(re) Thinking about buying a 1973 Seafari.

[Fr. Frank]

There's also a '73 Seafari for sale locally for $1800 including trailer, with a 3.0 liter Mercruiser Sterndrive. Galvanized Murray roller-type trailer needs springs, new axle and new wheels/tires. mid-90's motor, with original pre-Alpha drive and gimbal. All original except helm seat, including 1973 electronics (VHF and paper-charting fishfinder/depth recorder). It's been in Craigslist several times, I think it's just north of St. Pete.

There's also a gem of '75 Seafari for sale up for $1200 in Cambellton Florida in Jackson county (near Alabama-Florida line) displayed right on Hwy 231. I stopped this past Saturday and looked at it. It's powered by the original 1975 Evinrude 135 hp 90* small-block V4. I didn't hear it run, but the motor looked really rough outside, and extremely clean (like NEW) under the cover, and the owner (original owner's son) said it ran "flawlessly". It has an old aluminum single-axle trailer, in very good condition.Has original navy convertible top, and has the original fiberglass motor-well cover/hood with the VDH hull logo.

Now for the condition of that '75:
Extremely chalky hull and topsides. Deck is solid, transom has no flex, or hollow sounding spots when tapped with (no kidding) the owner's gun butt. Teak cabin door is missing and never replaced, the original canvas is rotted, and original ceiling hatch replaced with custom curved-lexan hatch now greening and crazed with cracks. Owner stated boat has not been used since his Dad died over two years ago, although it has been started an run on the hose every couple of months. At first he said every week, but when I gave him a look, he admitted that it was only every couple of months.

Here's what attracted me - the hull is one of the very few original "Fighting Lady Yellow" Seafari's ever built. I wish I had the money to buy it.

BTW, the only reason I was asking $7K for mine a few months ago was because the motor has a book value of $5800.