Why No Love?
 

Of all the boats you see restored on this site I have never seen anyone re-doing a 20 sceptre? How come? Yes they are rare....around 200 total built...but are they a POS to fish out of? They look like a really cool little boat with the walk thru windshield and lots of room on the deck like it's big brother the 23 Sceptre which gets tons of love. Someone please come forth with your 20 sceptre and tell us about it.....please! :)

strick

Strick

There is one sitting down the road from me. It never goes out. I bet you could score it for cheap denaro. The sickness continues :eek:

Maybe member EBEACH will see this and chime in.He has both, 20' and 23' Sceptre's.

Strick are you gonna come clean or what? Let's see it ;)

doodlebug's dad has one that has been sitting. :eek:
That be me bad for not going to get it!! :rolleyes:

I'm still in denial....still dreaming... of the possibilities and potential :) Love these old seacraft adds.

Here are a few pictures of some of our members boats from a while ago :)

Great pics Doc. As always.
Gheers,
Us

what a great looking 20 footer, love the added free board deck rails!

"Form follows function" is a credible concept. Why not a 20' Sea Vette?

Carl gave us some wonderful boats. The 20' Scepter seems to have been a miss. But looking at it, there might be a 20' Sea Vette in a modified deck 20' Scepter.

Anyone have the resources and talent to try?

A shirt tale friend of mine as a 20 Secptre and after you sit in it for a while you discover why they are not sought after....just a lousy set up.

Now I know the 21 is a completely different boat, but when he come over and see's the 21 he calls his the "TOY".

If I was ever to do one, I would turn it into a SeaDonzi...lol

Terry please explain.... from the pictures they seem to have fairly large cockpit. The walk thru windshield has a very large insulated fish box with overboard drain. Looks like you can stand on it and cast/fish from the bow as you would on a cc. There is storage in both sides of the consel. Seems like the windshield will help keep the elements at bay. The ride cant be all that bad...after all it is a seacraft :)

Strick, I concur with your thoughts. I've always liked that layout myself because with that big open cockpit, it's a lot like the Seafari, but with much easier easy access to the bow. The layout is actually quite similar to the Bowrider, except it's easier to get to the bow because you don't have to step over the front seat. I've spent some time in SkipnCarla's Bowrider, and that big cockpit makes it a great dive boat, much better than the CC with that big console in the way.

However I do have one story which may explain why they didn't sell more Sceptre 20's. Years ago a good friend of mine and his wife became converts to SeaCraft after a single ride out Palm Beach Inlet at WOT in 2-3' seas in my Seafari! They headed down to the Miami Boat show with the intent of buying a Sceptre 20. All the models were lined up with the transoms up against an elevated walkway. What they discovered was that the cockpits in the Sceptre and Seafari are almost the same size! (The bulkhead on the Sceptre is only about 6" further forward than it is in the Seafari.) Since the Seafari has an order of magnitude more storage in the big cabin up front, they ended up buying a brand new Seafari from Frank Brown in 1976! They had a couple of kids and decided that the Seafari was a better boat for the family because of the built in head and extra storage. And as great looking as the Sceptre is, they thought the Seafari looked even better and it didn't cost much more than the Sceptre! Denny

That's a cool little boat . . . would be a great fluke/scup/seabass fishing machine!!

Just speculatin' here, but it looks like you've been outed, Doc. So of all the "member's" 20 Sceptre pics you posted, which one's yours? :D

Dave

I know a pretty boat when I sees one;)
Aesthetically, the aft cap cutaway with the inset windshield just doesn't do it for me. Too reminiscent of the mid 70s Well:Dcraft Nova.

Otherwise no problem. Denny's point about the actual cockpit space is interesting. I'd much rather have the Seafari's love shack element (not to mention that Flipper smile) or the Mr Moesly's Bowrider.

If the 20's fore deck and upper cap were consistent with the 23'Sceptre, then you have a winner. Might even net you a small v-berth.

Knowing how airborne the 20 hull can get, I'd probably avoid a 20' Seavette offshore:eek: although it would probably ride like a dream in flat water.

Yea Bigshrimpin should change his handle to Bigmouthin :)

It's none of the above. The time will come eventually but for now she's under wraps till I make some room at home. After spending a fair amount of time examining it, I think it will make a great little boat for drifting live bait/plugging for stripers and it will also provide shelter and comfort when on the hook. Will post some pictures soon.

strick

We had a 20 scepter. It was great boat, lots more storage than one would think, and lots and lots of deck space, while the jump seats in back could be wet with a cross wind, they were very comfortable while underway.

Sneak preview. Everything looks solid. Has a mercruiser V8 in it!

Gillie the recessed windshield takes a little while to grow on you. After looking at it 100 times you start to like it !

I'm thinking something like this for winter fishing comfort. Maybe back to back seats that fold down so you have a place to put your sleeping bag for a little night fishing? Suzuki 140 on a bracket? maybe have a cute little radar arch welded up? removable canvas? Your right Capt Chuck...the sickness continues

Strick, if your rebuilding it, it will grow on me:cool:.
Are you kidding? A Ford 351? Maybe that was the 20' Seavette, er SeaCobra. Probably smoked the novas. Certainly explains the need for grab rails...

With all the storage Tiny spoke of maybe it was once a contraband boat:eek:

I would guess she could exceed 60mph righteously propped and trimmed. Love to see an old boathouse bulletin on that rig.

Anyone else running 70s muscle in a 20 hull? At least you'll keep the prop in the water... stripers must be really fast:D

Rebuttle
 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree with Gillie...of course any one that has a 21 I would have to agree with :D

My knock on the original design is that I think there is a big waste of space on to forward part of the boat. Those forward area's in front of the seats seem like an after thought. IMO that boat would be more functional as a cutty.

