23 Tsunami purchase

bigeasy1 · #1 07-06-2006, 02:49 PM

I'm a new visitor to this site,and want to say what a great find it is.I'm like a kid in a toy store.I have a question for you guys and could use your help.
For the past few years,i have had my eye on a 1974 23 Tsunami that has been sitting in a field,on a nice tandem axle galv.trailer.I have been trying to buy this boat for three years now,only to get responses like,we can't find the owner,or we may have to go to court,and claim it as abandoned property,and then we could sell it to you.This has been going on for years.
Well,a week ago they said they found the owner,by way of someone else, and he said to them "aw just tell em to sell it i'll try to find the title".
Now i'm not sure how much he, or they would want,but i think from knowing these people,it would be very reasonable.To them a Seacraft is just another boat.Everyone(my friends) thinks i'm nuts,that it's too much work,but i've been drooling over this boat for three years now.
I know that it was used for several years by some friends that i made for fishing the great lakes up to about six years ago,until they bought a bigger boat,and sold the Seacraft to this owner who dissapeared and let it sit there on a trailer, uncovered,with weeds growing around it.
I think that after i take out the hornets nests,and junk in the boat(gas grill,biycicle,tires,and other stuff)i could get a better idea of what it needs.
Here's what i'm pretty sure of.The engine is completely shot,it's a ford I.O.the transom may need replacement,the motor box doghouse is all rotted,the deck floor may need replacement,naturally it would most likely need all the other stuff like steering,wiring,vents,pumps,gauges,seats,upholstre y,etc replaced,not sure about the fuel tank.
The hull seems in very solid condition,except for faded gelcoat,which i would paint by shooting it with a two part urethane of some kind.
My friend who owns the property where the boat is says he has the complete outdrive inside,and it's in good shape.I've restored a few boats in my lifetime,a few wooden,and a couple larger aluminum models,and i have a few friends in the fiberglass mfg and supply business,so i think i could handle the work.My question to you is,is it worth it,and do you have any idea what i should offer for a boat like this that basically needs a restoration.I don't see much about the Tsunami's,are they more rare than other classic models?. Any help of any kind or even just random thoughts or comments from you guys would be greatly appreciated.Thanks guys.

Trayder · #2 07-06-2006, 04:14 PM

one reason Tsunami's seem more rare than others is due to the fact the name was changed to Sceptre.

They are great boats and definitly worth a restore. I hope a few owners of Tsunami's/Scepter's will help you further

welcome to the site

Rich · #3 07-06-2006, 05:00 PM

Where is the boat located? If it's in the the Midwest, needs full restore offer $500. There was a yellow sceptre that was for sale a couple of years ago in Wisconsin, looked to be all original, and someone from this site bought for around $500, I think it was Ebeach...

If it's in a different part of the country the seller might expect more, or they might give it to if you tow it off there property...

This is the one I was refering to, I think he paid $500 for it.

Old Yeller
Whoops, looks like your from Western Mass, not the midwest. Oh well offer $250 and a case of Sam Adams..

bigeasy1 · #4 07-06-2006, 05:47 PM

Thanks for the replies,the boat's in N.Y.,and the condition is strikingly similar to the one in the picture Rich had a link to.
$250.00 plus some Sam Adams?.Even better the guy who has it drinks Bud Light,i can save a few bucks.

jongolds · #5 07-06-2006, 06:44 PM

I bought a 1973 Tsunami from a guy in MD last fall. It's my first season with it and I haven't really done much to it at this point (it was in pretty good shape to start with). If you have any questions let me know. I don't know much myself yet but I'm learning here all the time. there are a couple of Tsunami/Sceptre owners on here but they definitely are not as common as the CCs.

abl1111 · #6 07-06-2006, 11:46 PM

I have a 23' 1975 Tsunami that I did a lot of resto work to. I'm real happy w/ it. I'm sure that the majority of work you need or want to do can be answered by anyone here who has done this type of work. If you have specific questions - fire away.

EBEACH · #7 07-10-2006, 09:20 PM

That old yeller is my 73 Tsunami. It had and will still have a ford engine when I'm done. If you have any questions I'll be happy to respond.

Jim

Briguy · #8 07-11-2006, 04:27 PM

Ebeach,

Are you saying that the boat is currently owned by you? What's the story?
Brian

Dave Hirshberg · #9 07-12-2006, 05:40 PM

Jim,
How's that boat coming? I gave up on my last Sceptre (20) at about 90% finished and sold it to someone up towards you. I recently bought a SeaCraft that wasn't as much of a project. 3rd SeaCraft, definitely a sickness.
Dave

Dave Hirshberg · #10 07-12-2006, 05:44 PM

John123,
I restored a 23 Sceptre a while back, I'll be happy to help in any way I can as well. One hard part is getting the pitted windsheild frame back in shape. The boat itself was the most practical and good running boats I've ever had.
Dave