Classic vs new

[JWB]

OK.......I've been looking for a while now for a nice redone 20 cc. I've done the math many times. If I buy a hull for 4-5k and
raise floor, transon, new fuel tank, gel coat, add a T-top, new Suzuki 140, new trailor,basic electronics I have spent as much or more than a new one unless I find one done. Seen many partly done but if I want primo (Ikan Bezar) then it's 35k+.

Serious question here. I love the classics but are they THAT much better than a new one with warrenty these days?

[ocuyler]

What a terrific question...

[Scott]

Thats easy .... You do what you want to the boat ... not what some corporation thinks is best.
Ikan's boat is the perfect example ...He now has what he wants.

Its easy to buy any boat ... it much more rewarding doing it your way ....Its custom !!

Going out on a limb ...I'm speaking for many ...but if we didn't like the old ones this site wouldnt be here

[Rich]

Even better, if you have 40K to buy new, you can pay a professional to restore a boat for you. New custom boat.

[Ikan Besar]

I think that is a question that depends on the individual buyer. Tell you what Fiasco, I can arrange for you to ride on a brand new one and mine on the same day if you are in the area. YOU would be the best person, after seeing both, to answer your question.

I knew going into it that I would be spending more on a redo than had I gone to the dealer and bought a new one off the lot. It may be a case of me needing my head examined, but I had fairly specific ideas of what I was after and it took two single-space typed pages to enumerate those to the person that built mine. I had spent time in the new ones, the "classic 20'", the new "Lefty Kreh/Master Angler" edition, and the new 21'. All of the new ones I spent time fishing out of were nice boats. I just had a list of things that I wanted and those didn't exist on those boats. If you'd like to contact me directly, I can be more specific about what I wanted and what those three were missing for my intended usage.

When I was getting ready to have mine done, you couldn't have a SeaCraft rigged with anything other than a Mercury. That has changed and you can get them with various power options now. At the time, Mercury didn't have a suitable four-stroke and that was something I really wanted.

The fittings/hardware, while adequate on the current factory boats, are not up to the standard I wanted. The rigging on the current factory boats....well, let's just say that if I want to visit the Amazon Jungle, I'll fly to Brazil.

I started planning my redone 1971 20' when I still had a different SeaCraft (a 1976 18'). This allowed me to really think about what features I wanted to retain, which aspects really bothered me, etc. Additionally, I had the opportunity to spend time around the boats owned by members on this site (both SeaCraft and non-SeaCraft boats) which directly affected some features on my current 20'.

To get back to your question about whether the old ones are "that much" better than the new ones? I would have a really tough time accepting a blanket statement like that. While there are some aspects on the new ones that I think come up short, that can just as accurately be said about the old ones in their original configuration.

One other thing to consider: if you want a new one, you can be using it by tomorrow afternoon. A custom redo is going to take some time. You are correct in your cost analysis: a redo to the extent that mine was done will not save you a single penny over buying a new one.....but when I take mine in for each 100 hour service, you should see all the guys at the SeaCraft dealer drool.

If the new ones have everything you want in a boat, I'd buy one and go fishing.

[jorgeinmiami]

Do you live in Miami?

If so I would really like to get together and see what you have done before embarking on my redo

Let me know if I can see your boat sometime

[Scott]

I forgot to add ... No one should go and buy one of these boats thinking it’s a "Good Deal". If done right Much Much more money will go into this hull then will ever come out, but thats just part of owning a boat. You need to know that going in. As I said before you know what you have... wiring, structure, gauges, trim work, consoles, tops leaning post...even colors…. and on and on.

Fellowship, and others, have said much the same when this question has been posed before.

Many owners have been involved in boats much of their lives and have certain ideas for their perfect boat ... These hulls are the perfect foundation for their perfect boat.

[Ikan Besar]

Do you live in Miami?

I'm up the road in Stuart. I'll be back there in two weeks and you're welcome to come see the boat anytime you want. For reasons I won't go into, I now post under a different user name than I used to. Chances are pretty good that you've already seen the boat: http://www.classicseacraft.com/forum...5&o=&fpart=all

[TUGBOAT]

For reasons I won't go into,I now post under a different user name

Anything to do with "THAT" picture of You ?
Heebie Jeebie's

[Mark]

Anything to do with "THAT" picture of You ?

yep, that's it exactly!