Modified transom? 1980 SF

[Luna41]

So I am the proud new owner of a project boat - 1980 seafari. The blame for this purchase- and the next two years' work and mountains of money lies squarely with all the members that post pictures of their beautifully restored seacrafts! I bought the boat even though I have never see a wide splashwell and short "cut" transom. Can anyone shed some light on this? I can't see any repairs under the gunnels or around the splashwell. Was this style an option?

[Luna41]

This is the "before".

[Terry England]

Originally Posted by Luna41

This is the "before".

A diamond in the rough!
Soldier on brother -
Some here think the transducer is the most important, some the Sub-woofer, some the Boot Stripe width and some the Teak finish on the sideboards. We have the full band-width of priorities here! Adjust your course based on local knowledge imput and proceed cautiously, Captian.

[jerry1]

I do not think it is a 1980 , it has the old windshield which was changed around 74 or 75.
A friend of mine had a full transom like yours and I think it was a 72 or 73. What does the hull # say?

[Luna41]

No HIN on back of transom (it should be in the area that looks cut out near the starboard gunnel). Seacraft nameplate serial is 2180 - if that means anything. If you believe the state title - HIN is SEA....2180

[Bushwacker]

I think Jerry is right - it's a 72 or older model. I've never seen a 1980 model Seafari . . . I think SeaCraft Industries started making boats in 1980, but they only built the CC models. Sometime in 73 or 74 Potter changed the top cap and inner liner, where the windshield was moved forward and raised with an extra non-opening panel added below the section that opens. The "V" of the windshield is only about 6" aft of the forward hatch on the later models vs. about 18" on my 72 model. He also reduced the size of the step down to where it's just large enough to open the cabin door, to make room for a larger gas tank. You have the older larger stepdown, which is big enough to set a 70 qt cooler in. (That's a good place to put it if you need more weight forward to improve the ride!)

I've never seen a transom like that either on a Seafari, which eliminates the aft seats, so I suspect it was redone at some point, but it looks like it was very well done. I'd check the height at the center notch. If it's 25" instead of 20", it's been redone for sure, as I believe all the Potter models had 20" transoms. The two different heights on the transom would allow you to mount a single or twins, which would want to be mounted higher than a single. That boat also had a galley seat (shown below) at one time, which is a pretty rare option on outboard Seafari's. It has the hole cut in the inner liner for the sink drain and the teak rail on the bulkhead which supports the forward shelf when open.

Welcome aboard and congratulations on a rare find - the Seafari was only built by Moesly and Potter, who only made about 700 or so! It is by far the most versatile model of all the 20' SeaCrafts! If you want more info on that model, PM me with an email address and I can send you a bunch of brochures, etc. Denny

[Luna41]

Denny and all, thanks for the info. In a way, I'm glad this girl is older than the title says - I'd worry that a 1980 (if it exists) would be cheapened due to the financial troubles at Seacraft. I'll take you up on your offer of brochures, etc. - Tim

And, definitely a 20" tra some. Need to get some measurements on the original jump seat layout (or good straight-on pictures) if anyone has them. When I redo the transom, smaller splashwell and jump seats are going back.

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Luna41

. . . In a way, I'm glad this girl is older than the title says - I'd worry that a 1980 (if it exists) would be cheapened due to the financial troubles at Seacraft. I'll take you up on your offer of brochures, etc. - . . .

Tim,

Check your e-mail for Seafari info. Your concerns about quality on the later Potter models is a valid one. My neighbor in the mid-late 70's worked for Rybovich Marine, who was a SeaCraft dealer in West Palm Beach. He said that beginning in about '75 or '76 they started having to fix a lot of minor stuff that was poorly done at the factory. The basic boat was still solid, but evidently the installation of accessories wasn't done too well.

[doug7488]

I believe that the formica covered plywood cabin bulkhead would make it one of the earlier versions