New 24 topaz/seacraft

resurrection812 · #1 02-08-2006, 11:43 AM

I was just looking at the 24 Topaz online at topazboats.com. They bought the mold from silverhawk (whick looks like they oneoffed the 23 seacraft)and are putting inboards in them. I was wondering if anyone has been on one or kicking around one. I know it is no potter, but topaz makes great boats. Also I can not find a picture of the bottom of the boat and was wondering if they are making a pocket drive. PS I do own a 23 1972 and love it! Just looking.

fishstu · #2 02-08-2006, 12:29 PM

I have fished on the First Light Anglers 24 Silverhawk. It’s a great riding boat; Nat and Derek drive it very hard at times to find fish. Most of my trips were in late fall running as fast as possible 20 miles or more in very sloppy conditions, with the hull out of the water 10% of the time. Pretty stable too drifting.

Abe's Rocket · #3 02-08-2006, 12:43 PM

Do a search on Topaz across the site. There are some great pics of a number of the silverhawk / topaz 24s.....

Capt Chuck · #4 02-08-2006, 12:49 PM

CSC Forum member " Jigolo" owns one [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

mpwitte · #5 02-08-2006, 10:23 PM

I can provide some info here. Topaz is now part of Egg Harbor as of November 2005. Topaz did not buy the Silverhawk molds. They did build somewhere around 15 boats using the molds. My understanding is they were all gas I/O powered, some Merc and some Volvo. They did not build any inboard powered or express deck versions.

The inboard Silverhawks did have a propeller tunnel. It was larger than the Seacraft version but similsr. The tunnel was built using an insert in the existing hull mold. The shaft angle was very flat at around 7.5* and the rudder was very large. The boat would back in either direction. The motor was mounted about 10" further forward relative to the Seacraft and completely under the console. The console used a larger door but otherwise was the standard unit mounted a few inches aft from the normal I/O location. I built another insert for the standard deck mold to convert the motor box area to a slightly smaller flat hatch opening.

I am not sure how to post pictures here but I would be happy to email you some if you are interested. I'm always happy to answer Silverhawk questions.

Mike.

Scott · #6 02-09-2006, 12:08 AM

Mike I sent you a pm

Scott · #7 02-09-2006, 01:01 AM

mpwitte's Pictures

resurrection812 · #8 02-09-2006, 06:28 PM

That is impressive!!! The new seacrafts just have nothing on that!!! Thanks for the pics. I wonder how that shaft angle improves economy. With that pocket and the engine weight in the middle of the boat, it can not draw more then 22 to 24 inches. Thanks again

mpwitte · #9 02-09-2006, 08:40 PM

The boats are very heavy and sit rather deep. This one (the first) was a couple of hundred pounds extra heavy as the hull was reverse engineered from a regular I/O hull. Draft on this one was about 28" to the tip of the rudder. If you look at the rudder you can see it extending well below the prop. This was actually a little excessive and the rudder on the next one was 2 or 3 inches shorter.Steering response was still very good. I never liked Seacraft's square rudder and most I have seen have had an extension welded to the aft end to improve the response. I didn't want the rudder to extend beyond the transom as we were trying to keep the stern as clean as possible.

Mike.

Finster · #10 02-10-2006, 12:44 AM

I like it!!!