Real World Use of a 23'

[SoBoSlow]

(I also posted this questing on Reel-Time)
After many years lurking on ClassicSeaCraft I have registered so that I can try to give back to the community what little I know, learn and discover if/when I get my new boat. I am looking to get a new (to me) boat this winter and wanted to get some feedback. I have read plenty of "Is X better than Y" posts and responses and while it may lead to enlightenting (or not so enlightening) debate the easy and true answer is always depends on your preferences take a seatrial and make your choice. I have always been partial to the 23' SeaCraft (as a few others here obviously are) but need to get an idea of the practicality of this boat for my intended use...this is where your experience and judgment comes in.

What is the realistic operating range (weather and distance offshore where you can still cut bait and get home before it is too late, not (mpg x gallons of tankage x 80%)/2) for a quality small/mid sized CC (my experience says I can't do much better than a SeaCraft...your opinion may vary). I would keep the boat in Pleasant Bay (East coast of Cape Cod) and have been comfortable running my 17' whaler out to Crab Ledge (5-10 miles East) with a rough idea of the weather and an eye towards the sky...pretty much no matter how bad it gets if you are paying attention to the changes in the weather while you are out there you will get home no problem...may just get a little wet and a lot banged up, but it wont get so big and bad as to get treacherous on the way in.

What would you consider the realistic usable range of a 23' twin engine CC on an "average" summer day on the Cape? For those few on here who are not in the NorthEast this means that a nice day may end up with an afternoon Southwest breeze coming up BIG (20kts breezes and nasty 3-4' chop on top of the prevailing seastate), the seas may not have settled down from the last blow, you and NOAA may have blown the forecast and now you need to get home in a blow from the North that you didn't expect, and hey a thunderstorm could roll through in the middle of the afternoon while you are offshore and have no "nearest land"? Where is the typical days usable range? BB? BC? Regal Sword? South of the Islands (sure would be nice to spend some time in late August with our visitors from the south)? All the way down to the Lanes? The Canyons...yeay I know no way? With those in mind where is your wake up in the morning and you get a free pass to go fishing for the day limit?

On the perfect day with a weeklong stable weather forecast and a buddyboat anyone of these would be a responsible trip never mind possible, but what would you call the responsible, realistic, range of a 23'ish quality twin engine CC?

I hope to be able to post more regulary with reports from some of these great places and on how much I love my 23.

[Ryank]

I have a single 225 efi yammi on my 23 and I avg a solid 3mpg . I would assume it would be less with twins.

[riprunner]

The Seacraft dealer in Chatham used to be the biggest or seceond biggest Seacraft dealer in the country and there was a reason for it...Tuna Fishing at the BB,Regal Sword etc...Recreational boaters saw how well they did and they too purchased them to fish the often not so nice water off Chatham.

The 23 Seacraft was the staple of the Chatham "Mosquito fleet" as my dad called them. I used to see 23 Seacraft's all the time offshore in conditions where you would only see bigger boats fishing those waters. Most of them seemed to be inboards or I/O's, but I certainly saw outboards as well.

During the Tuna haydays commercial fisherman used the 23 Seacraft because they were economical, safe, and able to handle the conditions to get home when the seas picked up. Commercial fisherman don't buy boats because they are trendy, they buy what works best.

My dad and run a charter business in Falmouth and we have a 32 Blackfin Combi & a 23 Seacraft inboard because they are both the best riding boat in thier class and we don't have to stay tied to the dock when the weather is a little snotty.

[eggsuckindog]

1/2 a tank out 1/2 a tank back, a little simplistic but with twins you don't need to worry about floundering unless you lose both. If you have power the boat will bring you home, also have 2 completely separate bilge pump systems- completely separate - as you will not notice if you have water onboard until you have alot, trust me on this.

[deepsushi]

The only real limitation for the 23 seacraft is fuel capacity. Most of the potter era boats only held around 100 gallons of fuel. The mid 80's 23 footers designed for twins held around 150 gallons of fuel. With a modern outboard you can probably get 1.75 - 2.5 mpg (in ideal FAC) conditions so you your looking at a 2- 300 mile range in ideal conditions. However,if your out 50 - 60 miles and the weather turns to crap and you cant run the boat fast enough to get on plane your fuel burn will increase dramatically.

The seacraft is as good a riding center console out there that there is. If you watch the weather you can go as far as you dare. However, it is still only a 23 foot boat and when the weather goes to crap and your 50 miles from port even a seacraft will start to feel awfully small....

[Fr. Frank]

Going south a bit, to Ocean City, MD, I used to go fishing with friend who had a 23' with twin 115 Johnson's and a 150 gallon tank. We once went as far as 80 miles offshore to Baltimore Canyon for tuna and blue marlin, and several times 45 miles to Hambone rocks for mako and white marlin. When we went to the Canyon, we were part of a flotilla of about 8 or 9 boats between 23'-45'.

The real limiting factor is the capabilities of the skipper and crew. Don't ever go farther than you're easily comfortable with, or your "crew" is comfortable with, regardless of your vessel's range. Safety has got to be the principle consideration, always. See, the idea isn't to find out how far you can go, it's how far from which you can safely come back.

[Blackfin26]

SoBo, This post got me off the sofa and I registered as well. Great site with good advice and people who respond thoughtfully. I've trailered out of Ryder's Cove a bunch of times with a 23 Sailfish (now sold). Pick your days and you'll be fine. As far as heading off Nantucket for a few yellowfin...i'd have a buddy boat and make that trip when the warm water arrives fairly close. I Know several people who have made long runs in poor conditions on inboard 23's. Have to think the outboard version would beat you up a little more. Just make sure you have the skills, equipment (radar a must), and float plan. In pleasant bay are you moored or slipped? Look forward to your posts to come.

[SoBoSlow]

Thak you for the great responses.

Safety gear and top notch electronics (RADAR) are part of the budget, just above a couple more bigger rods to finish out the spread...I'ld rather lose a fish than the ability to see another boat in the soup out there.

I would love to go Inboard or even I/O and get the weight lower in the boat when outside, but as those who have fished Pleasant Bay know on the days you can't go outside there are some wonderful shallow water spots that require a full outboard to really capitalize on. In addition my access to the bay is a shallow channel that is barely passable at low tide; its either full tilt or full throttle.

Blackfin 29: the Whaler is kept on a dock and if I could fit the 23' it will go there, if not, I have a mooring available.

[Old'sCool]

I don't agree with the above statement "1/2 tank there, 1/2 tank back". The rule of thumb is 1/3's....1/3 there, 1/3 back, 1/3 reserve. You can certainly push it as far as you want. That said...I fish out of Chas. SC and a ledge trolling trip is about 170 miles round trip including trolling. My 23' w/250 Yam. OX66 on bracket burns around 80 gals. in a 2-3' semi-slop. If the weather picked up bad I would want the 1/3 reserve, or close to it. If you didn't need the O.B. tilt feature I think the I.B. diesel would be the ticket!

[Blackfin26]

I agree with reelescape that a diesel would be the way to go. Either inboard or jackshafted IO set up would be nice. One of those new 4.2 cummins/mercruisers with digital controls maybe? Also good to hear that radar will be part of the equation. Make sure you can run it flawlessly before heading out on that first foggy day (been there and won't do that again). Epirb, back up electronics, and survival suits would be my extras. And, while I'm spending your money, keep the whaler for those inshore days to chase the blues or drift for early season bass. Lot's of fun.