Looking at an 18' Sea Craft, ... need some help...

[VirginIslander]

Greetings from the sunny caribbean.

I'm here in the US Virgin Islands, and there's not a lot of decent small boats to be found..... Especially for what by stateside standards would be reasonable cost.

I've been looking at what seems like a well cared for 18' Sea Craft SF. The motor is a '98 or '99 Evinrude Ocean Pro 150, (the eagle series 60 degree V6 blocks) but the boat is older. I'm trying to do my homework on it before I buy it.

The hull ID number, as best as I can make it out (several coats of awlgrip covering it) is SECF80321078. I'm thinking that it's Potter era vintage, but not sure. I was hoping you guys might be able to tell the year from the hull number. The aluminum capacity plate on the starboard side of the console is completely illegible, so that's no help.

Hoping you all might be able to sleuth out the year, and give me an idea of what kind of performance to expect.


Many Thanks in advance,

Darlene


PS;
It has a bimini top, low bow rail, and that transom closure in front of the motor well. These seemed like standard fare for this boat?

[CHANCE1234]

Here is the manufacturer by year list that I lifted from a Capt Chuck posting.


SEC = SeaCraft Inc (Potter 1969 thru 5/80)
csy = Carribbean Sailing Yachts (1980-1982 23'& 27' SeaCrafts only)
SIC = SeaCraft Industries Corp (1980 thru 1987 other SeaCraft Models) (Potter on Board of Directors approx 1 year after sale)
TXY = Sarasota Marine Corp ('86-'88 csy Parent Co)
SIC = Tracker SeaCraft of Fla (1987 thru 1990) all models
SXC = Stern Craft Corp (1994 Silver King Parent then Tracker Parent Co in 1995)
MIC = Silver King Boats (1994-2002 Mako Marine Parent Co)
MRK = Mako Marine (2002 Parent Co SeaCraft from Tracker

hope this helps

[NoBones]

Welcome to CSC Darlene,
SECF80321078
Born on 10/1978
It is a Potter.
Good luck, Ken

[VirginIslander]

Welcome to CSC Darlene,
SECF80321078
Born on 10/1978
It is a Potter.
Good luck, Ken

Wow, You guys are super.

If all the paper work is in order (sometimes an "iffy" thing down here) I'll be a CSC owner in the next week or so. Which means I'll have to get a "Potter Built" decal ..... Hope you don't mind a few questions here and there.

The trailer needs some attention, but this whole island is only 21 miles long, you can limp home from almost anywhere.



Darlene

[nestorpr]

Welcome to CSC Darlene. I travel to your neck of the woods at least once a year on business. Where in St. Croix will you boat?

[VirginIslander]

Welcome to CSC Darlene. I travel to your neck of the woods at least once a year on business. Where in St. Croix will you boat?

I'm primarily a diver, not a fisherperson, so most trips will be close to shore to search for some cool dive sites that the regular dive operators don't go to, or to go to sites that they do, but keep you on a recreational level time frame which doesn't work for me. When the weather is nice, it's a 40 mile run to St Thomas / St John and there's some nice wrecks over there I'd like to dive.

The plan is to keep it on the trailer at the house here, and be able to launch at whatever ramp is closest to where I plan to explore.

I was over looking at it again this afternoon, and put a battery charger on the batteries (it's been sitting for maybe 4 to 6 months) and checked out the motor. It started right up and sounded very smooth with a nice clean idle. You could feel the temp change in the water coming out the pisser as the thermostats function. It needs a little work on the console instruments wiring, but that's no problem.

The boat itself felt a tad soft underfoot in a few areas of the floor. Maybe in a year or two, if we don't go to something bigger, I'll redo the floor. Trying to flex the transom by hanging on the tilted up motor revealed it to be very solid.

Probably do a sea trial next weekend and make a final decision then, based on how it goes, and how much negotiation skill I have.


Darlene

[nestorpr]

I think the boat will run really nice in your area and you'll be pretty happy with it. Good luck in the negotiations!

[Old'sCool]

Where are the pictures???