18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

This is my second Sea Craft (1981 18ft. 1st was 23 ft, 1971 IO.

The 23 footer had excellent self bailing cockpit. The scuppers on the 18 footer are below the water line. I cannot understand logic of this. Anyway, I saw a Post on thehulltruth.com about restoration of 20 footer in which the cockpit deck was raised to permit self bailing. I searched this forum but was unable to find anything on subject.

Since my floor is spongy it has to be replaced. Should I raise the floor in the process and if so would you use plywood or a core to lighten the boat and raise it?

How can I tell who built this hull. All Sea crafts look beautiful to me. I never realized some are better built then others.

Thank you

Tashmoo

thanks

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

Having owned both an 18' and now the redone 20', I think you would do well to raise the floor if you are going to need to replace it anyway. Having now experienced what a difference a 2.5" higher floor made in the 20', I can't imagine owning another one without that being task #1.

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

I have toyed with the idea of raising my floor also. I am scared to ask how much it is going to cost though.

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

Was your engine bow mounted [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Tashmoo - welcome to the site - I'll be at Tashmoo in 14 days [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Raising floor is good...

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

Tashmoo:
I have a 1986 18' that is self bailing and that drains just fine with water rarely remaining in the drain channels during normal operation. The boat has a 150hp 2000 evinrude and the scuppers include the flap that helps keep water from entering the cockpit.
The 18' SC is a great boat.

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

HI John,

My father bought a 23 ft wood Penn Yan in 1969 from a man in Groton, CT. Great fisherman in the Race who fished from wheel chair. Name of the boat was Tashmoo. We kept the name.

The 23 footer is still in Dennis and now has a Mercury IO in it. I think name TASHMOO is still on it. Best sea boat we ever owned. (I never plugged the drain holes in the stern).

The 18 footer has a 135 hp Optimax on it. 1st thing I did was build a motor well and raise the hole where cables came through hull to engine. Every small wave over the stern would go into the rear fish well or into the bilge via the cable hole.

I think the boat would sink at the dock if the battery died.

This looks like a great site with a lot of fanatic Seacraft owners. I think they are great boats and am reading all the threads to understand problems and borrow the best ideas. I hope I can contribute as well

Ed P

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

Hi Travis,

This is an '81 with 2 holes in floor that drain out stern. Water comes into boat if I unplug the holes. I have the flappers on the transom. Maybe they are old and not sealing. It seems to me that the deck is below the water llne and water is going to come in no matter what you do.

Ed

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

Water comes im mine as well. As soon as I step aboard.

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

Jet heard about this low carb thing [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img], the cable hole should be higher, mine would come in the scuppers if I had 2 guys in the back but not 1, of course I'm in Fla and the water may be a good deal warmer [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] all bilge access should be sealed in the slash well area.

Re: 18 ft Sea Craft self bailing
 

John - I was just there yesterday morning. Chappy was wide open last week. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]