18sf tailheavy boat 1977
 

I have been using the new boat for a few weeks just cruising around with the family.
I have always.heard these boats are tailheavy but mine sure seams low in the.water in the back I have a 150 ocean pro (runs like a top by the way). I was at lunch one day and someone said 'hey your boat must be takin on water' I went out and it was dry of course. I'm now just paranoid I have a heavy wet transome. Feedback pls!

Hey, dginge. I feel your pain. I have a suzuki 140 4stroke on mine and have to monitor weight in the rear. You have to keep in mind that these boats were designed to have lightweight 2strokes on them. There are some things you can do to help offset this, but, outside of putting a lighter motor on it, you're looking at some modifications to correct this problem. Until I get the coin to redo mine, I've moved batteries under the console and keep as much weight forward as possible. I don't hesitate to use mine and have a grip on the weight issue for now. Move your weight forward and enjoy her.

That's probably because it's getting hard to find the 300 lb motors that these boats were designed for! The boats are also relatively narrow compared to modern boats, which is one of many reasons they ride so well, but they are definitely more weight sensitive and the 18 is more sensitive than the 20. The optimum motor for the 18 seems to be an earlier carb'd V-4 like a 130 Yamaha or equivalent, but 76Red18 is running the same motor you have, and he's never complained about balance. Snookerd also has a lot of experience with different motors on the 18. You might consider moving batteries to center console, along with moving the whole console and gas tank forward, which I think they did on the later 18's, along with changing them to 25" transoms. To check for a soft transom, try jumping on lower unit and see if it flexes.

That 150 you have is a perfect power to weight ratio if you shift a little weight forwards. My console is 6" forwards with 2 batteries under the seat. I added 20 gallons of fuel capacity by adding 2' to the front of the tank coffin.

Even with the added forward weight, the scuppers are still a little submerged. That being said, I know my transom is soaked and the "aluminum plate transom job" probably adds 25lbs.

I'm pretty sure it will self bail with a new transom. I'm still going to raise the deck 3" though..

The 18' and 20' are tail heavy boats. You can raise the floor as some have done...and it's still going to be a tail heavy boat. Embrace it, or sell it, it's the nature of the beast.

You can also make sure the batteries are under the console, and if possible, move the tank as far forward as you can.

The ice chest needs to go forward, too. A steel anchor and some chain might help in the locker in the bow. My stern anchor is aluminum.

A Potter 18 with a carbed 2 stroke 150 is great and should do well. Everything that has been said is spot on by Denny, uncle Boo, 76red, and Mark. I suspect that if you have foam still in your stringers (factory) that it may be full of water unless your just getting used to how an 18 sits. Pictures will tell me if it is water logged.

When I bought my 18 it had a carbed merc 150 and the 20" transom. It felt unsafe rigged like that. When I redid the boat the transom was raised, console moved forward, tank moved forward, batteries moved forward and a motor weighing 50 lbs less intalled. All of this transformed the boat. I would experiment with some serious weight in the bow if you're not going to do all of those things to your boat.

25 inch
 

she does have a 25 inch transome. sorry. forgot to mention. done in 1996
one more pic to follow. it is original floor and damn solid too!

at rest
 

compared her to some others and she seems to sit just the same if not higher! thoughts please sirs!! love that boat!!!

It doesn't look too bad. Here's how mine sits:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w.../seacraft1.jpg
Your boat looks great. I'd put some lead in the bow.

They all need the batteries up front and you have the baitwell too but it doesn't look bad at all.

That hull shows no sign of having water trapped in the foam. And also, she sits just as she should for that era hull. Our 87 sits lower, but the bow sits lower too-because it has more glass and overall a heavier hull. Your bow is a bit high, but the water line in the stern is not a problem-better than our 18. I would use it as is and only change it if you want to adjust the weight forward. The console can move a foot and batteries under console. Great seat, we have one also, move it up too. I think that rebuilt transom could also carry a little extra weight, but that is not a real issue.

great feedback
 

Since I got all the champs here. The forward fish hatch that the 18 has.... Is it good at a fish hatch ? Ha. No really..... Going on a 3 day trip and need large ice. I was going to put 100 pounds of ice and plug the drain hole and put our food in there too in ziplocs.... Anyone have any experience with its functionality?

tks again for all the help on the tailheavy question
 

Great website! Love the seacraft family

Of the 3 18's I have owned those console insulated boxes were only in one of them. Not bad for ice unless you compare it to a Yeti. Good functional box.

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Wait then I'm wrong. I'm talking about the hatch in the front on deck. My console doesn't have a box either.

It's a good spot for life jackets and spare lines but not as a cooler or fish box (too hard to get all the spewed guts out of all the nooks/crannies under there). Get a Frigid-Rigid cooler and you'll never need to buy another cooler, none of the competitors come close.

Heres how my 18 sits with a 200hp Yamaha (416lbs). The battery is under the console and it has a 35 gallon tank.

My motor just blew up so Im looking for something in the same weight, My boat rides great and would hit 52 mph. It jumps on plane with zero bow rise. Im thinking about a 150 or 175 optimax. Maybe an etec 150.

By the way that is not me driving, thats the old owner.

What size and make is your leaning post. I have an Igloo 128 quart cooler with a cusion on my 18SF and I'm entertaining the idea of installing a leaning post .