Tsunami/Sceptre 23....Inboard -vs- I/O -vs- Outboard
 

Hey all,

The wife has hinted at wanting to buy another boat, something we can go offshore fishing in, so I dropped everything and came here. I have only dreamed of owning a 23' Potter's hull, looked at one several years ago and determined it was in my price range because it needed a full restore. Fast forward to today and I'm in a better place to pony up for one with the work already done.

I'm on the east coast of NC and would like to get up to 40-60 miles offshore. Any suggestions as to which of the three...Inboard - I/O - Outboard (with bracket, can't see having an open transom in the Atlantic) would be my best option and with what type/size power?

Probably looking to get into a cutty with hardtop to drop a curtain from to keep momma and her chicks dry, but not opposed to an OF, have seen where they take a cutty and install CC, but it seems to eat up a ton of cockpit area.

Thanks...

Really perfect timing on your part and welcome to CSC !!
fishlips56 has this IB Sceptre which would be perfect for what you are wanting and looking for......
Barry is one of our long time members and my son's 23 Sceptre came from him about 9 years ago !!!! Bought a 20 Seafari last September from him as well..
Just do-it .....

Thanks for the reply Bones...I'm guessing your vote is for the straight inboard? I've always had outboards, but from what I've read here, the inboard has a nice steady ride when it gets snotty out. I beat myself up a plenty in the Gulf when I lived in Clearwater, but that's really no comparison to fishing off the Carolina coast. May take another 1/2 hour to get to blue water on calm seas, but it would be nice to know when weather turns, I can still make good time heading back.

My brother ran into a guy fishing the reef last week in the Keys with a 23' inboard, he said it was the best riding small boat he's ever owned.....oh yeah, NOT for sale :) Plus, the guy I bought my SeaCraft from had a '76 inboard he was doing a complete rebuild and had just installed a Yanmar diesel in it to cut his fuel bill running to the Middle Grounds. It was real sweet when he finished, he said not real fast but very stable.

In all my years of fishing the middle grounds, I never saw a 23’ out there....would have said they were “out of their minds” being there in a small boat. I sure miss those trips. :(

Hey guys - that was me fishing in the Keys.
Anyone I have ever had on the boat compliments the ride. The low center of gravity is key to the ride. For me, not having to fish around the engine of an I/O or over outboards is a major consideration.

HIGHLY recommend the inboard.

DonV. Your brothers boat was beautiful. I would have loved a tour and the story.

Yeah ole' cheap ass Don does not post a lot of pics of brother Bill's work of art,
cause his ghetto clunker, with da new Tohonda would have to live on the other side of the tracks.....:rolleyes:

Gotta say though Donnie can raise fish in his still functional relic ! ;)

That's right, my 'ol clunker likes it over here on the wrong side of the tracks! We meet nicer folks over here! :) And the BLM folks know not to come and mess with us!

Any chance we could see some pics of brother's boat?

I remember my first trip out there, the 23 - 25' Stamas was the boat to have, totally bullet proof, to the level of a Bertram, made in Tarpon Springs and that's what the locals always had. You would see six to ten every trip. 'ol Capt. Dave Markett from Tampa used to guide his fighting yellow SeaCraft out there all the time. Now you need a parking pass to go to the Middle Grounds.