20' Seacraft Limits. - Page 2

Blue197320 · #11 10-14-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

20 SF at home in those conditions.

yes it definetly does perform well in those conditions!
p.s. those are the pictures i was talking about in my other thread. i think ill end up keeping it and letting the 23 go for a little while. now is not a good time to get it.
ive been out in the 20 one of the first times after i got it in 2-3 and it was a great day. it keeps up with boats bigger in size.. amazing.

Bryan A. · #12 10-14-2007, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Bryan, how fast was that boat going when the picture was taken? Looks like it is barely on plane.

Not fast at all at that point. That picture was taken along time ago in a different lifetime. The waves are actually a wake from a 40' Ocean SS. I probably backed off the throttle after launching over the second wave back. Similiar to this.

Fr. Frank · #13 10-14-2007, 09:14 AM

I will venture out in Florida with my 20' Seafari in 3-5 seas with at least a 6 second wave period, if the waves are forecast to subside, or not get any higher. 4-6' and I stay home.

20+ years ago, I was caught out in front of a NE squall off Jupiter where it built from 3-4 at 6-7 seconds to 8-12 at 7-8 seconds in a very short time at the 300' depth level. (note to self, ALWAYS check the forecast!!!) The subsequent 18 mile run in down to Lake Worth Inlet took a whole lot of concentration and seamanship in a following sea of that size, because, fortunately, I was not stupid enough to shoot Jupiter Inlet in seas that big. In a big Nor'easter, Jupiter lives up to it's rep as the 9th most dangerous inlet in the US. In 8-12', Jupiter Inlet can break 20' at the bar.
(Palm Beach County has 3 of the 10 most dangerous inlets in the US, Boynton #3, Jupiter #9, and Boca Raton #10)

TUGBOAT · #14 10-14-2007, 10:57 AM

? Limits ? Man0Man, At least know I know They have em'!
When I was Runnin the "Big Boys" Supply Vessels it was all the Talk 'bout "Sebastian" Inlet. What # is it at its Worst??

Fr. Frank · #15 10-14-2007, 12:35 PM

When the put the new jetty/breakwater up in the late 70's, it took Sebastian off the list. At Sebastian, even in 6-9', if you come in from the south, the Monster Hole knocks the waves down enough to get in. The new (30 yr old) jetty also caused the inner bar on the north side to subside greatly. It also enhanced the surfing on the outside of the Hole.

oldbluesplayer · #16 10-15-2007, 12:02 PM

I'll also second JohnB's thoughts, especially with the CC model.

Running a 20' Seafari up here in the northeast, we don't have all the inlets you Florida folks have, but the Mouth of the Mac is, I believe, on the 10 best list, I've seen standing 8 footers in the mouth, but they're more like humps, or cones, and you can slolom around and across their shoulders.

Open ocean 8 footers on a 10 sec period, with no breeze, calm surface, are no sweat, but...

reason I don't like open bow boats, I've been caught out and come in with water coming over the bow - in 5-8's I've had green water come right up the bow - foredeck, and right over the windsheild, of my Seafari; fortunately was a short couple miles to get back in - I would Not want to be in a CC in those conditions.

Up to 4 - 5, with careful driving, you can keep the bow out of the water. You get into 5-6's, wind faced and close stacked, you're not going to be able to avoid getting Real Wet in a real hairy way.

Me - 2-3's/3-4's and worsening, it's time to beat it home.

my .02

Bill

JohnB · #17 10-15-2007, 12:59 PM

I don't mean to be the "arogant resident expert", but I have noticed a trend of bigger motors on smaller boats in the 21-23 range with big trim tabs. With the tabs down, at speed, in the open ocean, you can get yourself hurt stuffing the nose into a wave. These deep-V SeaCrafts can do some funny stuff, especially in a following sea if you have the tabs down and a head of speed. I haven't heard of one pitch poling, but they are a good candidate for it.

As for the CC vs Sceptre, I have been in both, and I own and run a Sceptre. I have had water come all the way over the top twice, and have had water over the windshield a few times. In a CC, I am not sure what the result would be. The CC has less nose weight, so it probably doesn't bury as fast/deep, but I have stuffed the nose on a 20, and it wasn't pretty.

The 20 seems to ride a lot higher out of the water, and likes to grab air much more than the 23'. For sheltered areas down in the keys, inside the reef, outside on flat days, and the florida bay, it is just about a perfect boat, able to run light chop. IMHO, if your running long distances through open ocean, you probably should be looking at the 23.

