's) that was within my price range.

Also, a 31' Contender would have been a very tight fit in the slip behind my house.


What kind of boat are you looking for? Sinc I spent months looking at large CC's, I know of some very good deals out there (and will share the specifics with you if you so choose)

Do I miss my 23' SeaCraft? Yes! I hope to buy either an 18' or 20' SeaCraft one day in the next several years.


Peter

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Lots of Contenders for sale out there for very good prices. They may have alot of hours on them but you have to think they do alot of slow trolling, well at least most do. 31 Contender with some 4s or some HPDIs would be my pick if you wanted a CC. Family friend has one and boat fishes very well. A bean bag seat and its like ridden on clouds

Re: a mistake or what else
 

thank's for all the good advice, but as luck will have it's way, the other guy made up my mind for me, the buyer made me an offer.(thursday) I accepted his offer.( friday night). guy emails me over the weekend that he bought another boat.

so the bigger cc will have to wait,
till then I will be zippin offshore and around the coast on my 23
or out fishing with capt chuck LOL

tight lines to all

Re: a mistake or what else
 

Wow...

Well the good news is in the inshore bite is turning on :cool: