76 SeaCraft 23 Sixth Run
 

Made my sixth run and totaling approximately 20 hrs. Really pleased with the performance and handling characteristics. Never owned or rode in SeaCraft prior to this one. After studying the information shared by the SeaCraft Community, I embarked on a search for a good hull. After looking at several 23 SeaCrafts mainly on the east coast I bought this one in NJ. The gentleman that owned the SeaCraft also owns Signature Fiberglass Fiberglass and agreed to do all of the glass work and paint work. The T Top pipe and hard top were also fabricated in NJ. Hermco Bracket with a low time 2008 Yamaha 250. Owens Trailer from St Pete and a custom built tackle drawer system from Boat Outfitters in Orlando. I picked up the boat in NJ and brought it to Texas and began rigging in March of this year. This boat was a retirement project for me and all of the out sourcing came from small American businesses. Although I can't claim credit for all the work, I really enjoyed doing the project. The ride is incredible and the old SeaCraft performs well beyond my expectations. This forum and its members have been extremely helpful during the process.

As they say. "you did good"!!!! With new 23' to 25' single engine boats going for $100k you will be very happy with your SeaCraft investment!!

Nice job and congratulations!!!

Congrats !!! Your Seacraft looks great and in the water...

Very nice!! Will you post performance numbers with that 250?

Awesome Looking SeaCraft ! The paint scheme is Outstanding.
Your orchestrating has earned the "Gucci Stamp Award" for this redo
Enjoy the Ride
Capt Chuck

Partial Performance numbers
 

Thanks for all of the compliments. I have been really pleased with SeaCraft's ride and performance numbers. I rigged this boat for old guys to fish out of, that is everything is flush mounted, lots of places to hold on to and no obstructions on the deck. The T Top pipe is attached at 10 points with nothing attached to the deck. The attached points on the console were reinforced. Excellent planning and communication between the fiberglass and aluminum pipe fabricators. The Teal color on the hull looks like the Atlantic waters which is what the boat was designed for and the black pipe is kind of a Texas/Louisiana thing.

Eng is a 30" shaft mounted as high as I could mount it on the Hermco bracket swinging a 21' prop. WOT is 5800 rpm at 49 mph. Cruise at 4400 rpm is 34 mph. It will stay on plane light at 18 mph. These numbers are from both the gps and Yamaha instruments.

I have just started testing the boat loaded heavy. There is a noticeable difference in hole shot but still acceptable.

I may do some prop experimenting down the road. any suggestions is appreciated. Thanks again

That boat looks awesome!!!!

Wowzer. That looks great. Love how the black accents the teal blue.

Glad to hear that I am not the only crazy one to buy boats long distance. My first boat, a Mako 201, I bought in Aransas Pass, TX and towed 2400 miles home to Boston with a UHAUL.

I agree with Ed. When you find what your looking for you better jump on it regardless of what zip code it's in.

beautiful boat, how much did the whole project cost you?

Whatever it costed you, it is so much more boat than a new 23 foot boat on the market today and probably still cost lest than a new one.

WOW, I have a long way to go, Beautiful.

Don't know how I missed your thread. The boat does have a lot of WOW factor. Please keep us posted on any prop or mods you come up with.

Ed

There is something to be said about a clean design and layout...good job!

do you keep it the original height deck? if any return water through scupper

Wow that's a sweet boat!

Thanks
 

Thanks for all the compliments gentleman. I haven't been on the forum lately and apologize for not responding sooner. As for as the cost. I kept it down by finding a low time used engine. Areas where I didn't trim cost were in the T Top, electronics, rigging, and hardware. The Hermco Bracket and Owens slide on trailer were excellent investments and perform as the manufacturers say they do. It was worth running around the country picking up parts. I am retired and have the time to do travel and it actually cost less than shipping if you coordinate the orders and gather every thing up in one trip. You get what you pay for and if I sold the boat in the next year or so I could probably recover most of the refitting expense. If not I will just enjoy using it as long as I am able. I believe there is considerable value in the pleasure and enjoyment we get from having a classic well designed boat and making it look new with a few modern up grades. Just my opinion.

