23 SeaCraft Tsunami Rebuild?

[Thurston]

I have a trailer to move the boat. 95% of my use would be running up and down the Indian River with the family and that's about it. I'm not a big fisherman so I will not be building this with that in mind.

I may keep the design as is after looking at more restorations and seeing how good looking these boats are when cleaned up! Biggest concern I have is going to be cost of restoration as this will be my first!

Nervous and excited!

[McGillicuddy]

IMO the cuddy would only benefit the family. A little shade, a little napping space, changing, sunning on the cuddy cap, camping, toy-towing, etc. ...It'll help the wallet, too - much less modification work.

Good luck with your decision. The Sceptre/Tsunami is really a great all-around family boat, much better for that than a cc which is pretty purely fishing oriented.

Cheers, and welcome aboard.

[Thurston]

I have always owned CC boats so this will be a new design for me. Any thoughts or pics you can share? I would like to have a hard top and I need seating for at least 5-6pppl, easy access to the bow. I will use an outboard on a bracket to power the boat. I would be open to removing the windshield or replacing it to give the boat an updated or sleeker design. Does anyone have any pics of the cuddly area?

I really need help with the layout and design on this one! Thanks for all the thoughts so far!

[Blackfin26]

$1K is fine. Keep the cuddy and just add a center console like the savage model. Best of both worlds.

[jongolds]

Originally Posted by Blackfin26

$1K is fine. Keep the cuddy and just add a center console like the savage model. Best of both worlds.

This actually always strike me as the worst of both worlds. Even with the Savage setup, bow access is less than optimal, you lose the shelter of the windshield and you eat up a ton of open cockpit space. Doesn't a large console with a head accomplish all the pluses of the Savage with less wasted space? No one is really sleeping in that cuddy are they?

Keep it as is. I have one and it has been great for our family.

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by Thurston

...95% of my use would be running up and down the Indian River with the family and that's about it...

...Biggest concern I have is going to be cost of restoration as this will be my first!

Nervous and excited!

If you have school age kids, and the usual schedule that goes along with that, it may be the cost in time that you can't afford. It wasn't until my youngest graduated high school that I could find enough time for a boat restoration. The rule of thumb around here is to estimate the cost in time and cash and then double it. Think hard about your budget for both hours and dollars before you commit.
Dave

[Thurston]

Blue Heron- Excellent thought about time and my kids. Unfortunately they live in Ga with there mom so I only have them for long weekends or holiday breaks and summer. Also I have a friend that is a master glass/composite craftsman that will do most of the work while stand by as his apprentice!

Thanks for the continued thoughts and comments!!

[Bushwacker]

[QUOTE=Thurston;232531 . . . I'm not a big fisherman so I will not be building this with that in mind.

I may keep the design as is after looking at more restorations and seeing how good looking these boats are when cleaned up! Biggest concern I have is going to be cost of restoration as this will be my first!

Nervous and excited![/QUOTE]

I agree with Kmoose . . . once you've gotten used to a boat with that big cockpit, a windshield and all the utility, dry storage and improved balance provided by the cuddy, you'll never want anything else! And for summertime Florida use, the capability to have a big sun top that covers the entire cockpit as in attached picturel is huge deal if you like shade!

The ONLY rationale for a CC configuration IMHO is that its good for fishing, but not much else, so if you're NOT a gung ho fishing guy, I'd leave it as is! The only other CC advantage is that handling dock lines and the anchor are a bit easier, and maybe that's why they're popular with newbie boaters. However those issues are easily handled with an anchor bracket and the OEM-type ladder for the walk-thru windshield that originally came with the Sceptre/Tsunami, along with a couple of permanently rigged bow lines running back to the cockpit and a pair of mid-ship mounted cleats adjacent to the helm. That console takes up lot's of useful room right in the middle of the boat while providing relatively little dry stowage, so room provided by the Sceptre/Tsunami type layout makes it much better for diving and general use with the family.

[Thurston]

I really like the look of this boat!

[Blackfin26]

This! ^^^^^^^