First Seacraft

nestorpr · #1 07-17-2004, 11:30 PM

Hi everyone, I'm new to the family and really enjoy reading the posts from everyone.

Just bought this beauty and have been using it a bit lately. Still needs some work but I'll slowly work her up to the condition she deserves. I also wanted to post some pictures I took a couple of weeks ago at Elliot Key in South Florida with my two sons and grandsons. I'm especially grateful for this time since my eldest son (the tallest) just returned from a 13 month tour of duty with the Army in Iraq. He decided to come visit us for a week this summer with his family and I can't imagine a better gift than that!

Anyway, here's the pictures and feel free to comment on any improvements or repairs I can do on her!

Capt Chuck · #2 07-18-2004, 07:34 AM

Welcome Botapeje

You don't see to many SeaCrafts like yours. She sure looks sweet and in great condition

I'm sure your already in love with her, so enjoy

nestorpr · #3 07-19-2004, 12:47 PM

Thanks! She is really sweet and I enjoy having a "unique" boat. She also proved her seaworthiness yesterday. I took my wife out for a "short" jaunt up to Miami from my ramp at Homestead Bayfront Park and it turned out to be a heck of a ride! The wind picked up about midway up Biscayne Bay and turned up the chop, real short and steep waves made for a very bumpy ride. Being that this was my wife's first outing in many years, she complained all the way up! We then spent a while cruising in the ICW and other Miami attarctions and finally decided to return. Needless to say the wind was worse. I finally convinced my wife that these boats run better at higher speeds on this choppy waters than too slow and opened her up. She immediately felt the difference from slow bumpy going, to a faster travel with a "ripple" feeling from the hull. We finally got back to port on fumes after a 76 mile run. Not bad for a 1970, huh?

Abe's Rocket · #4 07-21-2004, 12:38 PM

Nice boat, congrats. thank your son for me for his service to our country.

abe's rocket

ocuyler · #5 07-21-2004, 04:20 PM

Welcome to the CSC site! I have that same boat in a '71 waiting for restoration.

Ditto on thanking your son for going to Iraq, serving our country and liberating the Iraqi people. He probably didn't see too many SeaCrafts in Bahgdad... God Bless America and those that serve for her!

nestorpr · #6 07-25-2004, 10:20 PM

Thanks to all for your comments, they're very well received! I have passed on your thanks to my son and he says thank you very much, it was a grueling experience for him but he couldn't be more proud to be able to serve his country and his people. Being an "Air Force Brat" showed him the dedication and professionalism (at least by everyone I knew, there have been exceptions, especially in the prisons) of our men and women in the Armed Forces and he decided to take up the torch from us retirees. His mother and I can't be more proud of him and thank you for your good wishes and patriotism.

As for the "mistress", as my wife so kindly puts it, she's in for some maintenance as soon as I return from my next 2-week trip to correct her bad habit of stalling whenever you change shifts.

I hope you get to restore your '71 soon and hope to see many pictures!

TUGBOAT · #7 08-23-2004, 12:00 PM

Hey Botapeje,
i thought i reckonized that seaCraft ! here's a Inside shot,I'll see Ya out again .

Scream'n Reels' [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

nestorpr · #8 09-04-2004, 01:56 AM

Hi Capt. Brad!

Thanks for posting the picture, it sure looks good. It even includes my new tow truck and my "old" (don't tell her I said that!) but beautiful wife. She was very excited to see herself on the internet, now she wants a "better" picture of herself in the boat! Oh, well, women will be women.

By the way, I love to fish but have been out of the sport for many years. I would like to hire a guide to go out on my boat and help me rig her and instruct me in modern deep sea trolling techniques, I know they've changed a lot since I last trolled for blue marlin in 1978. Are you available or do you have any suggestions? I'd really appreciate them!

Thanks again for the picture, hope to see you out there again!

newboater · #9 08-22-2004, 10:19 PM

Welecom Botapeje,
Thank your son for me also !!!

I have one just like it, also first boat a 1972 seafari, never been restored yet but looks great for it's age and it's still solid, it sat in a yard for 14 years without running, the owner gave it to me.
have the same 140 merc i/o, tell me what kind of prop you are running and if you are happy with it, mine is shot and looking into a new one.

nestorpr · #10 09-04-2004, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Welecom Botapeje,
Thank your son for me also !!!

Thanks, I will!

You were lucky with your boat, I had to buy mine! I think I did OK, semi-restored boat and new Continental dual axle trailer for $8000. Now with some time and a place to work I could finish her restoration. I wish you good luck with yours!

As to the prop I'm running, I'm not really sure of it's size but it has too much pitch, the engine won't rev over 4000 rpm's, even with the best trim on the outdrive. I'm going to remove it and take it to a prop shop to have it re-pitched. Do you know what it should be for this boat? I've been told it should be around 21" but am not sure, anybody?

If I had to buy a new one, I'd look into those new "ringed" propellers just coming out, they sure look good and are naturally protected against fouling and edge dings. I think I saw them either in Salwater or Florida Sportsman magazine. Good luck!