nj sea craft owners

[dawg20]

New to the site. Thinking about purchasing a 72 20sf. Been doing a lot reading on the site and think this might be the right boat for me. Anyone with experience can comment on how this boat can handle inshore fishing the Sandy Hook Bay and coastal ocean waters? Had a 23' mako a few years back and it was a good boat for the area. Would like to have option of river fishing as well as inshore ocean fishing for stripers and other species. Is 20sf sufficient or should i be looking at 23? Please comment.

[peterb]

Welcome Dawg20,

For the past several years I have kept a slip over at Leonardo State Marina. Sandy Hook Bay and the surrounding waters are my home fishing base from early April through early January.

Net/net, both boats are great for the area. Years ago I stated with a 16' Wahoo (looks like a 15 foot whaler). Great little boat but several times I made the mistake of getting caught in some scarey seas (with water constantly coming over the bow and the like).

Next I moved up to a 20' Hydra-Sport center console. This was a huge move up. Much safer boat.

Finally, 2 years ago I moved up again to a 23' SeaCraft. What a beast. There are days when there are 3 to 5 footers and I won't think twice about plowing down to Sandy Hook reef or the rocks. With a 20' I would think.

Conversely, a 20' is going to be better on the gas, cheaper to buy and maintain, and better in shallow water.

Best of luck.

If you ever want to take a spin on my 23' footer just let me know.

Peter

[dawg20]

Peter,

Thanks for the input and the invite. That is my dilemma. I like to fish for stripers and they don't always like the nice weather. As you know some of the best fishing days are the snottiest weather wise. Faced with a difficult choice. I can swing the cost of a decent 20SF now but, would maybe have to wait a little longer for the 23. I may want to keep the boat on a trailer to save on slip costs and the 20 would be easier to work on and off the trailer.

[Fr. Frank]

I may want to keep the boat on a trailer to save on slip costs and the 20 would be easier to work on and off the trailer.

With a little practice and a drive-on type trailer, a 23 is no more difficult to load and unload from a trailer.

Please note, I said "with a little practice". Take a slow ramp day and drive the boat up onto the trailer 20-25 times. Drive it up, then back it down, go around in a big circle and do it again. If you make three such practice-only trips to your local ramp, and practice first in calm weather, then in one day moderately windy weather, and finally actually practice in rainy/nasty weather, you'll never fear the boat ramp again.

[peterb]

Ithas been my own personal experience that putting the boat on and off a trailer the 23' is fine, providing you either have someone with you and/or the weather is not too snotty.

I say this because we have some funky ramps on Sandy Hook Bay (such as Leonardo & Atlantic Highlands) where if you don't drive the boat off of the trailer you need some muscle power and a lot of rope to guide the boat to a temporary tie up spot.

I have been alone more than once in bad conditions and had to wrestle with the boat during the ramp process.

[Fr. Frank]

Peter is right. Having someone to help you is important. I neglected to mention that. Especially if your ramp has a cross current.

[pair of jacks]

dawg- i have a 21 and before i bought it i looked at the 20 very seriously- i went with 21 because i do fish the ocean mostly, and the 20's gunwales are substantially lower than mine- although some will disagree i think the 20 is better off inside (river/bay) than in ocean

[peterb]

I spent some time speaking with Dawg (also known as Lenny). Seems like he is hot to trot for a Potter built boat, preferably a 23' CC.

If anyone sees anything decent out there, he would appreciate a heads up.

Peter

[dawg20]

thanks for looking out for me Peter. I am looking for a 23 Potter hull center console. I am not looking for a major rebuild project. I would like an enclosed transom if possible. Not looking to spend a fortune.