25' Sea Craft ?'s

[rum4u]

new member so be gentle. 1st i think this site is great!!!! there is so much info for people to use. when i was young in another life my father had a 1976(?) 20' sea craft. i used to beat the you know what of it, but the boat just said bring it on. to this day that has left a lasting impression on me. so, to my question: i did a search for this but could not find anything so i apologize if it has been asked before. i am in the market for a newer 25', i know from other forums/posts that there were problems with some of them. my question is was this an isolated thing or spread out over a couple of manufacturing years? thanks for any help with this.

[Bigshrimpin]

Do a search on this site. Tracker had issues with several of their boats (including the Seacraft 25.)

The coast guard actually issued a recall on the (Trackers) Mako 282.
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Here's some info:
Records the boatbuilder has since provided to the Coast Guard show that 19 of the 216 Mako 282s built in 1997 and 1998 were repaired under warranty because of problems related to transom failures. There is no record of the total number of boats with defects, where owners either didn’t report their problems to Mako or where the problems surfaced after the boats’ warranties expired.

Although many Mako 282s, including the Louisiana boat prior to its current owners’ tenure, were repaired at the factory by the manufacturer, the Louisiana family was told the cracks on their boat were strictly cosmetic. Their Mako 282 was built in late 1997.

According to U.S. Coast Guard documents obtained by BoatU.S., the Mako 282 model’s design was derived by adding two feet to the design of an earlier 26 ft. model. A Coast Guard inspector concluded that the transom extension “was not provided with adequate structural support to accommodate the weight of the outboard engines.”
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This is specualtion . . . but I believe that the boats they "Stretched" Mako 282, Seacraft 25, and some others had serious structural design/construction problems. I don't know when Tracker got things under control, but I wouldn't buy one of those boats (especially from a company that DID NOT stand behind their product). There's Several companies that make quality SeaCraft hulls in that size . . . why gamble? (unless you are capable of inspecting or repairing the boat).

Good Luck!!

[rum4u]

thanks bigshrimpin
i have heard that it was a couple of boats and also heard it was with several boats over an extend production period.
i think i will take your advice and play it safe and stay away from one. thanks again for your input.

[eggsuckindog]

Those 25's they had trouble with were early boats out of Miami. I'm sure they have corrected any issues and since they moved I haven't heard anything bad at all, even on quality control/fit and finish. They seem to have listened to everyone and are doing much better. I have never crawled around a new one, did see a new one at Anclote, it was one of the 20's and the console was pretty far back leaving little room back there, thats the only thing I noticed. The other model is different, I wonder if any new ones show up at Anclote, would be interesting to check one out.

[SteveH]

I am probably one of the only people who frequent this site who has owned both a Potter built and a newer seacraft. I had a 1978 20 ft. Master Angler that my father actually purchased new for he and I in 1978. We owned the boat until 1995 approx. It was such an excellent boat that it influenced me to buy a 2000 23 ft S/C about 2 years ago. Although I can not comment on the 25 footer as I have never even ridden in one, the quality of my boat is very good. No issues of any kind, except for a very small and superficial gel coat issue around the bait well that I repaired. It may have been caused by previous owner?? The bottom line it has been a great boat. By the way, I may be out there at Anclote as I live 20 minutes away from the boat ramp at the river. If so, I look forward to meeting Eggsuckingdog and the other members.

[eggsuckindog]

Come on out Steve, see the gathering section for details

[Snookerd]

Steve-Few folks that have Potter era boats have seen your newer 23SF layout. We would love to have you at the event. It is going to be a great time.

[Dave Hirshberg]

I'm a little late to the party here but I gotta chime in. I'm on my 3rd SeaCraft and its a 1998 25 with 150 Johnson FICHTS. With all the un-flattering stories circulating about Tracker SeaCrafts I should have avoided it like the plague. But It was in spectacular condition, and I've always wanted an all black SeaCraft. The only things that I found that were poorly done were the bilge gel-coat was flaking off in multiple places and the bulkhead forward of the center console had inadequate fiberglass tabbing to the hull. ( I knew to look for it because I had seen the same spot on other 25's.) I used the problem motors and broken tabbing to negotiate a great price, bought it, and fixed it. I repainted the motor cowlings and ordered a set of 2001 Johnson 150 decals to update the look of the old teal green FICHT logos. I can tell you that is was far easier than re-doing the previous two Scepters I had owned and a lot less money. Two re-manufactured ignition modules and some light interior fiberglass work and I was in business. The facts are that some early 25's had transom issues (mine was fine), the 25 is not a stretched 23, its dry, carries 175gallons of fuel,it gets 1.7 kmpg with twins,will plane and run 20+ knots on one 150hp motor with full fuel( a few trial's and motor errors is how I learned this) and it's the best riding 25 I have ever owned. Oh! and it has a head for the wife...Big Plus! The 23 classic I had was the best riding 23 ever made IMO and if I had a place to put her I'd buy her back tomorrow. That being said, I'm personally not afraid of 25's. Great boat and great ride with all the things you would want in a 23 but couldn't get. And by the way, My 150 FICHT's purr like kittens. DFI oil and fresh plugs and they are no problem at all. And with the price of new motors these days I think I'll run em till they pop! Those that know me know I'm not a Johnny come lately beating on the classics. Classic SeaCrafts are and will continue to be the benchmark for other boat makers to emulate. I just have to avoid this site as much as possible or I'll get the disease again and buy another boat. Always thinking about the next color to paint... Flag Blue? or maybe Garnet and tan? Endless imagination and no time to do anything about it.
Tight Lines!
Dave