Potter built vs 80's seacraft
 

Hello, thinking about buying an 89 23' CC. I own a 1973 20' CC and love the boat. Is there a big difference in the quality how these boats were built? Any advice would be great, thank you.

If you dig around on here you’ll find the general consensus is that potter built are considerably better. I’ve never been on the later ones to tell you for certain.

I believe there was less fiberglass (hull thickness) used
The quality of fiberglass materials and layups as a whole took a down turn in late 70’s early 80’s due oil crisis. Read blistering and delamination

From rebuilding a potter boat I can tell you it was made like a tank. About worst thing I’ve found was rot (due to drains) and maybe tabbing could’ve been better.

There is a considerable following for potter boats not so much for later ones. For a good reason I think.

Thank you, thats not the first time I've heard that. Starting to wonder if a late 90's early/mid 2000's 23 is the way to go with composite deck and floor from the factory. Already rebuilt both mine on my 20cc and really dont want to do that again.

I have a 1986 27’ built by Seacraft Industries and it is built well. I would not hesitate to buy a 23 of the same vintage.

Nice glass work on those.

The Sarasota boats.

I’ve not owned a Seacraft BUT a marine mechanic I know who HAS and rebuilds boats for a living said there’s actually MORE fiberglass in the post Potter boats.

The affinity for Potter hulls seems in part connected to the private ownership years.

Also consider the generalization that the older the boat, the longer it’s been degrading if not kept up.

Weighing in
 

My 83 is built like a tank, where water didn’t get to it. My 18’ 85 was solid as well. My friend had a 89 Tracker and I remember the flex in the deck when it was only a couple of years old. Tried to move just picture but couldn’t.
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...ad.php?t=24155

Can definitely confirm the build quality on my 83' Sceptre also. Thick glass everywhere, I was shocked at the thickness of the hockey pucks I got when I drilled out my speaker holes. From what I've read around here is that the difference was more noticeable in fit and finish, increasingly so come the Tracker years with some hit and miss in the actual build quality (boat by boat case). Any of these boats will have some wet wood somewhere no matter the year.

Potter left SeaCraft May 1980. Hung around on the BOD of SeaCraft Industies for approx 1 year. CSY in Sarasota then took the molds for the 23' & 27" only. Go Fast is right on the extra glass in their builds.

It appears the OP is asking about an '89 which is a Tracker hull ('87 onward). The CSY 23's were built like brick sh!thouses...my dad had an '82 Sceptre.