Contender vs. SeaCraft on THT

[Michael Vezzosi]

I wish I knew how to post some darn pictures. When you offered to help me out with a web page, or home page, were you offering to set up some shots of my boat in the form like you did with the rest, since the restructuring? I had no idea of what you were offering to do for me, to be perfectly honest. I think that I have a start for something like that.

Also, I believe that the skiff photo you googled is a Bender, the original, or a minorly altered mold. Anyway, can you see the shape of the stem, and the similarity to the SeaCraft. I think I can shadow this in my driveway to get a really cool shot to show this. Noting the similar line characteristics has always helped Tommy and I identify SeaCrafts this way. Just an observation. Nice Google. Mike.

[Trayder]

Vezo-

I do see what you are saying to a point but it looks more of a lapstrake than the variable deadrise. My post was to point out was there is little similarity in the bottom design of a seacraft and a jersey skiff. The ones I have seen are flat bottomed.

As for a web page, yes like the ones on the site,

[Michael Vezzosi]

Very poorly written sarcasm. I apologize. I am laughing that anyone could even make a correlation between hull designs. And the rides are at the complete opposite ends of the spectrum. A skiff will beat the fillings out of your teeth even when being driven across the tops, where they earned the nickname of "the original offshore power boats".

Had a friend stuff a bow last weekend, break the boat in half and a very expensive 350 sitting on the bottom of a lake for a few days. Like trying to "control" a flying bath tub!

Anyway, I was trying to show the curvature of the bow line if you were to view the hull from either side. The stem of the bow has a very similar curve. Thats all. I'll try to explain this with my camera. But you are right Bro, I was following this thread over there until I heard a SeaCraft and a Jersey Skiff mentioned in the same sentence. This is when I aborted. Figured I would be considered biased.

Last Friday I took a ride to Myrtle Beach to pick up a new Kenner(Mako) bay boat for a friend. Her friend calls to say his accountant is telling him to buy something. I didn't know he had offshore experience, the time, or money to go offshore 2 or 3 times a week. Someone is advising him to buy a 2006, used, I guess late last season?, 28 foot McKee Craft, with twin 2somethings or other, and six year warranties. Before I heard the price, I asked how long this mold, model had been in existence. Maybe it's an old BlackFin mold, right? The boats like 3-400 miles away and someone is convincing him he needs this boat.... for $99 Grand!!! Needless to say, I was shopping comparables over at THT, when I stumbled on this mess.

Thanks for the Great site Jason. Have a good night and a better day tomorrow! Mike.

[Trayder]

Thanks Mike-

Sarcastic...your killing me I must of retyped my previous reply 6 times to make it as polite as possible.


back to my crack pipe....puff, puff, give....

[Michael Vezzosi]

Thats hilarious. I must have rewritten my original post six times just to get THAT out! The photo shows that if the skiffs were not lap strake design they would flat spin at every bouy because obviously the rudder is completely out of the water. The chines are the only thing holding hull in the turns. It's a very unusual experience.

About the crack pipe...Thank God for the Fire Department. Whether I like it or not, every third day is a 24 hour Sobriety Check Point!

BTW, my accountant says I need several partners...what do you think of a 28' McKee Craft? LOL! Mike.

P.S. I would like to meet you R.I. guys for a couple of beers, Thurs. 9-14, or Fri. 9-15, on my way up to the Cape. What do ya think?

[Trayder]

You are headed to Welfleet, right? Will you be towing a boat?

Yes, would love to meet up with you when you get up here in September, That is prime Bluefin time in the Bay so maybe we can all get together on the bay?

[Michael Vezzosi]

Affirmative, Wellfleet. Almost two weeks! Will not have SeaCraft in tow, but will be aboard a 1988? Sea Ox cuddy IO, I think. Sceptre like cockpit. Hoping to get to Stellwagen. Troll/jigging bay inside of P.town was awesome until I realized the 12 pound blues were just "live bait" for the Giants outside! N E Hoo, would like to stop in R.I. for a brew on the way up, and stop in Stonington, Conn. on the way back. A fellow skiffhead owns GwenMar Marina, and though last year I toured his personal tug, I am hoping to cruise the sound and grab some lunch. Thats all for now. I may have an opportunity to get that digital photo today, can I e-mail it to ya? Still hoping to make my point, after last nights "clear as mud" explanation. Off to put two blade prop on, and repack wheel bearings for tomorrows 250 miles. Later. Part II.

[Neubium]

I used to own a Sea Ox, 1988 23' Open fisherman. Took it to Bimini twice. First time was excellent due to a calm flat sea all weekend. Next trip I encountered 5' to 7' most of the way. Sea Ox did not do well. Half way over I started to regret my decision to brave the sea. The Ox would slam itself down hard after each wave no matter what I did to compensate. I cracked the floor near the center console and the welds on my electronics box gave way before the trip was through. It was that trip that made me a true believer in what I put under me in case of a rough sea. The thunderstorms can come up quick. Unbelievable difference in my 23' Sea Craft than with the modified V of the Sea Ox. I am a believer and personally feel the closed in transom is the only way to go.

[Michael Vezzosi]

Now that you mention it, she may be a 23. My buddy on the Cape spent a lot of time commercial fishing scallops and clams, summer and winter, while subsidizing his hardscape business. Never really talked about it much but I think he has seen enough of the bad stuff, especially while being paid to do it. Now he appears most content to stay within sight of land with his old aquaintance, Mr. Bud Light. I respect that and it certainly has no hinderance on our success rate. I just love the Cape.

With respects to my own abilities offshore, I thoroughly regret not enclosing, or at least raising to a 25, when redoing the transom, back in 1999. Could not believe a bracket was an additional 2K! That was before any knowledge of the Web, and especially this website.

Thank you for the insight on the Sea Ox. Wish I knew how to hyperlink you to a post from last year when I learned about crash pumps. While redoing the transom, I was convinced to reroute the scuppers to the bilge! Like I said, I don't think I found this site until @ 2002. Part II.

[CHANCE1234]

I'm in for any get together on cape cod bay.