Quote:
Originally Posted by mrobertson
Just my .02 -
You can certainly turn the boat into whatever you want it to be, IF you have the time, money, and desire.
My opinion - if you want a bay boat, get yourself a bay boat. Unless you dive in with both feet, you'll always be knit picking things with the Seacraft that you don't like or want to change. The only way to solve that would be to tear it completely down and build it back the way you want it or to just get the boat you really want from the start.
I've always thought the consoles were too big in the 20's. Others don't think so. I put a taller, narrower console in mine without the front seat and it certainly gives more room. Likewise, i have the smallest leaning post possible to allow 2 people to sit comfortably to open the rear of the boat up some, and it certainly helps. I have no T-Top on mine and it's a delight to fish 2-3 guys.
With a 7'6" beam, it certainly feels narrow compared to some of todays standards. Some 20 - 21 foot boats have an 8'6" beam. However, alot of thought goes into the design of boat and the length to beam ratio has a part in the way the boat rides. Plain and simple, the 20 Seacraft is a small 20 no matter how you spin it.
As far as getting shallow, you can consider a jack plate but again i wouldn't go throwing money at something if deep down i wanted something else.
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Your thinking is about the same as mine. Though I don't mind the wide console myself without a top. Now the consoles from the later 70's and 80's boats, they're not my cup o tea and are huge for these little boats imho. Though the MA's pull off the taller console well because of the cap. Personally I'm not really a fan of the tall narrow consoles on a 20 either especially when the floor's raised. Theres no gunnel height in these boats which is part of what is so pretty along with the bow and sheer but to my eye the tall consoles especially when narrow let alone with certain t-tops can downplay some of the eyeball these boats have. That said that's strictly what's pleasing to my eye ideally and I am willing to give up a little function to form. I also have never seen an SC that wasn't pretty except maybe the 27cc. For the most part I've just seen some that were prettier than others to me. Some of you guys on here have found a really nice balance with form and function too.
Bucsfanatic, did someone cut the gunnels out of your liner and bring the deck out to the hull and brace the hullsides? Looks like you have a fairly narrow console and only the front legs of the t-top go to the floor? If that's the case you are ahead of the curve on interior room compared to most guys that have a top on a 20' SC and if the boat still feels small to you then all you could really do is bracket it to get back some the room behind the leaning post. For me personally I expect 18-20' boats to do a lot of things well and be versatile and imho I don't think you can find a more versatile 20ish but fishing in truly short water isnt its strong suit. Keep in mind, certain boats are kinda like Jeeps once ya get rid of it a point may come later where you regret it. How about 2 boats, lol.