18'seacraft hull design

[FOR-ROCH]

I know this question sounds like I am a total sell out : Has anyone noticed that the palm beach and key largo 18' hulls appear to be of the variable deadrise design ? I know the quality of these boats doesn't appear to be as good as seacraft's - but I like the idea of not having to repower,retransom and restringer before I can enjoy a ride or two . Any thoughts ?

[toadfish]

I have looked at both the palm beach and key largo, which i have been told is the exact same boat, just different names. I noticed that the ones i looked at used plastic hardware on items such as the cleats. As far as the internal structure of the boat, i am not sure. They do have a nice looking hull design that seems so hard to find these days with all of the euro-styling that is in the new boats..i personally don't like the euro-style boats....any one else know about these boats???

[bmaj319]

I haven't looked at either of those closely. A friend recently bought a new 20' Sailfish...T-Top, rocket launcher, 150 Yamaha, aluminum trailer, at right around $30k. I anchored my 18' SeaCraft next to his boat a couple of weekends ago and looked at the hull with a mask. Sure enough, it's got the variable deadrise hull. Can't say how it's built where you can't see, but what you can see looks okay. Good luck!

[Briguy]

BMAJ, If you looked closer to the Sailfish you would have discovered a slight difference in their copy of the SC hull. When I was at the boatshow this weekend I looked at their 23 and 26' center consoles. The stearn and midsections of the hull are very close to SeaCraft but they are missing the spray chine that runs starting at the bow around the water line and back about 5 feet.(on a 23). The jury is out on Sailfish.(perhaps as well as the new Seacrafts.) The jury is in on Palm Beach. I have a 15' flats boat and although the hull is solid, the craftsmanship is very very poor.