New here and want to say hi
 

Like every one here I have been loving the old school potter hulls for years. Never had a chance to ride on one, sigh.

A little background: bought first boat at 23 ( I'm 64 now ), current boat is a 78 22 LOA CC, bought in 95 and have made fiber glass repairs several times to the deck ( wood core ). I actually likeglass work and tools are my friend.

I'm located in Englewood, Fl. SW coast.

If any one could help me with a decision I would be very great full. I am looking at a 23 Tusnami likely late 70's. The hull needs a full rebuild, closed transom, bracket looks as though it is wood decked and may need replaced as well. Older Merc. 200, way under powered? I don't even know if it runs. Trailer in my opinion needs to go, so total rebuild or for another $1500-2000 I could buy new and reduce the labor in the project?

I am thinking of offering $2500 would maybe go as high as $3500. Am I low balling the rig? I have pics of the rig if that would help.

Thanks to all of the forum members for any input,
Ed

Welcome to the form.

Cost to rebuild these hulls are very expensive but worth while if you enjoy the work. I would start with the best shape hull as possible unless you just want to do a total build the way you want. A hull that needs everything replaced would not carry a ton of value and could be picked up cheap normally but just plan on dumping 3 times what you think to build it and it may take 3 times as long as well. The mercury 2.5 200 in my opinion was one of the best outboards ever made and would push a 23 hull fairly well. Most guys want 225-300's but a 200 would do nicely just not a speed demon. The 3.0l mercury's have a lot more torque and will push a heavy hull better than the 2.5 stock form.

Is it the one sitting on Placida Road near the Thoroughbred GC?

Island,
Yes it is the one in Placida, talked to the owner a few months ago. Haven't talked price yet because I really do not kno the value of the rig. I see a total rebuild, Lm ok with that because I have a running sled.

Yes I am very aware of cost and time involved. For me there is no production boat made that I like enough to purchase. Having been brought up on boats all my life I guess you could call me picky about fit and function. One thing I can't stand is water on the deck. If this does not work out I will either keep looking or rebuild my current sled.
The latter would drive me insane, not having a ride.

That boat has been sitting there a long time. At one time I thought of making a stupid offer, but it is more of a project than I wanted. If you could get it for under $2500 I'd say it would be worth it. Good Luck! btw I live on Don Pedro :cool:

Flyingf,
Thanks for taking the time to respond and your insight.

If I could use the existing 200 as a temp motor it would be a big help. I just thought it was way under powered. Current boat 22 CC has a 175 looper on it and cruse is 26-28 @ 3600-3800. The 23 cuddy looks to be a lot heavyer and more dead rise.

I plan to go over and try to meet the owner and really go over the boat stem to stearn including at least to find out if the motor is siezed.

The hull needs a full rebuild, 6" water in forward bilge and loose bolt on transom bracket so I know the transom is wet.

Best to all and happy boating,
Ed

This may be true but the seacraft VDH bottom is super efficient so you may see better numbers than you think. I would bet if it was a strong good compression 200 you would get close to the same numbers if it wasn't to over loaded.

Think the 200hp would be great. I run twins (2.5L mariner 175hp), but the boat runs 35mph with one.

That is impressive, I owned a 27.6 Rambo with twin 150 looper's and could not only plane on one but cruse @ 30 plus . The dry weight was 2700 and about 12* dead rise vs the SC. I am still in the learning curve, have never been on a SC, just liked the hull for years.

Oh by the way this forum is GREAT!!!!! Thanks for your help.
Ed

Yes - the SC is a bit hard to plane (especially with bracketed twins) but once it pops up, it takes off. Trim tabs help here.

In my intro I did not give much in the way of background so here goes.

First memory: the sound of water against a wood lapstrake hull.

Ran a dingy w/ 3 hp OB at about 8 under a watch full father.

Bough first boat at 23. A 15 run about that was a mess.

At about 28 bought a 18 Star Craft glass hull, I though I was big league.

At 30 I could garantee Lake Trout on the deck. Almost pulled a Capt. licence.

31 pulled the 18 SC to FL. for the winter, fished my way from Sebastian to the Keys.

Spring came and decide to get a start in Stuart.

Jumped job to job until 34, started my HVAC career. Still at it.

Moved to Fort Myers at 36. Got rid of the SC and bought a 16 Cobia CC. Also met my best friend, we still fish together.

37 bought a 19.6 Aquasport CC.

38 move to Englewood, still in the same home.

43 bought he present sled. Spent 2 months making it the way I wanted.

46 The hammer fell, I got married. Had so much fun in the past it should have been illegal.

At 53 was ready to pull a 6 pack and towing endorcement untill I sat down and did a business plan......a real no go.

At 55 started two LLC with my best friend and his brother.

At 59 converted the Admiral to fishing, now cant get her off the boat.

Present 64, and looking for CSC project boat.

Missed a boat or two in the above. Have been in sales and management since I was 22. Took off the big cheese hat at 59 and will never wear it again.

So there you go my life in a nut shell.
Ed

Life Paths
 

Refreshing candor Capt. Ed.
Lots of similar "Life Paths" here -
some starting with Lapstrake Lymans

I believe it was an Owens? When my dad sold it around 1960 he warned the buyer to put water in the boat for about a week to swell the wood. Well he got a call a while later and the new owner had launched and put on a mooring. Nearly sunk.

Lapstrake Lymans
 

Hey Ter-3
After my 8' Minimax (which I think we've discussed before), at age 14 I bought a much used 14' lapstrake Lyman with a 35 HP Johnson. It had had been previously titled to Langford Terrace (the resort owned by Ralph Evinrude & Frances Langford in Jensen Beach). Boat, motor, and trailer for $410. I paid for it re-webbing aluminum furniture. I could drive, but not legally, so my dad's guys would pick up & deliver the chairs during their routes. I learned how to get up on a slalom behind a slow boat within a week. When we slalomed tandom or triple With my pals faster boats, I was always the first one clear of the water.