20' MA's

[dcobbett]

I’ll begin by admitting that, unfortunately, I’ve never seen a 20’ MA in the flesh, so-to-speak, and all of my opinions and questions are based on what I’ve seen and read on this forum over the last few months. That said, I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading old posts and I remember someone implying that the 20’ Master Angler may not have been produced until about 1975-1976.

Can this (and my memory) be confirmed?
Does anyone have an idea how many 20’ MA’s were produced during the SEC and the SIC periods (roughly 1969 through 1987)? To put it another way, does anyone have any idea of the rough proportion of 20’ Fisherman to 20’ MA’s for those production time frames?

Significant differences between the 20’MA and the 20” Fisherman that I’ve noticed seem to be limited to (1), increased internal freeboard with resultant changes to the classic SeaCraft profile, (2) wider rail caps with an inbeded, horizontal grab rail, (3) carpet on the inside surface of the hull in-lieu-of a fiberglass liner, (4) a shorter raised foredeck, (4) a below deck, dry storage area/bin under the console’s forward seat, and (5), the below deck fuel tank is located closer to the transom. Are there other differences, and has anyone who has restored a 20MA come across any that are not so apparent?

[84 Master Angler]

as the name implies - I have one. There is a baitwell in the stern and a small storage compartment. Aside from that, I think you have hit the differences - same hull different cap. I'm in arlington, Va - where are you from?

[dcobbett]

I'm from Sawmpscott, MA. Small town on the coast, 12+/- miles north of Boston.
Are the baitwell and the storgae compartment between the fuel tank and the inside face of the motor well?

I don't want to start a my hull is better than yours discussion, but it looks like the MA might be easier to fish out of due to the larger area of open deck on the same level, plus more convenient rod storage under the rail caps.

[Bigshrimpin]

DC - the big difference is that the MA is a 3 piece boat and the SF is a two piece boat.

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Transom Config:
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MA:



SF:



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Raised Deck:
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MA:



SF:

[dcobbett]

Bigshrimpin,

Therefore, is the 20'Fisherman is strong or more ridgid that the MA, and is it easier to repair/modify?

On a 20' Fisherman, is the one piece liner/deck cap piece attached to the inside of the hull any place other that along the top of the outside stringers and the outer lip of the cap where it butts the upper, outside edge of the hull?

On the 20' MA, doesn't the deck piece have a fairly wide flange on it that attaches to the inside of the hull?

[RS]

On the 20' MA, doesn't the deck piece have a fairly wide flange on it that attaches to the inside of the hull?

Do you mean like this?


BTW, that mod to the rear rod holders give me the ability to store two rods in each of the top two spots. I can easily fit 10 rods under the gunwales.

[Mark]

I don't want to start a my hull is better than yours discussion, but it looks like the MA might be easier to fish out of due to the larger area of open deck on the same level, plus more convenient rod storage under the rail caps.

If you don't intend to modify the boat at all, be it a standard open fish or a master angler, I think the master angler is a better setup for rod storage as you suggest. However, if you get into heavy modification, it really doesn't matter too much which blank canvas you start with.

As to better fishing due to more level deck, it all depends on the person. Many fly fishing enthusiasts actually like a raised casting platform. Other people that have redone the 20' boats have eliminated the casting platform altogether (as in Trayder's boat).

Probably best to see one in person before buying one long-distance. I think there are a handful of members with the "Master Angler" model up in your part of the country. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[dcobbett]

Mark,

Good comments and advice. Thanks.

[RS]

Significant differences ...(4) a below deck, dry storage area/bin under the console’s forward seat,

On MAs with the 70 gallon tank, this area is taken up by the tank. I've only seen a few, and all had the 70 gallon tank.

[SEAFARI]

I really miss that boat! [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]