History of Seacraft builders
 

I am a new member to classicseacraft and have a question about the different builders of seacrafts. I know that the Potter/Mosely boats began in the 60s. I am interested in when the next builder, I believe Tracker, started and stopped production. Also, other builders came after Tracker and I would be interested in the years that they were in operation to the present time.
I have been considering looking for a used 23cc but have not been able to determine the builder of some years. I remember the tracker seacrafts and from what I saw I was not impressed.
Any info on this would be appreciated.

One thing to keep in mind that any boat that has been on the water for over 20 years has 2 things going for it....no matter who built it.

First all the bugs and weakness is factored out.

Two if the boat has not had any type of rebuild since its inception, most likely something will need attention.

I know less than most... But I went through the same thing. There is a thread on here all about it, but here it goes.

First of all if you told me the year, it could save me some trouble, but.


Pre 1970 (ish) were all Mosely built boats.
from 70-80 were Potter Built (some gray area when exactly potter stopped building)
81-88 is were either tracker or built in the carribean. From what I hear the few that were built in the carribean (CSY serial numbers) are absolute tanks. The ones built by tracker are OK, but not nearly as heavy on the glass.
After that I believe things really tapered off, and I have no idea who built them and don't really pay any attention to post 88 seacrafts.

Hope this helps and everyone corrects me on things I mis stated.

Thanks for the info guys. I owned a 1972 Seafari in the lte 1980's and loved the ride and have always been impressed with the 23cc. I believe after the Tracker boats they came back about 10 years later with another company in the Carolinas. I was under the impression that they were making a very good boat that was not as good as the Potters but still a good boat and much better then the Trackers. Recently they may have gone out of business and I don't know if another company is now making them. I recently saw a nice looking 1999 advertised and am curious if those were good years.
I know that a 23 Potter CC is a great way to go but I don't think I'd be ready for a big project.

This question pops up about every 6 months. The Hull ID number will tell you who made it, but there are some hulls that have turned up that don't fit exactly in this time frame.

Moesly...1960-1969(70). (No HIN)
SEC = SeaCraft Inc (Potter 1969 thru 5/80, no HIN prior to '73)
CSY = Carribbean Sailing Yachts (1980-1982 23'& 27' SeaCrafts only)
SIC = SeaCraft Industries Corp (1980 thru 1987 other SeaCraft Models) (Potter on Board of Directors approx 1 year after sale)
TXY = Sarasota Marine Corp ('86-'88 csy Parent Co)
SIC = Tracker SeaCraft of Fla (1987 thru 1990) all models
SXC = Stern Craft Corp (1994 Silver King Parent then Tracker Parent Co in 1995)
MIC = Silver King Boats (1994-2002 Mako Marine Parent Co)
MRK = Mako Marine (2002 Parent Co SeaCraft from Tracker

Thanks Blue Heron. How well made were the Silver King and later Mako boats?

CSY (Caribbean Sailing Yachts) and I believe SIC boats were built in a new plant in Tampa. They bought the molds from Potter but added some new models with different inner liners.

Blue Heron,

Looking at your SC builders timeline makes me wonder why my 2000 21' serial number begins with SXC? Any idea who owns the molds now?

There are more than a few molds around. I`ve heard BPS still owns theirs.

Not my timeline. I'm not sure who originally posted it, but whenever the question comes up, one of us old timers finds it and posts it again.


I believe Seacraft was owned by Bass Pro Shops by 2000 and they introduced the 21', the 25cc and the 32cc. The term "Classic Seacraft" usually refers to the Moesly and Potter boats.

After Potter, Seacraft industries retooled the mold for the 20' SF and made it 8" longer than the Moesly/Potter 20. The 25 Seafari was discontinued, and I believe the 20 Seafari was too. At least I've never seen a Seacraft Industries or later Seafari. Tracker added a 23' Walk around Cuddy to the lineup and somewhere in there, the Sceptre was discontinued. Anything built after Potter may be of good quality, but doesn't share the same mystique.
Dave

My slacker lay up is clean, but their riggers could be, well, um, afforded a fishing trip...
Lighter no doubt. Shame the Seafari and Sceptre left the lineup.

Thanks for the Zoot Suit Riot! Fits well. `twilll extend my season. Throw back a bottle of beer.

Your PMS is full.
Thanks again, and to you `77 Sceptre.

GFS

Hey guys--new to your forum. Just a little info that you may or may not know. My brother and I have run Seacrafts, both 20's and 23's from the Wilmington to the Point. For awhile 3 of us all had 23's and fished them in any canyon where the fish were--side by side competition. Our original boats, and the one that we still own were Potters and Moesely's. Although much better built than the Trackers, who couldn't build a decent rowboat in my opinion, I did own a Tracker and with enough West System and cloth, it was really an OK boat. My family believes so much in the SeaCraft hull, that my brother Jim has made a career out of building 50 to 80 foot Sportfish, with the variable deadrise SeaCraft hull. I know I'm prejudiced, but in my opinion they are the best head sea boats ever built, and have little to no roll at troll. Believe it or not, but Carl Moesley is still around and visits the shop offering suggestions etc. We have owned 6 or more SeaCrafts in our lives, and they do have the magic ride. I now own--long story--a 31 Contender. It is a great boat, and well built. But its ride is not nearly as good as a 23 foot SeaCraft. If anyone wants work on a boat done, Jimmy might do it if he isn't busy. But he has a direct line to Carl if you have questions. Take care and know your SeaCrafts will bring you home.

