'85 23' Sceptre project

[Cutiger]

After keeping my eyes open for one for the past handful of years, I finally found a 23 SeaCraft for what I would consider a fair asking price for a project. i traveled on down to central FL to get it earlier this month. This was the one listed only here in the classifieds. I know some, many, are Potter only people. Not to start a war, but I don't fully buy into that thinking. So here I am with an SCI hull.

Unlike most internet chronicled threads like this, I am not immediately trying to build a show piece out of this boat. I plan to make a solid, safe fishing boat. That's not to say I won't do some cosmetics along the way, but I intend to have it in the water fishing in 2017.

Power: the boat has unknown condition 1986 140 evinrudes on it. I intend to take a little time seeing if these motors will run. I want to run the hull and see how it responds to the weight so I can make the best decision for me on how to repower prior to spending the money. They'll also be easier to unload on Craigslist running.

The floor, stringers, and transom all feel solid. The fuel tank hatch is soft, and the bow is soft at the pulpit. Wiring is of course a wreck. Fuel tank seems to be okay, but it'll be coming out for inspection.

Picking it up in FL:




Tank and live well hatches removed.







Uncovered some interesting things in the bilge, old food wrappers, can of sardines, thermometer...




The lip around the edge of the fuel tank coffin is pretty big. At first glance today it appears I may have to trim the lip back a little bit to get the tank out.






Fuel tank label isn't too legible. Enough to see the manufacturer. I pulled the sender and the tank is nearly full. Lots of fuel to get rid of...




I also started ripping out fuel lines and wires, but the thunder rolled in and I had to cover it up and get my tools in. Pick back up with stripping wiring and emptying fuel tank on the next work session.