Call me crazy

[Locke N Load]

The day has come, finally. I picked up my title to my 1971 Seafari 20 yesterday after months of effort. To be expected when it is a pre-'72 with no HIN, an out-of-state title in someone else's name than the person who is also out of state and a different state I got the bill of sale from, for free. But it is in my yard and I legally own it.

Now the fun part; the rebuild. Tell me if I am crazy or my plan is accomplishable, albeit with a lot of time and effort.

I want to convert the cuddy cabin boat to a center console boat. I know. If you want a CC get a CC, but when free boats were being given away all I could get was the cuddy. Additionally, I want to raise the deck a few inches and have it all one level, raise the gunnels to match for safety, no liner, add a formed in bracket, a Lefty Kreh style coffin box in front of the console and then the real kicker, stretch it a foot and a half to make it 21'.

There are two ladies in my family, wife and daughter, who will be very disappointed if there is nowhere to pee. So, a larger console with a step down for a porta potty is very important. I am kicking around the idea of two 40 gallon tanks, one in front of the console and and one behind. This will mean deck space and bilge space will be very tight. Solution is extend the hull twenty inches and I will have the room I want.

I am on no timetable and budget is flexible. I will try to do all the work I can myself so I know the boat inside and out and also will not be paying for labor I can do. I have lots of ideas and want to make it perfect for my uses. It will be for inshore fishing in MA, runs to sandbars and waterfront bars/restaurants and when conditions allow offshore, but not too far. I do not plan to sell it. Ever.

Oh, I have no experience building boats, working with fiberglass, plumbing or electronics. But I can learn and I do have some skills. I didn't know how to build a fishing rod until I built my first one. Now I have a bunch. I work on my cars too when necessary and in my range of ability.

So, am I crazy? Go for it? What the hell, if I screw something up I will redo it until it is correct or worse case scenario, pay someone to do it.

[bumpdraft]

Kinda sounds like getting a classic, hardtop car, making it a convertible and putting oversize wheels and tires on it. (just my 2 cents)

[dave s]

I did everything you mentioned and more on a 18SF and am now at the primer stage.
Over two thousand hours of labor, tens and tens of thousands of dollars by the time its finished, and more than four years since started. For me though the biggest cost has been the time spent that I could have been fishing or riding on a boat.

I’d probably never do a project on this scale again, but of course that may change after a few years of using this boat and forgetting everything above!

And if you screw something up, you can always redo it- it’s only fiberglass!

[Bigshrimpin]

My advice is to keep the boat setup as a seafari. It's much much better for the ladies and pretty damn fine fishing boat for us too. Even if you do an incredible heroic seafari to CC conversion, the ladies aren't going to be happy. That's your best case scenario I don't need to remind you how expensive the worst case scenario could be

If you are dead set on your "dreamboat" then you need 2 boats. First make the seafari work right away and keep the ladies happy. Then wait for a 23 cc project.

[Beaver]

Boat sleep is the best!!!!! I miss my cuddly cabin for post dive naps. Don’t do it.

I also think in really snotty conditions the enclosed foredeck is probably more seaworthy since it’ll shed water..

[Locke N Load]

Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin

My advice is to keep the boat setup as a seafari. It's much much better for the ladies and pretty damn fine fishing boat for us too. Even if you do an incredible heroic seafari to CC conversion, the ladies aren't going to be happy. That's your best case scenario I don't need to remind you how expensive the worst case scenario could be

If you are dead set on your "dreamboat" then you need 2 boats. First make the seafari work right away and keep the ladies happy. Then wait for a 23 cc project.

I really respect your opinions so let me explain my thinking a little more and see what you think then. The reason I want a CC is maximizing space. Having the bow area easily accessible means it is a great spot for someone to be fishing while someone else is in the stern fishing and even maybe another person midship too. I am thinking bottom fishing for Haddock, Black Sea Bass, Tog, etc., livelining for Stripers, and just two people (bow and stern) casting to Stripers or tuna.

With the cuddy setup I think only one person can be fishing. I am not much of a troller as I prefer to be actively fishing. Assuming a sideways drift, can more than one person comfortably fish a Seafari?

Aside from fishing space, I like the CC layout for spreading people out. A slow cruise and someone or two can be up front checking out the view while someone else or two can be at the stern. Drop a cooler at the transom and you have a seat.

A cuddy will have everyone in one tight spot. Can get a little close for comfort after a while I would imagine.

I do agree the cabin would be better for bathroom breaks and for napping. That is a compromise I am willing to live with for the other benefits I see from a CC standpoint. Protection from the elements is a concern, but I do not see taking the family out when it is crappy out. For me it won't matter. If it rains a little while I am fishing I will put on a jacket. The CC will have a T-top and curtains so running will be fine.

I like the idea of my little stretched 20 CC for its versatility. Fish inshore perfectly and capable to go offshore a little bit on nice weather days. The economy of running it is appealing too. Runs to the sandbar or other locations will be easy and relatively comfortable. I don't see any use for me a 23 will do that the 21 won't. I am not going out in 3-5's and if I get caught in those I am slow going my way in in either.

I thought about a 23 and would have liked to have had one, but the 20 came along. The 23 would also be more expensive; to buy and then run.

I think a stretched to 21 feet CC will be perfect for me for a long time, but am willing to listen to arguments for the Seafari. It would certainly save a lot of time and effort to redo it, but then I am afraid I will want a CC afterward anyway. Maybe if I came across a 23 later, fixed it up the way I want and then sold the 20 it could work...

[Bigshrimpin]

Sent you a PM. My advice is to make the seafari work for now. Get your feet wet putting it together. Put the 21 dream on ice for a little while. The 20 seafari is an AWESOME sandbar boat and with a sea anchor or anchor (it's a kick ass boat for bottom fishing).

[jtharmo]

I’m with Big on this one. Most of my time has been on boats with sails but my Seafari’s work really well in many situations. I personally like the protection of the cuddy too. Being in the N. East as well I know that just because air temp is nice doesn’t necessarily mean the spray is going to be pleasant.

If you go forward with your modifications and it’s cockpit space you really want I would consider a bracket and clear out all the stuff at the stern. I would first encourage you to search for Bushwacker’s and Capt Terry’s threads on brackets and CG. and study up. If you absolutely feel you need to cut, consider that the hull is not only structural, there is also a lot of engineering to get the correct static buoyancy, dynamic lift, etc. Even with a free Seafari these modification costs will be astronomical if they even work. You really need to find a newer 21 CC or even find a HiLiner Adventurer and restore it. It would be cheaper and easier in the end.

[Locke N Load]

Thank you all for the replies. I am going to need to digest. I have been planning the CC conversion for a while now and have been getting excited for it. But it indeed seems I am being crazy. I will have to come up with a new plan. Bracket and outboard will still be the plan I think.

[Ryan]

find a cc if thats what you want. dont make it harder than its already gonna be.