Vintage Potter Built 23' Straight Inboard Diesel

[Don Ferguson]

Hi again. I have seen a few gas inboards converted to diesel. I do believe that mine was the only one Bill Potter did. It was not the fast boat that won the Miami Bahamas races for seven years and Bill was into fast back then 1973-4). At the same time Blackfin and Shamrock were putting in small diesels. Blackfin had a 24 they called the "blackcat" w/, guess, Cat engine. Mine hull is a '75.

My hull was the first diesel (straight) and was a demo by Boat Center Ft. Lauderdale, Chick Gagan. I bought it out the back door through Bill but had to piece off Chick as the "dealer'. Later Chick was quoted as saying, "That Boat has sold more SeaCrafts for me ...". The Zara Spook went on to win the South Fla. Triple Crown six times through the late 70's and 80's. This is Her third rebuild. Don

[Bushwacker]

[QUOTE=Don Ferguson;209174]. . . It was not the fast boat that won the Miami Bahamas races for seven years and Bill was into fast back then 1973-4) . . . /QUOTE]

Hi Don,

I've never heard of either Potter or the 23's being involved in any racing, but it would be interesting to hear more about that if it's true! Before Potter took over the company, Carl Moesly ran his old stock outboard-powered SeaCraft 21's in many Bahamas races during the early-mid 60's, dominating the outboard class and beating many larger inboard boats in the process. The rules changed later to allow 3 outboards, so he built some longer custom racing boats for those classes that also did very well. Also never heard of any SeaCraft inboards being raced, although most of the 21's I've seen were originally I/O's, so maybe some race versions of those were also built. Denny

[Snookerd]

Awesome history Don. I had a 79 23 with an original diesel jack shafted to an out drive. It came with a Volvo motor in the big console. I don't doubt that at the time your boat was built it was the only one. I agree with Sandy that the Volvo motor was the factory diesel used as an inboard and over 50 were built, and yours was the 1st. They all seem to be mostly up north.

[Don Ferguson]

Thanks again for input. Yes, I've seen the jackshafts. Mine is straight drive w/ pocket. Don

[Don Ferguson]

The engine in mine, the first, was a 170 Misubishi import by Chrysler. It was after cooled/inter cooled to 200HP. Not near as powerful as the 6bt5 Cummins We put the cummins in when parts for the Jap engine became a nightmare due to age. Don

[ScottM]

Originally Posted by Snookerd

They all seem to be mostly up north.

Agreed. I bet if you took a census of where the 23 IB's are, you'd find the majority of them in the northeast. More particularly New England, and even more so in Mass. Pinpoint it even more and you'd see the mid and lower Cape seems to be a hotbed of IB activity.

Several years ago I met a broker at the Boston boat show that used to be an SC dealer back in the '70s and early '80s here on the south shore. He claimed the 23 IB was created because of him convincing Bill Potter that there was a market for them. I suppose his story could be legit seeing the number of them in this area.

[Don Ferguson]

Thanks for that bit of History I was not aware of. Perhaps I was told wrong. I was told the SeaCraft won the race seven years, before the longer boats (cigarrettes) maybe it was the pre-Potters? Bill is doing survey work here in Broward. Maybe I can get a note to him. Don

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Don Ferguson

Hi again. I have seen a few gas inboards converted to diesel. I do believe that mine was the only one Bill Potter did. It was not the fast boat that won the Miami Bahamas races for seven years and Bill was into fast back then 1973-4). At the same time Blackfin and Shamrock were putting in small diesels. Blackfin had a 24 they called the "blackcat" w/, guess, Cat engine. Mine hull is a '75.

My hull was the first diesel (straight) and was a demo by Boat Center Ft. Lauderdale, Chick Gagan. I bought it out the back door through Bill but had to piece off Chick as the "dealer'. Later Chick was quoted as saying, "That Boat has sold more SeaCrafts for me ...". The Zara Spook went on to win the South Fla. Triple Crown six times through the late 70's and 80's. This is Her third rebuild. Don

I was thinking total IB numbers. Gas as well. Pocket drive on yours?

[Don Ferguson]

Yes. Mine has the pocket drive and allows you to literally go where no one's gone before. In many areas I can put the bow on the beach and not touck bottow at the stern