Seacraft Sceptre 23 Flybridge

[nestorpr]

I remember a 1970's Seabird 23 flybridge model that was very beautiful but too topheavy for an 8 foot beam, it was OK inshore but in offshore swells it rocked like a drunken sailor on shore leave. Too much weight on top unbalanced her and that's probably what would happen with any narrow-beam boat, I think a lightweight tower is the best bet on these models.

[WildBill]

Back in the early 70's I fished out of a 23' formula with a tower aka "the flying fisherman" I also have fished out of a 70's 23' seabird with a tower, both with upper controls. They are fantastic on a nice day (less than 2 ft sea) runnin and gunnin for dolphin. You will outfish most others without towers, you just plain see more fish you normally would never see. It will blow you away on a consistant basis the fish you see while your cruising or trolling. Big Trim Tabs are a must! (not the 9 x 9's) while running and upstairs. If you get queezy it's not gonna be for you. They only roll when your upstairs and you definately don't want 2 people up there. I like them but try it before you buy it.

Wild Bill

[strick]

Originally Posted by aj1976

The knock offs referred to did not have the deep vee at the transom but were flattened and a hard reverse chine added for stability.

Thank you for the correction you are right I do remember seeing the deep V modified on the Yellowfins which are a knock of of the 23 seacraft. Your boat looks cool

strick

[McGillicuddy]

Aj - That is the shizzle. True Hawaiian style to spot ahi bustin' beyond the big swell. 100 percent improvement over the Skipjack et. al., "flybridges."
That must be the CIAs latest stealth fisher - designed perhaps to spirit Wo Fat to his preferred ahi or ono spots. Nice rig. Love to see more pics. No really I have classified clearances

Hey strick, feel like working over a 21? I have a picture to work from (with you permission of course, AJ...

[Islandtrader]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

(with you permission of course, AJ...

Gillie, send the 21 south...when I am done with mine, I will re-work yours

The 21 would look pretty cool on a set up like AJ's.

If I didn't want a "classic" looking boat, what I would of done with mine is make it a 1/2 tower "Savage" design and bracket OB. There would be so much fishing space you could hold a dance.

[McGillicuddy]

Roger that, Terry, Kinda like 3rdDays rig with a half tower?

[aj1976]

Originally Posted by strick

Thank you for the correction you are right I do remember seeing the deep V modified on the Yellowfins which are a knock of of the 23 seacraft. Your boat looks cool

strick

Thanks Strick. The modified 26 is still being popped from the mold. The rear end actually has 2 skegs or keels to help keep the ass from surfing too much in a following sea. Unlike the classic 23 which IMO tracks perfect. They also made another knock off with a similar flattened rear end and called it the 24.

[aj1976]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

Aj - That is the shizzle. True Hawaiian style to spot ahi bustin' beyond the big swell. 100 percent improvement over the Skipjack et. al., "flybridges."
That must be the CIAs latest stealth fisher - designed perhaps to spirit Wo Fat to his preferred ahi or ono spots. Nice rig. Love to see more pics. No really I have classified clearances

Hey strick, feel like working over a 21? I have a picture to work from (with you permission of course, AJ...

Lol thanks you have my permission no problem. Lots of restored boats in Hawaii look like this. Were lucky to have warm weather so no need for an enclosed cab. This site is such a great resource for help and ideas. Thanks.

[FpJeepy]

Originally Posted by shine

hundreds of hours of work and tens of thousands of dollars to get the boat you want, and a simple permit is going to carry weight in the decision of which hull to build ? you will spend more (much more) time changing sand paper disks than it will take to get the permit

Requiring a bigger truck or bigger engines is a good reason not to go above 8.5' beam.

Very Good Point. I guess I was more looking at it from the boat builders stand point. The buyer is likely not going to want to use the boat as a trailer boat if they have to get a permit everytime, which means a boat slip, which means $$$. Something that shouldn't influence boat design, but it does.

Originally Posted by Islandtrader

Gillie, send the 21 south...when I am done with mine, I will re-work yours

The 21 would look pretty cool on a set up like AJ's.

If I didn't want a "classic" looking boat, what I would of done with mine is make it a 1/2 tower "Savage" design and bracket OB. There would be so much fishing space you could hold a dance.

I think the Outboards raise the center of gravity quite a bit no? I would think if you could keep the bridge as low as possible and shifted back a little would help as well. But I don't think you can shift it back further than in that seabird for say, because with the engine box the cockpit space goes to zero.

[Islandtrader]

Nothing to do with nothing.

Way back in 1978 I had a new 24' Searay Command Bridge...Mercruiser 350 alpha drive, 8 foot beam.

My cruising area was Puget sound and the Gulf Islands. We saw some pretty big rollers out there and I really never felt UN-comfortable on the bridge. 90% of the time we drove from up top.

Searay had a pretty good ride and back then I think there quality was still very good.

They made a chitload of those boats...so you may want to look at something different. Plus you could trailer it...