The second thing my opinion only, this is not dual purpose boat. If you want to make it look fast, then design the inside for fast cruising. I think Potter wanted both but did not accomplish it.

What you want to do with the boat is completely different than what the boat was build for. With that in mind I am totally confident it will be a Neat Strick designed boat, for whatever you have in mind.:rolleyes:

Strick, you truly have a bad case of Seacraftitis. . .. and I can't wait to see the result.

On the "no love" thing,I think Islandtrader and Bushwacker are on the right track as far as the original layout is concerned, it is a one track boat. I looked carefully at this hull before buying my 20 Seafari, the deck space was appealing. Whether or not its true, it looks like it would beat you in much of a sea, far more than the Seafari. No bunks, not as good spray protection, harder to drive standing up, and the inset windshield is not a winner. To my eye, it just ain't purty. Probably a great boat for a few applications, but the Seafari would appeal to far more boaters.

Connor

"To my eye, it just ain't purty"

Conner, you are correct!! Kinda reminds me of Spidercrab's cousin Mary Lou, or whatever her name is, not too attractive.

Speakin' of Spidercrab, where the hell's he been? Sam has only posted once since the format change. I hope he ain't been skeered off.

strick,
If it's an option, I think you ought to dust the cobwebs off that old Mercruiser and run it a while before you decide what to do with her. The helm is farther forward than any of the other 20' models and that's going to affect ride for the captain, at least. Being familiar with her handling will sure help with decision making.

That being said, I think it will make a great runabout for pulling the kids on an innertube, wake board, etc., or for inshore fishing, but offshore is going to be less comfortable.

BTW, you might want to seek counseling. This Seacraft obsession thing might be pathological. My family is now referring to ClassicSeacraft as "that cult you belong to", so I can relate.

[QUOTEMy family is now referring to ClassicSeacraft as "that cult you belong to", so I can relate.[/QUOTE]

Tell your family that there are a couple of GOOD cults!

Would they rather have you out drinking beer and not spending any "family" time?

Scratch that. You ARE out drinking beer with your Seacraft and not spending any family time!!!!

Great lake boat for squids.

That would be a great boat for squids on a lake or offshore on the nice days.

They too, will have the love.

Cheers,
Petey big mouth.
He`s fading. Funny cat. Wrounnn. Whrounn. I`m right here. Pet me please.

Thanks fellas I really appreciate all the honest and brutal comments about the 20 sceptre :) I can see why they were not as sought after as the 20 seafari or the 20sf and 20 MA. I never really paid much attention to them when I would see the occasional one here on the site. Then a buddy of mine who is a building inspector for a near by town spotted this one and reported his finding to me. I tried to get my brother to buy it 2 years ago but he passed on it. Eventually the people moved and the boat disappeared. Another 8 months go by and the boat pops up on craigs list this time a little further away. It was cheap denero for a cool little boat that I should be able to sell the motor and out drive to cover what I paid for it. I will probably try and get it running like it is just for the heck of it. If I like the way it handles then I'll dive into it.

It will be a fun little project to toy around with in windy and rainy days. It has about 75% of the cockpit fishability of my 20 cc. I know it will not ride as good as the 20cc. It's small enough to get into tight places and skinny water but big enough to fish the bay and delta with comfort. I'm still trying to figure out were I'm going to put the live well and how the seating is going to be laid out. The bow rail will come off so I can put a trolling motor up on the bow. There is a TON of storage space in each forward consel compartment. Much more storage then you will find on the 20cc models. I need to make some room at the house and then I can get going on it.

strick

Not really desireable on Cl either when their going for only 700 bucks I guess.....

I can see it now!!

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...973/page02.jpg

All the way baby!! Got one of those down the road from me. Every time I drive by it I wonder how much of a pain it must have been to glass in those sponsoons. Bills say's he has a starter for the 20 sceptre...Oh my I wonder how fast it's gonna go?

strick

Gee Strick,

Big has made it pretty clear what attracts us to boats - airslot or not - they wear poly well:D

Maybe its time to go re-xperience spring break in Daytona or beaches down US 1:eek: Area 442, West Palm, Jensen Beach, Key Largo? Ro(a)d trippp!

I think the little Sceptres speed and power will be silly... if you you get the Ford (probably mid 70's, no?) hummin' and opt to go modern, keep the 21 in mind down here on the border. Might be a nice up grade from the '65 chevy 230 package... lord knows i ain't got the chips for a 383 Stroker like Terry's

Will do Gillie. The engine/outdrive package will go bye bye if I can get it running properly. The only spring breaks I'll be getting are the one's my kids go on!! :)

strick

Hmmm?
 

After reading this i'm going to pass on the 20 Sceptre i found and hold off for a 23-25 Seafari, I want a cuddy anyway.

Have you seen heynow's 23' Sceptre I/O for sale without power? Just so you know, there are no 23' Seafaris, only 20s and 25s in that config. If you want a 25 you'll really have to hunt high and low since very few were built. There are definitely more 20 Seafaris and 23 Sceptre/Tsunamis around for reasonable money.

Get with Skip and Carla, they have a lead on a 25 Seafari.

Yes saw that nice boat heynow has, I askes waht he wanted for it as is, no respond yet. Whats the difference between a Sceptre and Tsunami?

Don't know how, whats their user name on this site? I'll send a PM. Thanks

You have the SeaCraft bug really bad from what I can tell way over here in California. Perhaps you could check out a few of them and possibly ride on one before you decide on what to purchase. :)

strick