I haven't experimented with props yet but the 21" performs well for me so for. I am usually fairly light make coastal runs. With have fuel and two people with gear the performance is better than expected. I may try a 19' prop down the road to a have some comparison in performance.

The I designed the cockpit to be free of obstacles but yet easily accessible.

Deck height was set at the original factory level and I has the scuppers re routed through the transom. They drain well with no water re entry.

"I believe there is considerable value in the pleasure and enjoyment we get from having a classic well designed boat and making it look new with a few modern up grades. Just my opinion"

Very well said!!! :)

That is one beautiful ride.The color is absolutely perfect for that boat. Even people who know nothing about boats or don't even like them would stop and stare at this beauty. Congrats on a job done incredibly well.

Thanks for the kind words bigeasy1.

Not sure how I missed this one.
Great thread, sweet rig!

Mine will be a near twin when complete.
I have a 79 that I just finished the transom replacement on.
Also finished fabbing a transom mount livewell.
I have the Hermco bracket ready to go on, with the exact same engine.
Mine is also a 2008, F250.
I just put a new powerhead and cylinder heads on it last winter.

Before the bracket I was running a 5" jack plate at full height, and a 21" Q4 prop.
Same prop as the Rev4.
I would run 28-31mph all day with 3 guys and full gear at 4500, 2.2mpg.
Top speed light load was 48mph.
Hoping to see similar numbers after the bracket.

45 Hrs Since Re-Fit
 

45 hrs since re-fit. Cruising at 26 kts fuel flow is approximately 12 gph. Top Speed is knocking on 42 kts. Low speed handling is outstanding also. I am very happy with the old SC's ride and performance.

Sweeeeet!!! I like the matching color under the top. VERY nice looking boat! :)

Beautiful!!

This is a beautiful setup. What company made that storage/access for the stern?

Beaut what part of Texas coast?

that came out great , I saw that boat in Signatures shop when he was into it..was hoping to see it when it was all finished...thanks for posting , enjoy and good luck with her

Joe R.
21 SeaCraft
Susie 2

Nice boat! How did you reinforce the console at the base for the t top?

Signature - yup, Joe also did a nice job on my Wellcraft V21 transom.

Congratulations on your project, looks fantastic.

Sorry guys, I have been engrossed in a frame off restoration of a 1976 F 350 Ford to tow the SC with and have not been on the SC forum lately.

The tackle drawer system was custom built to my specs by Boat Outfitters in Orlando. I had to pay the design and engineering fees. They still have that on file so if you wanted one it would probably be less $$ now without the added design fees.

The console is fastened to the Deck with a lot of #14x1.5" screws and 5200. The T top attachment points were beefed up with glassed in marine plywood doublers.

T Top only weighs a little over 100 lbs.

I am located in Galveston, TX for the gentleman who ask back in April. Sorry for the delay in response.

Do you get water coming in your scuppers when you’re in the back of the boat?

I have not had any water come in through the scuppers. Re routed them through the transom. My son weighs 270 lbs and I am about 185 lbs. we have both been on the stern and it has never been a problem. Probably due to the additional flotation of the bracket would be my guess.

I have a 1974 23 cc inboard that I want to paint this winter. This color is exactly what would be perfect for my boat. What is the paint color and brand? Thanks

AwlGrip TEAL, Acua Mist, and white

Thanks for telling me what the colors your boat is painted. I am going to post photos of my boat today once I figure out how to do it.

Very nice boat you have there. I'm in love with the paint scheme. Also I like how you kept it as original as you could. Nice job.

strick

Gps v521
 

Seacraft
 

Love this boat! I’m also looking to restore a 23’ in the very near future.. I might contact you with questions that arise.. if you would be so kind to help me build my dream boat!!

Drop dead gorgeous!! Thanks for posting.

Regarding your 18 mph minimum planing speed: Its a major advantage to get a lower planing speed. The boat should be able to plane at around 13-14 mph. Outboard on a bracket is hurting you a bit by shifting the cg aft. Bushwacker had the same issue on his 20 Seafari and posted extensively about it. His solution was mostly a different prop, 4 blade, stern lifting. I can't remember what that did to his cruise speed, but its well worth your review. A search of his posts should bring it up.