Vintage Potter Built 23' Straight Inboard Diesel

[Don Ferguson]

Original owner of 1975 PotterBuilt 23' Center/Console , straight inboard Diesel under large console, in process of total rebuild.

I believe this was the FIRST AND ONLY straight inboard diesel Potter did. Was laid out (1974) by Bill Potter and Chrysler Engineer's with a 200hp Turbo import since replaced with a low hour 6BT5-9 Cummins Diesel. Input requested. Attempting to determine possible sale value? Replacment value today?

Vessel has won Florida Triple Crown Championship, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano Bch. Billfish Tournaments six times for owner and has earned 1st Place Vessel in all. Please give input for a junior.

[Old'sCool]

Sounds awesome but, as the saying goes, this post is worthless without pics

We really like pictures......sounds like the ultimate to me

[Don Ferguson]

Thank you for your reply. The reason for non pics is that She's in the works.
Soon come. Was hoping for input on fact that She is first and only straight inboard diesel Potter did. I bought in '76 from Bill himself at the Lauderdale Boat Show. There are a lot of conversions, gas to diesel about, but this is the only "real" Potter, I think. I'll take a couple of pics. Don

[gofastsandman]

Great story. Problem is an old Rybo doesn`t command the same premium as an old v12 Packard. What kind of #s do you see with that sweet 6b?

Welcome,
GFS

[GodsReel]

there is one for sale on the outer banks of North Carolina for 39k it has been for sale for 3-4yrs, it has a a full tower on it, straight inboard and seems to have been restored to original.

[Don Ferguson]

Hi. Runs 30k with full load and NEVER a puff of smoke.... like to give the competition a little head start. Thanks for the reply. Don

[Don Ferguson]

Thank you for the input. Don

[gofastsandman]

I`m a sucker for inboards. The clean full transom, the sound, the smell, oh I better get a tissue. Is it me or did we lose the production numbers with the server switch? I thought about 70 were made over the years.

[Don Ferguson]

Hi again. I have seen a few gas inboards converted to diesel. I do believe that mine was the only one Bill Potter did. It was not the fast boat that won the Miami Bahamas races for seven years and Bill was into fast back then 1973-4). At the same time Blackfin and Shamrock were putting in small diesels. Blackfin had a 24 they called the "blackcat" w/, guess, Cat engine. Mine hull is a '75.

My hull was the first diesel (straight) and was a demo by Boat Center Ft. Lauderdale, Chick Gagan. I bought it out the back door through Bill but had to piece off Chick as the "dealer'. Later Chick was quoted as saying, "That Boat has sold more SeaCrafts for me ...". The Zara Spook went on to win the South Fla. Triple Crown six times through the late 70's and 80's. This is Her third rebuild. Don

[Bushwacker]

[QUOTE=Don Ferguson;209174]. . . It was not the fast boat that won the Miami Bahamas races for seven years and Bill was into fast back then 1973-4) . . . /QUOTE]

Hi Don,

I've never heard of either Potter or the 23's being involved in any racing, but it would be interesting to hear more about that if it's true! Before Potter took over the company, Carl Moesly ran his old stock outboard-powered SeaCraft 21's in many Bahamas races during the early-mid 60's, dominating the outboard class and beating many larger inboard boats in the process. The rules changed later to allow 3 outboards, so he built some longer custom racing boats for those classes that also did very well. Also never heard of any SeaCraft inboards being raced, although most of the 21's I've seen were originally I/O's, so maybe some race versions of those were also built. Denny