brand new question

[benjamin]

hello all,
i first want to say hello to all and that im very impressed with this site. i began looking for a slightly larger boat about 2-3 months ago and after doing some research into seacrafts and into fiberglass work, i stumbled onto classicseacraft. great information on here!! ive never done any fiberglass or major marine restoration projects like im seeing being completed on here. it almost makes me think i could do it myself as some of you make it look easy but im sure it is not. nevertheless, i need a bigger boat as im always climbing over my dive gear whenever im out on my 17' boston whaler. i have a boat in mind that seems like it may be a decent deal, but i wanted some input from some experts first.

first question... if i want a CC, can i convert any tsunami, seafari, etc to a CC? Is the hull on a seafari basically the same measurements as a CC? the reason im asking is bc i think i found a good deal on a cuddy platform seacraft but the cabin has been removed already and i want to turn it into a CC.

any other info is greatly appreciated

thank you

[benjamin]

well i bought the boat today. its a 1972 20' seafari with the cabin mostly removed. so does anyone have any tips about making a CC out of it? i paid $800.00 for the boat, motor, and trailer. (2000 150 evinrude is blown and will be parted out)

[benjamin]

[Blue_Heron]

Congratulations and welcome to the asylum. You've got a lot of work ahead of you. Write down everything you want to do to it and how much time you think it will take, then quadruple it. If you enjoy working with your hands, and the satisfaction of building something for yourself, it will be a blast. If not, you're screwed.

But you've come to the right place. You'll get lots of support here. If you haven't already done it, read all of strick's rebuild threads from beginning to end. You'll be glad you did. There are lot's of other good threads, too.

Dave

[benjamin]

thank you... i have been reading Strick's and many others. the pictures are really helpful and i have learned a little already. the first thing im going to do to mine is get that motor gone and repair the transom. the wood is wrotten for sure.

[Bigshrimpin]

My advice is not to spend the time and effort into converting a seafari into a CC. You will NOT save any money trying to build a 20cc out of a seafari. The material cost (w/o factoring time/labor) will greatly exceed ponying up the extra 4 - 5k to find a nice 20CC. 30 gallons of resin, a couple rolls of glass and brushes, rollers, buckets, trays, paint, primer, fairing compound, sandpaper, tools( grinder, DA sander, compressor, paint gun, board sander) acetone, MDF, mold release wax, gelcoat, core material (marine ply), 10 boxes of rubber gloves, drop cloths, new clothes . . . then a new motor, all the rigging (controls, steering, harness, tach, gauges, wiring, switch panel, bilge pumps, lights) center console, fuel tank, hoses, water seperator, seats + boat jewelry to get it together. Then one full year of all your free time (every weekend and most week nights). It's fun as hell but not something you do to save money. I'm a resourceful dude and even I can't make the numbers work buying all that stuff for pennies on the dollar and valuing my labor at a nickel an hour.


Part out the 2000 150hp rude should net you $1000, selling the trailer $800 - $1000, and anything else worth $$$ on that boat. You might walk away with $2200 - $2500 . . . put that $$ toward a good 18 or 20cc seacraft. There will be plenty of fiberglass work to do on another boat (hopefully a nice 18 or 20cc).

Strick is an animal!! He is meticulous, experienced, has a huge shop with all the right tools . . . even then his 20 took a full year to complete.

[Bigshrimpin]

I love the 18/20 seacraft, but you can also afford to look at the alternatives . . . The 18/20 Seacraft is way sexier and is a very very good hull, but this little henryo will outperform the 18/20 seacraft in big seas. Here are a few running 17 HenryO's that need nothing for $2500 - $4300.

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/boa/2288558081.html
http://eastnc.craigslist.org/boa/2316295647.html
http://treasure.craigslist.org/boa/2255299226.html

[benjamin]

thanks bigshrimpin... i already have a dry 17' but thanks for the advice. i needed a bigger boat with more room for dive gear, etc. i could part it all out and do just what you said, but the right 20' to 23' CC prodject boat hasnt come along yet so i may just have to be content with my topless seafari for now. either way. the transom is getting done and a new/newer motor is going on the back.

[newellchunker]

bigshrimpin.....we're gonna put that one to the test! My son just bought a 17ft Henry O Hornet (Dual Console) with a 90hp Tohatsu and galvanized trailer for $1200.00 this past Wednesday. I guess its gonna put us even further behind in restoring our 23 Sceptre.

[Bigshrimpin]

If the 17 dual console Hornet has this same hull as the 17 cc . . . then you'll love it. I fished commercially side by side a friend of mine who owned a 17 . . . crossing cape cod bay and around chatham. There was one day where I couldn't break 18knots in huge following seas without stuffing the bow of the 18 . . . The waves were so big he'd disappear b/w them. The henry o beat me crossing cape cod bay (about 22 miles) by 15 minutes and he slowed down several times to let me catch up.