Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Two years and no Seacraft and now I've acquired a 1976 18'.
I'm going to raise the transom and re-power and I'm considering the new Suzuki 90 or an Evinrude 115. The Suzuki has some incredible performance reports, weighs about 350 lbs and has a 2.59-1 gearcase. I was wondering if anybody runs that kind of a combo and what kind cruise speed I should expect. I'd like to be able to run faster than 25 mph cruise. Top speed isn't an issue. The boat will be kept light, no top, one or two people and a livewell.
I'd like to pull the trigger while Suzuki (3+3 year warranty) and Evinrude (free controls and stainless prop and a 5 year warranty) still have these offers.

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

If I'm wasting your time, just disregard this reply, but, I have 2 friends with 18' Privateer boats with the 4s 90 Suzis and they love them. They are cruising around 24 knots and top end is around 31 knots. The only thing is that the Privateers don't have as much deadrise as the SeaCraft. Might take you a little longer to get on plane than the Privateer. They are fairly heavy boats due to the construction, (very tough boats), but they plane pretty quickly. :D

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Thanks for your reply. The new 90 really seems amazing. Here are performance reports for a Suzuki 90 on a 19' Carolina Skiff and an E-tec 90 on a 17':
http://www.evinrude.com/Content/Pdf/...orts/PE743.pdf
http://suzukimarine.com/uploads/05_C...Skiff_SZ90.pdf

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

That's comparable to the Optimax 90. See it here. http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines...letin/?ID=365&

The Optimax also comes with 5 yr warranty. Cost about $7000 plus rigging for a left-over '09 or '10

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

bitsamonkey,
Welcome back! Please be more selective with your diving buddies. :o

Cheers,
GFS

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Thanks. Yeah, I'm going to try to make it stoner proof! First step will be the 25" transom. No more "Sink Crafts" not even if they're "Classic Sink Crafts". There's some things I really like about the 18' (toe kick on side gunwhales, no silly seats in front of the transom) and excited about brandy new power. Also, this '76 is better built than my '69.

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Got to love those 76 18's! Can't wait to see some numbers and pics. Check that front fish box drain. They have a habit of leaking between the outer flange and hull.

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

bitsamonkey-Congrats on the 18SF. Did you get the blue one in Miami with the 150 Mercury? I was looking at that one 2 weeks ago before I bought the 18SF in Tally. I had the exact same set-up (358lb Yamaha 130) on the old one as I do on this new one. You are right on with those weight concerns and motor choices. If you look at the pictures of the CSC member who just added the deck storage in front of his console on his Potter 18SF and then look at all SeaCraft Industries or Tracker 18SF's and you will notice that the console was moved forward. I don't think it has been discussed on CSC, but it looks like a production decision that works well to move weight forward.

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Bitsamonkey, what up? did you decide on the etec or the zuke. I'd opt for the lighter rude but straight gas is sweet. I don't think you can go wrong with either but beware - nothing is totally stoner proof :D :D :D

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

I was at the dealer yesterday with cash in hand to put a deposit on the suzuki, when it turns out my dealer wasn't offering the free 3 year extended warranty. They are strongly affiliated with BRP, so he started talking me out of the Suzuki and into an e-tec with the maintenance schedule, hole shot line. It did get me thinking, but I've come back to the Suzuki, only I'll wait until the boat is actually ready. I'm sure there'll be some kind of promotion then too. I made a few calls to find out if owners could do their own maintenance without voiding the warranty. The answer is yes. If I had to trailer the thing to some dealer every 100 hrs it would be a dealbreaker.

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Keep your receipts and take pictures off the new stuff and old stuff with dates on the pictures. We just set the stuff beside the motor before changing and take pics and then take pics of the fluid draining. Just to be covered.

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Good advice.

Re: Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
 

Does anyone know anything about yamaha's f100? There's a carbed 2002 for sale at an interesting price. Any issues?

Can you please elaborate or explain ? I'm in the process of finalizing a deal on a 1975 potter 18 and it's been an ongoing learning process. Every time I open this site, I learn something new.I have learned more about boats on this site in the past few weeks than I have in my entire life but I'm still a newbie and sometimes need a little explaining to understand . Don't quite understand what you mean about "the outer flange & the hull"

Your front box should drain through a "Thru Hull Fitting"; A threaded pipe that has a flange on the outside hull surface and a nut that tightens on the surface of the fish box.

The fish box, the deck and the interior sides are the "Liner". The liner is attached to the hull in certian structural areas not the entire hull. The area of the fish box drain has a block of wood between the liner and the hull so the thru hull fitting can be tightened enough to not leak. If there was nothing solid in that area, tightening that fitting would break the liner.

Over time that wood block rots away and the fitting becomes loose and leaks water into the bilge between the hull and thru hull fitting flange. The fix is to remove the thru hill fitting. Use a wood chisle to remove the rotted wood. Use an epoxy filler in place of the rotted wood. Redrill the hole Put a bead of 5200 sealant on the flange and install the thru hull fitting. Put some 5200 on nut to seal the fish box.

I would check the thru hulls "Scuppers" in the transom as well. Stay away from the plastic thru hull fittings. Use bronze or stainless.

Where do you access the block of wood to chisel it out, through the actual thru hull hole? and from which side ,the fish box side or the hull's exterior skin skin ? Sorry about my lack of proper nautical terminology .

I have one, as do others. Great mileage. 5+ MPG. Light motor. With a stern lifting 4 blade prop expect to top out at 33-35MPH. I like it a lot.

good to know I replaced the trhru hull on my 20 and saw no rotton wood in the hole and was able to get a good tight fit of the hull and box.

As a compulsive lurker yet casual poster, I need to update this thread:

I got the boat "done" around October and have about 50 hrs on it now. The suzuki has been great so far. I top out at 38 mph on the rev limiter at 6300 rpm with a 3x14x18 suzuki stainless prop and cruise at 28 mph at about 4900-5000 rpm. I had a 14x19 aluminum prop that cruised 28 mph at about 4500, but would only hit 5500-5600 rpm. Fuel consumption is extremely low, I could get close to 7 mpg with that 14x19 prop. I've got the nmea2000 hooked to a garmin 740 and get very acurate fuel flow rates. Right now, I'd say I average close to 6 mpg. The boat balances very nicely, planes out flat, and does not porpoise. I have volvo ql tabs and they work great. I would say tabs are a must if you plan on running an 18 or 20 in anything over a small chop. First time out I was actually pretty ecstatic with the performance of the motor after having taken a $8,000 gamble on wether or not it would be enough power for that hull. At no point does the boat feel under powered. The stainless prop has some small vents and gets the boat on plane very quickly even with a full 30 gallon livewell and two people. In rough water it has plenty of poke to climb swells and allows you to drive the boat. I really couldn't be more pleased.

Here are a couple of pic's. I'll do a proper photo shoot next time I'm out.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w.../seacraft3.jpg
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w.../seacraft1.jpg
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w.../seacraft2.jpg

Real nice rig man.. You taking it out this weekend ?

Looks great! Love those 18's.

No worrys sidelock. You know enough to have made the decision to own a SeaCraft..

You work at it from both sides through the thru hull hole. If its rotten it comes out easy. If it looks to be alright, just leave it alone.