Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

SeaCraft as first boat...
Not necessarily a bad idea, just depends on you more than the condition of the boat. You need to realize that the boat you are looking at is 26 years old, and that although it might be cheaper to buy than a new boat initially, you may spend more in the long run than going out to buy a new 17' center console. The good news is that you will certainly end up with a better boat in the long run by buying and investing in an old SeaCraft.
1. Get a professional survey. Money well spent even if the survey convinces you to walk away. At the minimum get an experienced freind to check it out.
2. Get estimates on necessary repairs, including new motor, potential transom, stringer, and floor repairs.
3. Gut-check: do you have the stomach, the wallet and the spousal support tp take it on? May be easier to buy a new boat, make payments and go fishing.
4. Lots of support here if you decide to take it on.

Tim

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

ghinson,Welcome aboard !
Yep You find ALL the Help in the World right Here !No matter what Your experiance on boats are These Guys have most of the Answers( will find them out if not)
A SeaCraft is a perfect 1st boat ! I've tacken Mine out 22+ miles or anywhere in the Bay including across some Flats !Most Boaters will still talk [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] about the SeaCraft they got rid of & miss it dearly !
Transom -trim Your engine up. bounce on the prop end look at the transom watch for movement,
If there is a plate covering the transom Chances are its due for a fix.After its Your boat You can drill some small holes on the inside (where accesible)check for water drainage /look at the wood fibers.Make sure You fill them completly.The absolute best way, Get a Surveyor .
Scream'n Reels'
[img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

I ALWAYS HAVE PAINTED A LITTLE MORE OF A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE ON NEW COMERS INTO THE BOATING/FISHING THING AND THE REASON IS MANY GUYS DO THIS MORE FROM IMPULSE AND THEN AFTER THE TIME, EFFORT, MONEY, AND AMOUNT OF BUD LONG NECKS CONSUMED THEY WISH THEY DIDN’T. I LOOK TO SEE IF “IT IS IN YOUR BLOOD” AND IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT OR LETS SAY MUST DO. I USUALLY TELL GUYS DOWN HERE IS SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE YOU CAN USE A BOAT JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEKEND THAT UNLESS YOU USE YOUR BOAT AT LEAST 20 TO 25 TIMES A YEAR DON’T BUY ONE. I GUESS FOR YOU GUYS UP NORTH LETS SAY ONE OUT OF EVERY TWO WEEKS OF YOUR SEASON YOU SHOULD BE ON THE WATER IF NOT JUST HIRE A CAPTAIN ONE OR TWO TIMES A YEAR WHO CAN PUT YOU ON SOME FISH. THE NEXT THING IS BUYING A OLD SEACRAFT. MY FORTH BOAT IS A 1976 SEACRAFT THAT NEEDED EVERYTHING AND I KNEW THAT GOING IN AND WAS WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE. FOR ME I WOULD NEVER BUY A OLD SEACRAFT AS MY FIRST BOAT NOT THAT IT’S NOT A GREAT BOAT BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE POTENTIAL EFFORT YOU COULD FIND YOURSELF DOING AFTER YOU BUY. FOR A FIRST BOAT I PERSONALLY WOULD GO WITH A NEWER BOAT LIKE 2 TO 5 YEARS OLD MAX THAT WAY YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE MUCH TO FIX AND LOTS OF TIME TO ENJOY YOUR NEW TOY. IF AFTER A FEW YEAR OF THAT YOU WANT TO TACKLE A POTENTIAL PROJECT DREAM BOAT GO FOR IT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF 2-5 YR OLD SEACRAFTS OUT THERE THAT WOULDN’T NEED ANY FIXING UP AND YOU ARE IN THE WATER. A SURVEY CAN HELP YOU ON THIS BOAT THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AS LONG AS THE GUY WHO DOES THE SURVEY GIVES YOUR BOAT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. IF NOT WALK FROM IT AS YOUR FIRST BOAT.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

Keep the factors of your decisions simple. You are looking at a shell. If it is sound and the price is right, you'll be happy with this boat, it's one of the best looking and versitile boats in existance. It's a wonderful first boat if it doesn't need too much attention. Hopefully it's been fully restored and ready to go! Good luck.

