71 Potter Built 20CC
 

I'm looking at a 71 CC Potter Built CC that recently came up for sale.

OK......what should I look for when looking at the hull.
Transom condition: How do I assess rot in the wood.
Hull condition: What areas are most prone to cracks and how do I look for them
Stringer condition: How do you inspect these (can you inspect the stringers?)
Bilge condition:
As you will note, a metal bracket has been added to the transom. Motor is Merc 150.
In short, what is a good way to assess the hull condition.

Thanks,

Flatinfifth

A survey is money well spent.

That looks like a Master angler model,I didn't they made them in 1971.That may be a later model

The extention bracket looks like it was added so a 25" shaft motor would fit on a 20" transom

that is definitely NOT a 71. It is a master angler and 75 or 76 (I think) was first year for those. Mine was a 78 and it was same hull is that. we sold ours after 18 years of ownership to a friend. He wanted to sell about five years later. I went to look at it to buy it back and the transom was shot. IF you dont have a lot of experience with boats, get a survey. if you dont you will be finding out stuff months after you own it.

Indeed you are all correct. It is a 78 MA. Guy wants 5K but I think that is too much. Especially with a big question mark hanging over the condition of the transom.

Out of curiosity, how much does a survey typically cost?
I'm thinking this is a project boat right?

Thanks a bunch for the info gentlemen.

Flatinfifth

~ $350ish for that size, etc. I don't believe a license is required but lots to choose from here

http://www.marinesurvey.org/

If that bracket is not bowing the transom outward it is probably pretty solid,but 5k seems high.

By the looks of the pieced together Mercury which the lower half came off a SeaRay more then likely, I would value the motor at about $500-$800?
Depending what part of the country you are in really designates the value..
Northeast boats are always HIGH!! The trailer is not galvanized and looks
like a POS to me (value $300).
The hull with the transom being a big IF..
I would put a value of around $2K for the whole shebang!!;)

Don't get sucked in just cause' it is a SeaCraft!! :)

I'm with ya Ken! Just to pay to scrap some of these items is going to cost money. The hull would have to be pretty much in really great shape before I'd go north of $2000. If it's in great shape you have to look a nice engine upgrade with controls, guages, etc. is a round $10k, then add all the goodies you have to have and it soon becomes real money. However if you get a completed, upgraded package for less than $20k versus what that will buy new, you're good!

Thanks guys. The more I talk with the guy, the more the story unfolds. He does not use the onboard fuel tanks.................. wonder why? Leak? Rust?? Junk?? He always uses a plastic tank when he goes out.

I agree. It would be high to pay more than a grand for it. It's a total restoration project, including tanks, transom and motor upgrade, not to mention the trailer.

Thanks so much. We are still in "search" mode. Rode a Seacraft back in 1991 and it is the best riding boat I've been on. Excellent.

Thanks,

Flat
Los Angeles, CA

Assuming we bought this, what OB package fits on this transom, and what motor package would you folks recommend?
Second issue is how many bilge pumps do most SeaCraft owners usually install?
Third and last question, trim tabs? Manufacturer? Would it need three batteries?
Thanks guys,

Flat

My two cents......

I'd go with a 150 to 175 hp, 25" shaft. Since it's a MA, maybe a 200 hp max. I have two bilge pumps, a 1500 gph main and an automatic 1100 gph secondary with it's own 27 series DC battery. Bennett tabs. I'm thinking two batteries. Good luck.

Will most likely take a good look at it on Saturday. Will let you guys know.

Thanks,

Flat

This. There are plenty out there and the economy has prices pretty low. If you just have to have a SeaCraft, there's not any shortage of them.

My friends down in the keys have always told me that nothing rides like a SeaCraft and I believe they are right. Plus, the lines are classic!!

As I near retirement I would like a project to keep me building; love to work with my hands and my late father built several wooden boats when I was a kid. The memories are very vivid still. Those were simpler times.

I'll keep my eyes peeled as this boat had too many "strings" attached. Title was "sloppy", etc. On the west coast there aren't very many.

Thanks folks,

Flat

A decent looking twin axle trailer is worth something. Not $5000, but I spent a lot of the first year fixing the trailer on my setup before I could move the boat. And I did the welding!

Pulling the tank is easy on that model. I have a 1975 master angler with a 20" transom. I power it with a 100 HP four stroke. It does 34 MPH, and gets great mileage. My transom is junk, but plating a transom is a fix that works. In my case I used a 2 foot and 3 foot section of aluminum C channel. It is night and day different, and means I can wait a few seasons before I redo the transom. Probably $80 at McMaster Carr for the C channel. Not sexy, but it works. In case you find a $1000 boat with a junk transom, but a decent trailer and hull.