18 ride compared to 20?
 

I thought I read somewhere on this site that the 18 cc has as good (or was it better?) ride than the 20 cc hull?

I've been on the 20 and the ride is impressive but have never experienced the 18. Just wondering how do these two hulls compare?

Diablo, haven't heard from you in a while! I thought you were looking for a Seafari?!

I've ridden in the 18 that Snookerd had and I was amazed at how well it rode! I don't have a lot of time in the CC's but I've put about 1500 hours and thousands of miles on my Seafari in the last 38 years, some of it in some pretty nasty conditions including 6 crossings to the Bahamas. The Seafari has more weight forward than the CC's plus a more rigid structure with a hull that is stiffened by the cabin top and bulkhead, so I think it's ride is a little more solid than the CC's, but I must admit that Danny's little 18 rode much better than I expected! Denny

Thanks Denny. You will not be disappointed! I was trolling 10 miles off jupiter inlet with jenan and the kids 2 weeks ago. The weather was not real good either

Hi Denny,

Yea, it's been awhile. I prefer a Seafari but, can't find one in my area (SE Pennsylvania). If you know of one please email me (pdkuhn0922@yahoo.com).

A friend of a friend of a... told me about a 18 stored in a garage. I'm considering taking a ride to check it out. It's 3 hours away so thought I'd ask the Classic SeaCraft folks about the 18 hull first.

I difinately want a Seafari but, thought maybe an 18 could be a first step until I find a Seafari. Knowing my boating luck, I'm pretty sure if I buy something a Seafari will be available within a week. Could be my new Seafai search strategy... ?

The ride on the 18 is almost identical to the 20, but if you want a seafari wait for a seafari. The cabin on the seafari is very comfortable. I loved mine and sometimes I wish I still owned it.

18 vs 20
 

Having owned an 18 for 12 years, 700 engine hours, and three long trips to the Bahamas, i know the strengths and weaknesses of the 18 well. I have not run an 18 foot boat that is a better boat. For its size, I think the 18 is a better running/ riding boat than the 20: but it is still an 18 foot boat that will almost fit inside a 20. The 20 doesn't quite run as well, but it is wider and longer, and a good running boat. A good running 20 foot boat will out perform a great running 18 foot boat.

I've had both and you won't tell much difference in the ride. The wider gunnels on the 18 are nice as they are on a 20 MA, the hulls are pretty close on length and never slowed me down from anything.

Thank you all.

Guess it shouldn't surprise me the 18 has a good ride. It is a SeaCraft.

Bigshrimp's advice, "if you want a seafari wait for a seafari", is pretty dead on. Thanks Bigshrimp. Guess I'm just getting tired of looking for a Seafari.

They seem to show up down South or up in New England but, it's been slim pickens in the Mid Atlantic area. I've made a few drives of 400 + miles only to come up short.

Hopefully my luck will change soon.

A BIG DITTO...they are out there

Diablo

There is a nice one near jacksonville
Check PM's

Hang in there Diablo. Its worth it to get the boat you want.

I spent a couple of years searching for my 25 Seafari and then bugging the poor guy who finally sold it to me. Worth every minute.

Connor

There is a (looks like) nice one in the jacksonville area

Is there anyone that could go by and look at it?

Diablo, do a search on boston craigslist there are two for sale one is a inboard the other has an outboard. By the way the 20 SF rides extremely well has never let me down. Good luck!!

the pictures look amazing!

There's a couple in New England on cl

Not sure if your looking for a project, but there's one sitting at goldsmiths marina/boatyard in southhold on Long Island. It's a 74 if I remember. She's in rough shape, but she looks to be all there and it looks like she's been sitting ther for a while so u might be able to get it cheap

I have to disagree with you on a good running 20 foot boat will out perform a great running 18. I have a 1976 18 foot cc went fishing in 4 foot seas a friend had his 21 foot cc don't remember the brand but he couldn't keep up and turned around and went home.

18's are the bomb! The boat is a beast

Snookered, What kind of power are you running on your 18. I keep looking for a nice 18 that I can put my 115 opti on but have not come across one yet. Wondering if my trailor which I bought 3 years ago for 17 mako would work for 18 seacraft.

Also do you need to run trim tabs to really improve the ride. Thanks.

Yes x3. 7% tongue weight or so.

The 18's do not need tabs unless personal preference or too heavy a motor requires it. A 115 opti should be a great weight/power set-up. A v4 130 Yamaha is the lightest and best performance, but it is a used 2 stroke.

What does that mean? I am probably buying an 18' next week and am researching as much as I can before buying.

The boat has a 1989 200hp Yamaha that weighs 416lbs, the same as a Yamaha 150. From the pics it doesnt look like it sits low in the water. I believe the transom has been raised to 25". It doesnt have any trim tabs.

I hope it rides as good as my 20SF with I/O Mercruiser 888.

Sandy's talking about the weight of the boat/trailer on the tow vehicle's traier hitch. Too light and the traier will "fishtail" like crazy. You need more weight in front of the axle on the hitch. You were going to use the same trailer as you did for another boat, make sure you have adjustments available to work with on your trailer and that it's not too short.

That weight 416 should be good! You are over powered but you should be fine.

Howdy INFANTERENE! I have a suzuki 140 which, I believe weighs about 410 and I'm happy with the performance of the boat except that I have the 20" transome and wish it were 25". I have a bulkhead in front of the splashwell which helps alot, but, when I board her, the scuppers are under water. The only problem I have with it is that the rigging is under water when the boat is loaded. I have plans to raise the transome to 25" and raise the floor a couple of inches all the way back to the transome as well. That will put the scuppers a couple of inches higher which will satisfy me. I absolutely love my boat. Took it 25 miles out, (on a bluebird day) and slayed the dolphin! BEST DAY EVER! I'm confident you will thoroughly enjoy her. BTW, WE NEED LOTS OF PICS.