1976 Seafari Woven Roven

[Vezo, Part II]

After bleach, dish detergent and scrubbing I have the hull very clean. I do not believe wet sanding will be required. However, I am very surprised that the hull sides do not show the woven roven traditional surface found on my 1979 20 MA. Anyone have an answer? Is it safe to assume that the hulls were popped from same molds and that they are both hand laid fiberglass?

Thanks in Advance,
Michael.

[flyingfrizzle]

Yours being a 76 should be hand laid, and I am aware of what you speak about due to I spent over 40 hours correcting this on my 20' seacraft hull (74). I think that they start with csm and that acts as a barrier to keep the print threw from showing. The thickness of the gel coat may factor into this as well. Your boat may of spent some time indoors. What I mean is when one bakes in the FL sun or any sunny area the gel will deteriorate and chalk up, as it wears away it will leave the print threw show more easily. I remove the seacraft stickers off the side and the gel there was a couple mills thicker and had to be sanded down quite a bit to match the rest of the hull. If the gel coat is as nice as you say it is that's probably why you don't see it yet. Keep it waxed and protected from the sun and have no worries. Some are built slightly better than others and more importantly some are cared for better over the 40 years than others.

[thehermit]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

Is it safe to assume that the hulls were popped from same molds and that they are both hand laid fiberglass?

YES.

Be Happy you have no "print through"....now where are the dam pictures

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by thehermit

YES.

Be Happy you have no "print through"....now where are the dam pictures

50 shades of white. Snow White. Hang in there.

[Vezo, Part II]

Jesus CHRIST, Hermit.!. Cut me a little slack. I'm documenting as I go. I'm just not smart enough to initiate a photo blah blah blah to host my crap. But I DO have an iCloud!?? Just kidding.

I'm documenting everything. I promise. This boat is not only a learning experience, but has peaked my interest as possible second rig.

I know that you would always be most assistive when I need it most. Thanks, be well, and enjoy the remainder of Happy Hour!

[thehermit]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

Jesus CHRIST, Hermit.!. Cut me a little slack. I'm documenting as I go. I'm just not smart enough to initiate a photo blah blah blah to host my crap. But I DO have an iCloud!?? Just kidding.

I'm documenting everything. I promise. This boat is not only a learning experience, but has peaked my interest as possible second rig.

I know that you would always be most assistive when I need it most. Thanks, be well, and enjoy the remainder of Happy Hour!

Sandy and Vezo......we're loosing it up here. Buried in snow......desperate for the boat porn

Nice score V!

[Vezo, Part II]

First attempt at uploading first photo of rescue operation. Trust me Hermit, I appreciate your winters. Half my life was up there. A very close childhood friend lives in Wellfleet, MA, and plows for the state. Need to check on him next. So I guess it's Ok to upload as many pertinent pics as I like for progress, right?

Let's see if this flies.

Part II

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

. . . However, I am very surprised that the hull sides do not show the woven roven traditional surface found on my 1979 20 MA. Anyone have an answer? . . .

I posted the SeaCraft laminate schedule here early last week. Note that SeaCraft used 4 layers of matt between the gel coat and roving, waay more than anyone else, to minimize print thru.

Although most boats won't show any print thru right after being popped out of the mold, all polyester resin continues to cure for years after it initially kicks off. When it cures, it shrinks, and the more it shrinks, the more likely your are to see print thru. This curing and shrinkage is a chemical reaction that's driven by temperature, so a boat that's stored indoors up north will tend to show much less shrinkage and print thru than a boat thats been sitting outside uncovered in South Florida all it's life! Was your MA a dark color by any chance? Dark colors absorb more heat and can easily be 20-30 degrees hotter in the bright sun, so hull color and the amount and intensity of sun exposure are the major variables that would explain why the surface finish of 2 boats produced at the same time can look significantly different a few years later!

[Vezo, Part II]

Extremely interesting. I was surprised in the difference myself. The 1979 MA was originally from Pittsburg, Pa., using one or two of the three rivers, from what I understand. I purchased her in 1995 in Clearwater as a salt water boat. The Roving is of perfect lay.

The 76 Seafari seems to have many of last years in Charleston, SC, no longer re registered since 2004, and reported as sold in 2007, I assume when motor and out drive were removed. I was advised today that the transom is shot, and will most likely become a rebuild, bracket and outboard from here out.

Thanks,

Vego, Part II

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

. . . The 1979 MA was originally from Pittsburg, Pa., using one or two of the three rivers, from what I understand. I purchased her in 1995 in Clearwater as a salt water boat. . .

Since Potter went bankrupt in 1980, I suspect he was getting desperate by '79, so maybe he eliminated some of the mat in first couple of layers to save cost, and that would have cause more print-thru! If the boat spent much time in Clearwater, that hot S. Fl. environment would have also made the situation worse. What color was your MA?

NICE find on the Seafari, BTW, but are you sure that trailer is big enough?! That's the later model with raised floor, bigger gas tank and raised windshield that provides more dash space and cabin headroom than the 73 and earlier models!

Regarding a bracket, the Seafari is a better candidate for a bracket than a CC because it has more weight forward, and you'll have a lot of extra storage room where the I/O was mounted. You might want to slide the gas tank aft a bit and install the batteries up in front of it to minimize CG shift with the bracket, but I'd also try to minimize setback and motor weight. Don Herman can make his brackets with 24" of setback.

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

. . . The only other thing I know is boats and woodworking. So I was looking for a project. I had no idea that I would consider being a cuddy guy, having been a bachelor my whole life. This thing just has so much potential.

Once you get used to all that storage and the luxury of lots of shade and the protection of a windshield the Seafari offers, you may never want to go back to a CC model! For a bachelor, the Seafari is the perfect model for exploring Florida - I've taken mine on some neat trips all over the state, including the Keys and Bahamas! (I can email you some factory brochures on the Seafari if you'll PM me with an address!) If you join us at the Sebastian/Long Point gathering this spring, you can check out my boat for the bracket installation and other ideas! Denny