Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

I bought a 1976 SeaCraft in 2005.. 1999 Yamaha V-Max 200 hp. She moves pretty good!

I have already added a T-Top ('07), then I noticed the floors were "weak" in certain areas. Had the deck reinforced ('08). Changed out the aqua cushons for white- added cushons for the step up bow area. Then a new trailer..

I'm on to the next project and I'm looking for recommendations:
1. I want to enclose the transom
2. put a dive/ swim platform on the back
3. paint the deck
4. paint the hull
5. new center console- old one is cracking/ broken where its screwed into the deck..
6. leaning post/ cooler seat (center console is low - capt's chairs currently).

I was told the transom enclosure- they go straight up from where the current storage compartments are located now- that would make a very wide transom (about 2 feet). Normal? Any new ideas for the transom- live bait well...? fold down seat (like I've seen on contenders?)..

Any suggestions on ORDER of operations- don't think I can do all at once, so it will be done in pieces.

Suggestions would be apprecaited!

Thanks
BK

[image]76SeaCraft2.jpg[/image]
[image]Picture 019.jpg[/image]

Can you not pull pictures from your own computer? I don't have a web site to pull my personal pictures from- thats what it seems like its asking me to do..? New to this site..
:D

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

You need your photos hosted on sites like Photobucket or Snapfish, then you can post them. Search the photo section of this site for instructions on doing so.

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

You can pretty much build your boat any way you like to suit your particular needs..only issue may be weight in the transom

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

A baitwell in there would be nice but my thoughts exactly on the weight

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

FAQ: "How do I add an image to my message?
In order to add an image to your message or your signature, you must have the image already available on a web server. This can be an image on your own personal web page, for example. To place an image within a message, simply use the following Markup Tag:

http://www.url_to_image.com/image_name.gif

For example, if you have an image called cateye.gif and its available from your own website at http://www.mywebsite.com/pics, then you would use the following image markup:

http://www.mywebsite.com/pics/cateye.gif

You can do the same for your signature. Click the My Home option found on any page. Then, under the Main Configuration heading, click on "Personal Information, email, password...". Look for the Signature box, and enter your desired information, including any images/markup as above.

Note: To keep the forums loading quickly for everyone, it is recommended that you do not exceed 35k for your image size. "

So I try and type [image] (and then cut and paste from snapfish- the address bar- and this is what I get
[image]http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/slideshow/AlbumID=6559063009/PictureID=337942458009/a=24490700_24490700/[image]

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

[image]http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/slideshow/AlbumID=6559419009/PictureID=337955879009/a=24490700_24490700/[image]

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

Might be the privacy settings in Snapfish?

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

Here's a slide show of what I did to mine. If you go with a bracket, I'd suggest you consider one of Don Herman's fiberglass brackets, which have the most flotation of any bracket made, and you won't have to worry about corrosion problems. Would also recommend using one of Don's rigging kits for a nice clean installation that keeps all the rigging below deck. If you run the rigging tube and hydraulic steering hoses straight across the swim platform into the transom like most folks do, it really clutters up the swim platform as well as the inside of the boat forward of the transom.

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...6SeaCraft2.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...oatPics002.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...oatPics010.jpg
I THINK I GOT IT!

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

nope... but my pic is next to my name now..

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...6SeaCraft2.jpg

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...oatPics010.jpg

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...oatPics002.jpg

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

Nice job bushwacker!! Looks great!! I'm in the process of talking to a guy who rebuilt an old '76 seacraft like the one I have now; however, that one was done like yours- hatches remain the same height. I've asked him to figure out if we could raise the hatches to the transom level and leave space for a live bait well down the line. He is looking at it today- so I'll keep you posted.

I am leaning towards the lines on top of the bracket since it wont be coming straight thru the transom to the inside of the boat- that will all be an enclosed area in the back. Then we'll run it thru the flooring to the center console.

Weight?? I've heard people say
1. you need to add weight to the front of the boat (someone said 700 lbs)
2. older seacrafts sit heavier in the water- so you might not need to add much weight to the bow.

I have an "idea" but not sure if it will work. I want to put my fresh water washdown in the front hatch (been looking for a rubber bladder that can form to the space) and a reserve gas tank in the 2nd hatch in the bow step up area..

Interested to know people's thoughts on that...

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/.../Phase3-02.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/.../Phase4-07.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/.../Phase3-05.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/.../Phase5-02.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/.../Phase6-03.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/.../Phase7-06.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/.../Phase7-06.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...k/Phase8-1.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...k/Phase8-3.jpg

2 bow hatches- front- fresh water washdown tank / center- reserve gas tank
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture004.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture005.jpg

AND THEN THERES THE CENTER CONSOLE
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture009.jpg

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture007.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture006.jpg

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

Even if you clutter up the platform by running all the lines across it instead of under it, they'll still have to dip down to get under the deck, so why not run them down under the platform so you'll have a straight run into the bilge? Only disadvantage to Don's rigging system is the cables have to be a little longer, but that's not an issue if you use quality cables.

To a guy that has spent 45 years in the aerospace world where even a couple of ounces of excess weight was a big deal, adding 700 LBS of weight to the bow just because somebody screwed up and got the CG wrong, seems like a terrible idea! First mistake folks make on these boats is putting a 500 lb motor on a boat that was designed for an I-6 Merc of less than 300 lbs! Next mistake is moving the heavy motor 30" aft on a bracket with insufficient flotation. Adding ballast to the bow to compensate for the first 2 mistakes only compounds the problem and creates an even heavier boat that won't have the superior ride and performance that is expected of a SeaCraft!

SeaCrafts don't sit heavier in the water unless they're full of waterlogged foam and decks. In fact if you compare the weight of the original Moesly 4-stringer design on the '72 and earlier 20's to most modern wider beam 20' boats, you'll find that they're pretty light, considering the thickness and strength of the layup. Balsa core in the decks and cap made a big difference compared to the plywood used in the post-Moesly/Potter boats. The VDH hull is also very efficient and doesn't require as much power as conventional hulls. A lot of 20's were sold new with 85-115 hp motors and rode very well with that lightweight power.

On the baitwell, why put it on the transom and make the boat even more stern heavy? I'd be inclined to go with a leaning post with a baitwell underneath it to get the weight forward a bit.

Re: Laundry List 20' 1976 Seacraft
 

Listen to the Elder, His mind is faster than mine ever was.


http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ugust08119.jpg

She loves the water there. Sits right down. Almost feels like an inboard. Now I`m getting greedy.

Carl had the cg at the mid point of the gas tank. Always thinking.

Search Bushwacker`s threads and learn.

As always, ask questions.

Cheers,
GFS