New member iso 1st Sea Craft

[thunder]

I have been watching this site and others for some time now and after many years of boating / fishing etc I would like to try the Sea Craft hull for a while. I believe the 23' CC to be the best choice for me as I trailer the boat to different areas depending on the bite and prefer offshore. I have had experience with outboard and I/O power systems and am familiar with the pro's & con's of both. I am looking for advice on the boat lengths and power options for an optimum choice in my first Sea Craft. The 23' CC with a straight inboard 350 or 454 / 496 / 502 etc seems like the best bet for me. Diesels are too expensive for my taste. But I see so many people opting for the $2500.00 dollar bracket and $18K - 23K outboards that I wonder if that is the best option although I would do it on the cheap with used gear. What is the general consensus on this subject. I guess I should target the 70's - early 80's hulls. How much if any wood is in the early hulls what are the weak areas I should be looking for, other than the obvious soft spots in the floor.