I feel so slackerizzzed. Stagger,fall,roll. Breathe, breathe, brea

OK, so why do you keep it?

Welcome to CSC Jettdog

Who are You? Who is Jimmy?
BTW: The proper spelling for Carl's name is " M O E S L Y" Go here for more info------> http://www.moeslyseacraft.com/
Not trying to be rude here, but let's get the facts correct on your first post :o

Jimmy must be Jim Floyd at F&S Boat Works.

Hey Sandy man, how you like your row boat? Maybe you can get some epoxy and cloth and make a Seacraft out of it.

Jettdog,
Welcome to CSC, and thanks for weighing in. As you probably know, Carl is collaborating with Steve Mathews who is a member here. It's a small world. We can be tough on newbies around here, but stick around and you'll find the gang to be a pretty good bunch.
Dave

I've heard that Sailfish boats have the mold, or did one hell of a job copying the Potter 23 hull. Could be all rumors though. I have never had a Potter 23 and a Sailfish out of the water next to eachother for a good comparison, but from what I can see on the water and at sandbars snooping around, the hull steps are pretty much spot on, as is the chine and deadrise.

Feel free to elaborate, shut down, etc

A few members spoke with the owner of Sf and he said his hull is based on the Potter but with some changes.

I`m now afraid to run my rude 150. I know the boat was rated for 235hp factory and that the transom is 2 3/8" thick, but alas, I`m a sceered.

If I run three stations of oars, could I acheive a 5-7 knot trolling speed? Is the Mirage+ oar a better choice than a Stiletto oar? 4 blade oars in the stern station? Would a Genoa help?

What about harnessing turtles? Is there a lead turtle, as they have in sled racing? Do I disconnect the vro and run premix, or should I leave the oil injection on the turtle. Anyone know a good mobile turtle mechanic. I`ve never worked on turtles and don`t want to blow it up.

It looks like your Seafari is a 25. I have a 1973 20' Seafari that I have owned for 25 years. I am in Boca Raton area. Let me know if you are ever in the area.

Paul
hoffpaul@gmail.com

Something I'm curious about, where there some years when Tracker built much worse boats than other years? On a couple of occasions, I've seen "SeaCraft" logos on hulls that looked like Seacraft hulls, but the build quality, even to a quick and casual inspection, was just awful, down right embarrassing. I'd be scared to go offshore in such a thing. Other pics I've seen of Trackers at least looked pretty good and I'm sure I've seen a bunch of Trackers in the flesh that looked just fine. Why the huge difference?

I have seen the same things. All of the early slackers I`ve seen have been good in the glass work, not the rigging. I saw some at shows in the early- mid 2000s that had livewells that didn`t meet the bottom of the deck. I don`t have any real timeline for later years.

If any owners would like to add to the conversation, please do. I know many of you have asked questions here before and gotten little response. We just don`t know much about them, and as a group we don`t like to blow smoke up anyones skirt. Many of us are curious, and would like nothing more than to see the brand come back proudly.

I think a lot of issues start with the care and happiness of the builders. Skilled caring glass folks build a better product. They also didn`t have someone like Carl drilling holes in new hulls and checking his babies.

When Rybovich was bought by huizenga, he hired a PR schill to inform most of their skilled workers to check a sheet by the office . No name , no job. He really wants to create a world class marina with minimun wage workers...

Cheers,
GFS

I guess I don't understand where you guys are coming from or going. I have a 1989 SeaCraft 23WA with a big TRACKER logo on it. It was built in Tampa Fl by Tracker Marine. I bought the boat new and have been very happy with it, nothing wrong with the glass lay up or fit and finish. I had to replace my 115 gallon fuel tank about 3 years ago(maybe even 4 yr). It was big project getting that big tank out of the hull, had to cut it in two pieces cause I was not going to try and remove my 225 Honda. I found everything in good condition inside the hull.

A lot of Seacraft hulls have undergone restoration. Not all restorations are of equal quality to the original build. Could it be that the lower quality hulls out there are just poor quality restoration work? I can't say that I've seen an original Seacraft hull that varied significantly in quality from my Seacraft Industries 20 or my Potter 25.

My boat is an 89. Layup is fine.

'83 Master Angler!
 

Hey Uze Guys..... Better stick with Y'all.... What a bout the Master Angler. Lifted the Gunnels (Better Knee Action OffShore, Wider Walking Decks around.... Plenty of Meat too! ( I know cuz I cut through it) Man I wish I would have Grabbed everything out of the Princeton Shop. Pieces, Parts, brochures, Man0Man.......Sockpiles. Carlos too! Had one of the original Glassers help me on my rebuild.... And Same Windshield......

"Master Angler"

How Y'all Been?! (Ol' Salts')

PS; Does SpiderCrab have the Green Gucci?

Some of the 1987 18' & 20' hulls with "Tracker" decals, sold by Bass Pro or by stand-alone Tracker Boats dealers were actually built by SeaCraft Industries and purchased unsold by Tracker SeaCraft of Fla.

My 18' CC SeaCraft was actually built in late 1986, and while it had a giant TRACKER decal on the side, it was built by SeaCraft Industries.


An odd note: All the info I can look up on my boat indicates the factory max recommended OB horsepower should have been 150 hp. My decal says max recommended hp is 200 hp.

I bought the boat with the original 1987 Mariner 115 on the back. After seeing the max HP decal, well, I just had to re-power.... to a 90 hp Etec.