What year 23 Potter Hull?

[dfishski]

Interested in finding the right year potter hull. What years would be better to find then others? I am looking for either a high quality redone boat or looking to redo myself. I mean not myself but have the work done. Is the bracket the way to go? I do not have an open checkbook but want a great boat with no saftey issues. Looking for input.

Thanks,

Dave
Barnegat Bay

[peterb]

Dave,

People on this web site sem to have a particlar fondness for the Potter (70's era) boat. I have also heard good things about the next group (CSY?) that bought SeaCraft in the late 1970's. After them it is anybody's guess.

FYI, I bought a 1978 23 CC SeaCraft w/twin 150 1998 Yamaha's from a guy in Cape May last winter.

The things to check for in these boats are the shape of the deck and transom, as well as the engines. I guess that I would call these the big three. You will also want to check the steering (repalcing a 25 to 30 year old steering system can run into some money).

FYI, Finster who belongs to this web site and lives right now the street from you did have a 1970's vintage 23 footer for sale w/a twin engine bracket. It seemed to be well priced.

Also, i feel that the best time to buy a boat in NJ is between now and December. This is because people are looking at dumping their boats at the end of the season.

Have you ever ridden on an old SeaCraft? What kind of boat do you have now? I went from a 21 foot Hydra-Sport to my SeaCraft. I was shocked the first time I took out the SeaCraft. It has an awesome ride. case in point, one day in August I went out of Barnegat Inlet in about a 25 MPH North wind. The seas were steep 3 to 5 footers. I would have turned aorunfd in my old boat. In the Seacraft I went about 25 MPH for 10 miles up to Seaside. We were getting air between the waves, to the point where the props would be coming out of the water. Whenever we hit the water it was with a hard gush, not a hard thump. It ended up being the best day of the fluke season for us.

I will be down in your area during Thanksgiving week fishing out of Barnegat Light. If you have never been on a Seacraft and want to check one out, just let me know. We will be Black fishing, as well as chasing migrating bass.

Peter

[dfishski]

Peter,
Thanks for the e-mail. I e-mailed finster about the boat. My old boat that I got ride of 3 years ago was a 23 Robalo 1974 with a 200 merc. Heavy and similar to the seacraft nice ride but had lots of hull issues. I was on a seacraft years ago and would love a ride on tours when you drop it in. I'm in for the gas. I have been looking on all the sights looking for a boat. Found a couple in south Jersey worth looking at and going Weds to check them out. Both supposedly have new transomes and solid floors. Neither one has a bracket. Do you like the bracket. The transome on both were raised for 25 inch shaft engines. One has twins 150 evin fichts and one has 225 Johnson plus kicker. Send me your e-mail and I will forward the pics if you'll look at them. Would like to hear your input. I'm not in a hurry but waiting for the right boat at the right price. So thats why I started now. If you see anything let me know. Really appreciate your candor.

Thanks,
[email protected]

[peterb]

My email is [email protected]. I will definately drop you a line regarding Thanksgiving week.

A 200 Merc on a Robalo? I have heard that the Robalo's are real heavy boats (especailly the more recent models) and need a lot engine to push them.

I do not have a bracket for my twin engines. As a result I have 900 pounds of engine sitting back in my open transom. it is a lot of weight, but I manage.

Also, i only use the boat with drain plugs in the deck stern, otherwise I would have water coming in.

One other nice thing about the brackets is that I have been told that with a closed tansom you get several feet of stern space back.

Good luck with the hunt. if I hear of anything, I will let you know. FYI, last december a guy in the Brick area sold a 1981 23' SeaCraft (w/a 225 1998 engine) for $11,500 on eBay. The boat was posted on this web site last month, and apparently was quite a steal.

[dfishski]

Peter,

Going to e-mail you photos of two boat I am looking at tommorrow. Let know what you think. My robalo was very heavy and the boat was not fast but I am not a speed demon. It did pull a water skier in the Bay. I saw the pics of that boat bought off e-bay tuna fishing and I was sure jealous. I missed that one by 10 months. I'll keep looking and looks as though I have you and others hepling me find a good boat. As for turkey day just tell me the flavor of beverage and I'm there. Looking forward to discussing boats. Again not in a hurry but looking for the right boat at the right price.

Thanks,

Dave
[email protected]
347 728 1832