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

My first powerboat (after getting the sailing bug out of the system) was a 1977 SeaCraft 18. I don't regret having gone that route over getting a new boat but there are several factors that some of the previous posts have brought up that are worth considering.

A boat of that vintage that has not been restored will need the occasional infusion of cash: sometimes minor and sometimes NOT so minor.

SeaCrafts sit tail-heavy when not on plane and unless the floor has been raised in the boat you are looking at, be prepared to either have wet feet or leave the plugs in the scuppers.

Other factors include the potentially rotten (low) transom that may need to be replaced/raised. New motors aren't free but at least you get to start with a reliable power supply.

I don't mean to sound negative, I sold the '77 18' and went and bought a '71 20' that will be completely redone including a new engine. You just need to determine if it is the right boat for you and the right boat for where you fish or go boating. Go take a ride on a few different 18-21' boats and see if a SeaCraft is what you are after or if a slightly different boat may more closely fit your wants/needs.

If you decide that the SeaCraft wasn't quite what you were after, pass the find on to someone else on the site who may KNOW that this is exactly what they want.

Good luck-

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

I really appreciate the input. I hope to get out and snap a few pics of this boat soon and will find a way to share them. I am still going back and forth on the decision. I'm fairly sure that I will not have the time to do most of the work, so part of the decision is going to be whether I can find someone where I live who can do it. Following some of you, today I made a few calls and found out that there isn't anyone where that technically does surveys. But, if I can find someone who restores boats, I will make them come out and look. I'm ultimately looking at $2500-3000 (depending on my negotiation skills) for what is presumably a sound Potter built hull that has been rewired. I really appreciate your input Fellow-ship. I hope I am not entering this decision lightly, but I don't know with certainty what kind of role this machine will play in our lives. I'd like to think that I'd be out almost weekly (or every other) for our 20-week season.

evaluating an old seacraft
 

I am new in here, and to boating in general. For some time now I've been looking at getting my first boat. I've recently stumbled on to a '77 20' Seacraft and am trying to decide if it is right for me. Other then cosmetics, it looks to be in okay shape. It needs a new motor, but has supposedly had updated wiring. I have a couple of general questions. What is the best way to evaluate the shape of the hull? I've seen a lot here about replacing the transom. How can I tell if it will need this? Is it dumb of me to consider this as my first boat? Thanks, Greg.

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

Not too sound like a wiseass, but spongy=bad.

Pre-Judging the boat based on the dinosaur on the transom, I'd place a bet on a beat transom if it's original. Ever see the movie the money pit with Tom Hanks? Just keep that in mind when your making your decision.

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

Ghinson-

Give Rob Scanlon in Nahant, MA (mastermarinesurveyor.com) a call. He is a very well respected surveyor in the Boston area and if he can't survey the boat, he probably will know someone respectable who can.

With that said......you're almost surely going to need work done to the boat. The floor sounds like it is going to have to replaced and the transom will eventually need to be replaced as well.

Since you wont be doing the work yourself, figure on spending $3,000-$4,500 on having the transom replaced and another $3,000-$4,000 or so to have the floor replaced. Also, that motor looks old and while you may get a few years use out of it....eventually you'll need to spend at least $8,000 to have it replaced. You can live with the faded gelcoat....but if you want to have the boat Awlgripped....add another $3,000-$4,000 to your budget. All said, you should plan on spending at least $16,000 ($19,000 with paint) to restore the boat.

Not trying to scare you away.....just trying to give you a realistic estimate of what it will cost here in New England to get that boat looking pretty.

Good luck. I'll be down in Nantucket in August. Love it there.

Ed

Re: evaluating an old seacraft
 

Given what I mentioned above, look at the following pics and tell me what you think about the value of this hull:

http://www.ackdoc.com/seacraft.htm

The only thing new to add is that, walking around on it again yesterday, there are two areas where the floor is slightly spongy feeling.

Thanks.