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Today I checked out and helped weld a radar bracket on a used boat a friend recently purchased. It's a 89 22' Seawolf made by Watkins. It has a variable deadrise hull with reversed chines the forward 3/4 of it's length. Looking at the stern, it could easily be mistaken for a 23 Seacraft. Which got me wondering.....
How can other companies get away with copying the VDR design? Isn't this "pattern infringement" on some level? 
Also, what other companies have copied the Seacraft design? I know Silverhawk did (nice boat BTW). And I remember seeing a boat at the Ft.Myers boat show a few years back that was similar to a Seacraft 20 but I don't recall the make. (Sailfish? Not sure.)
How's the quality, ride, etc. of these imposters?
Cheers,
Bob
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Hey Bob . . . The patent for VDH was granted in 1963. Patent protection is 14 years on design patents (maybe less back then). There are lots of knockoffs . . . just do a search on the site. Cape Marine 26 (albin 26) is a stretch 23ft seacraft. Key Largo, Sailfish, Silverhawk, Helms, etc. have knockoffs of either the 20 or 23.
Formula 233 is another 1960's offshore racing hull (like seacraft) that has many clones . . . Bluewater, Early Contender 25, Whitewater 25, SeaVee, Albermarle, Apache, Allmand, Space Craft, Old Towne, etc. etc.