SeaCraft --Key Largo-Palm Beach Copies

3rdday · #1 11-21-2007, 05:09 PM

Hello everyone, looking to make the move to Seacraft/or similar. I have a Chris Craft 215 Scorpion/Cuddy. With Hardtop, and Filled in Transom and Stainless marine OB bracket/platform.
It has a very agressive and Deep vee however it Now pounds in bigger seas i guess weight of hardtop forward. I want something in center console with very agressive v. I could take or leave the nostalgia. I see that Palm beach 236 and key Largo 235 have a very similar hull to the 23 seacraft. Was this boat formed from the seacraft molds, if not how were they able to copy/legally.
Is it a close/accurate copy in regard to performance ?

eggsuckindog · #2 11-23-2007, 01:52 PM

I'm not familar with them, although there have been copies and take offs over the years, plus the patent ran out as well. I'm not sure why you wouldn't just look here and some other places for a 23 that has been redone already, there have been a couple nice ones lately. The difference is you will never lose money on a REAL SeaCraft and they can be copied but never duplicated. It also has to do with how they were built and the hardware that was used ect ect but they are usually priced very reasonable. If when selling the first thing someone says is " its a SeaCraft copy" why not find out why they all copied it

reelclassic · #3 11-23-2007, 07:39 PM

I here the 21 sailfish is a seacraft copy???? I have looked at them and they are very very close if not the same?

reelclassic · #4 11-23-2007, 07:41 PM

also my buddy turf time is selling his 23 picturesd on in the for sale section ita a 78 23 twin 175 johnsons

Fr. Frank · #5 11-24-2007, 10:07 PM

The 18, 21, 23, and 26 Sailfish are all copies. The 18 Sailfish was originally made from original Seacraft molds in the late 80's, but used plywood in the stringers.
The Key West 18 and 20, Palm Beach 21, Islander 21 and 23 are all Seacraft hull copies. I think the first 3 or 4 Contender 25 center consoles hulls back in '85 or '86 were VDH, as well. I read somewhere that more than 12 different builders were now using the VDH design, for boats from 17' to 65' in length.

Contender then changed the hull design while still in their 1st year of production to a hull similar to the mid 70's Formula 233 / Regal 24 hull.

Trayder · #6 11-26-2007, 10:39 AM

Contender never used a seacraft hull. I know this from the co-founder.

Yes the palm Beach is a copy of seacraft hull it is a very nice boat rides great tough as nails but does not have the finished interior of a seacraft. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative without the fit and finish the palm beach is a good route to take.

3rdday · #7 11-27-2007, 11:49 PM

Thanks everyone... for the input, facts and opinions.
If I do go with an older nostalgic seacraft it will have to be a 23 with an i/0 pref. diesel or have enclosed transom w/ outboard bracket. I know that is narrowing my chances on an already rare boat. I am working on trying to obtain a rare 21'8" Seacraft cuddy that I have not seen before with an I/O. I will cut out the cuddy and convert to CC. Has an incredible hull on it.