Seaworthiness of 20' SeaCraft...

[FishStretcher]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

Out west (CA)I feel pretty comfortable in a 20 Seafari with a 300 lb 20" motor. An extra 100 lbs not so sure....But a 25" transom is a no brainer and a splash wall around the splashwell is a definite plus. My Seafari 20 handles 2-4' mixed-up slop fine, and even better if the if the form is consistent. But come 3' at 18 knots in mixed up seas, and you're doing X-Games tricks. And while she lands pretty softly, and you don't always know if you'll land in the same direction you were going. I call that enrolling with nature. In a CC these same conditions would definitely give a bit more pucker factor.

Not sure if this is what Beaver was thinking of but, here you go:

I was looking at the pic of the 20 and 23 transoms side by side. It occurs to me that the 20 Master Angler cap (which is raised several inches) might not be much lower than the 23.

I have one and run it with the splashwell door and a stock 20" transom. It is a great little boat. I have had it in 7-8 footers off Horseneck beach. I didn't WANT to be there, but the seas and sand bars gave me no choice. I could only see maybe 60 feet forward and 60 feet behind me while I was planing in the trough between waves- I couldn't see over them!

What I learned from that was:

1 Don't do THAT again!
2 A low planing speed saved my butt.
3 The motor working flawlessly was crucial to getting out of there.

I can plane at very low speed because I don't have a bracket, and I have a sub 400lb outboard and a hydroshield flying wing under the skeg. I can get it down to just under 10 knots on a soft plane.

I also think my splashwell gate on the 20MA is as high as a full transom on a 20CC.

Additionally, I have 150lb or so of floatation foam under each cap on the 20MA. This should make it much harder to turtle if you ever "dip a rail". Plus a hull full of foam.

As much as everyone says that a 25" transom is better, I have never had an issue with the 20". I am a bit careful backing down on fish. I might be a bit more cavalier with a 25" transom, but I haven't had a problem yet.

With respect to a bracket: not only is handling adversely affected with respect to planing speed, now the boat is very close, if not in excess of a 3:1 length to width ratio, which makes it a little more likely to capsize.

In my opinion, for seaworthiness, I would think about a splashwell gate and a light motor and maybe a master angler. And any repairs should respect the light build of the original- no plywood, no 200hp outboards, batteries should be forward, and no giant livewells in the stern. And a well maintained motor that won't hiccup at a bad moment, and a clean, well filtered fuel system.

As for seas? I get my butt kicked in a Buzzards Bay chop. I swear it is only 18" on top of 2 footers, but 5 feet apart with a 15 knot breeze on top makes for a perpetual salt water shower. And I stay dry riding between 7 footers I can't see over. Even though I need to change my underwear afterwards in either case, for one reason or another.