18 foot Seacraft...too heavy

[toadfish]

Well, today I put my 1985 18' Seacraft that I have been working on for the past year in the water only to see that the scuppers (just installed) are completely under the water, and the water line is just at the motor well drain holes. The engine is a 200 mercury, which was on the boat when I bought it a year ago. I suspected that it may be too heavy, but the previous owner said.."oh no, i've had this engine on here for several years and the boat is fine." Well, it may be fine if you also play Russian roulette on the weekends but I am not about to go offshore with the water line almost level with the deck. I just overhauled the engine also. Anyone need a 1992 merc offshore engine??!!! The bottom line here is..if you think it may be too heavy, put the boat in the water before you buy it. I still love the boat, just going to have to re-power I guess.