Fr. Frank · #18 10-15-2007, 01:09 PM

This may need to be a new thread.
As I have thought about this, I realized that the real limit for the 20' is the ability of the man at the helm. I know some people with much less experience than I who: (a) have no idea of the limitations of their boat; (b) have no idea of the limitations of their knowledge and experience; and (c) have an overdose of the running stupids.

Here's I was chatting on the dock with the local TowBoatUS captain a few days ago, and one of the marina's customers was listening. The weather was bad, and I remarked on this very topic, and opined that I won't head out in 4-6' seas, even in my SeaCraft. The TowBoat captain agreed with me, and this guy who recently bought a 24' SeaCat with t/130 Hondas bragged that he would no hesitate to go out in anything up to 8'. (His total prior experience was an 18' Bayliner Trophy, owned for 2 years.) In fact, he bragged, he was heading out that day to go grouper fishing 30 miles offshore on the FL west coast with the wind blowing 25-30 kts out of the NNE.

The very next day I was at the marina again when he was towed in by, yep, TowBoatUS. Seemed he spent the night offshore for 11 hours after a wave he said was 8-10' higher than his foredeck came over the bow and literally took off his T-top and knocked his console loose from the deck. All 3 guys on board were battered and bruised. He said he couldn't come in on his own because his hydraulic steering lines were broken. I asked him why he didn't just steer with his engines. He looked at me and said, "Can you really do that?" The USCG went and got him and brought him in to where the TowBoat service took over. He was not a member. Cost? $425 for the tow alone.

See items a, b, and c in paragraph 1, above.

BTW, from years of working in marinas, I've more stupid boater stories than you can imagine. If you ever need some entertainment, and your boat's not ready for the water, just take a lawn chair down to the busiest local boat ramp. Spend the day. Watch. Roll on the ground laughing. It's great entertainment. If you feel charitable, you can even offer to help from time to time. I know I have.

TUGBOAT · #19 10-15-2007, 01:37 PM

Yep , I tillered Mine in over 10 miles.Steering arm broke in half. My bud sat on the deck & steered (with a pipe hammered on) & I Throttled & Said which way to go. What a ride at clutch too! It waaassss a long Trip cause the "Wife" was with us!
Scream'n Reels'

askipper3 · #20 10-15-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

This may need to be a new thread.
As I have thought about this, I realized that the real limit for the 20' is the ability of the man at the helm. I know some people with much less experience than I who: (a) have no idea of the limitations of their boat; (b) have no idea of the limitations of their knowledge and experience; and (c) have an overdose of the running stupids.

Here's I was chatting on the dock with the local TowBoatUS captain a few days ago, and one of the marina's customers was listening. The weather was bad, and I remarked on this very topic, and opined that I won't head out in 4-6' seas, even in my SeaCraft. The TowBoat captain agreed with me, and this guy who recently bought a 24' SeaCat with t/130 Hondas bragged that he would no hesitate to go out in anything up to 8'. (His total prior experience was an 18' Bayliner Trophy, owned for 2 years.) In fact, he bragged, he was heading out that day to go grouper fishing 30 miles offshore on the FL west coast with the wind blowing 25-30 kts out of the NNE.

The very next day I was at the marina again when he was towed in by, yep, TowBoatUS. Seemed he spent the night offshore for 11 hours after a wave he said was 8-10' higher than his foredeck came over the bow and literally took off his T-top and knocked his console loose from the deck. All 3 guys on board were battered and bruised. He said he couldn't come in on his own because his hydraulic steering lines were broken. I asked him why he didn't just steer with his engines. He looked at me and said, "Can you really do that?" The USCG went and got him and brought him in to where the TowBoat service took over. He was not a member. Cost? $425 for the tow alone.

See items a, b, and c in paragraph 1, above.

BTW, from years of working in marinas, I've more stupid boater stories than you can imagine. If you ever need some entertainment, and your boat's not ready for the water, just take a lawn chair down to the busiest local boat ramp. Spend the day. Watch. Roll on the ground laughing. It's great entertainment. If you feel charitable, you can even offer to help from time to time. I know I have.

Beleive it or not this....this was the response I was waiting for!!!!!!!!!

It is so true, I just wanted to see what everyones views were on it, but the truth is it is the captians judgement and ability.