New project- 20' CC

[cwilkinson]

I am new to both SeaCraft ownership and this website, but I love both already. We had a Aquasport with twin Yam's for several years...had kids..sold boat...mistake...bought SeaCraft...new project....oh my! Let me start by asking about closing off the transom. Seems like the smart think to do as I read more on this website. We are in Tampa, FL and the Gulf gets choppy at times. Boat is mostly for family fun and shallow fishing. Also, we are going to repower her. I am going to sell the 200 Johnson on her now and replace with...?? Yam or Suz? Can I put a new 200 4S on her or do I need to pwer down cause of wight. Opinons are floating at the 150 4S. What do you all say? When I learn how to post pictures, I will get them on here.

[Bigshrimpin]

Here's a pic of a 20 MA knockoff (helmsmarine 21). One boat is powered with a Suzuki 140 and the other with a 200 Suzuki. You can see the difference in weight . . . keep in mind that the boat powered with a 200 has a floatation bracket. You might look into the 150 or 175 Suzuki . . . it's only 465lbs vs. 580 for the 200/225/250 Suzuki

[GradySailfish]

Hi and welcome to the site. Please tell us more about your 20, is it a Superfish or Master Angler...what year is it...what are other plans? Will ube doing the work yourself?

I may catch some flak for this, but I'd shy away from a big four stroke on that boat. 20 SC's are stern heavy boats so its advisable for you to try and minimize the weight on the stern. A Suzi 4 Stroke is a great motor but personally I've been looking at the 150 HP series Evinrude ETEC's. They're getting outstanding reviews. When I'm ready I'll buy a 150 ETEC for my 20 MA project boat.

[dcobbett]

GradySailFish,
I had a chance to ride in a 1976, 20SF with a new (probably 3 months old) E-TEC 150 this past September. I was impressed except for the WOT RPM's. 20 knots @ 3,200 rpm, 26+ knots at 4,000 rpm and WOT (only 5,100 rpm?) was about 38 knots. Boat was lightly loaded, (two men, no gear, coolers, etc.) clean bottom and we were in Gloucester's (MA) outer harbor which had a 6"+/- chop. All speeds were from an on board GPS.

[Ed]

Sounds like that ETEC was swinging a prop that was too big .

[eggsuckindog]

Welcome as I am also in Tampa, I have a 20 Master Angler with a 200 Merc -406lb. I really think that is about tops as the SF has the in floor baitwell too. Look at the Direct Injected 2S, close on gas and noise and lighter. The earlier boat designers just had no idea motors would ever weigh close to 500 pounds, when these boats were designed the 150 Merc weighed I think 268. I live in Town & Country and the boat is in S Tampa let me know if I can help.

[GradySailfish]

I'm not really looking for top end power! I want a fuel efficient good mid range cruise speed and thats what the ETEC does best.

Honestly speaking it doesn't see like there's a bad motor out there today. All manufacturers are building excellent products so its hard to go wrong with any application. We're lucky in that respect, but the flip side to that coin is there's too many choices!

[dcobbett]

EggSuckinDog,

BRP says their non HO, V-6 150 E-TEC with a 25" lower unit weights 427#'s. That's a few pounds more than the Zuk 140 4S and a few 20SF owners feel that if you want to run that motor, you should think about raising the deck.

The boat I rode on had the standard thru the bottom of the hull scuppers that had not been modified and the deck was pretty dry the entire time I was aboard the boat.

From what I've seem on the internet as well as from working on my own hull, I believe that the deck to waterline relationship could easily vary by as much as an inch, any one 20SF hull compared to any other 20SF hull.

[cwilkinson]

Thanks for the photo, great pix! My research tells me the Suzki 150 and 175 are the same weight, but the 175 gives a better punch. We are looking to go with the 175 and add a platform and close off the transome. I will add pictures soon. SCgal.

[cwilkinson]

It is a '87 hull, which I know puts it out of range of the Potter hulls. It has a 200hp Johnson on it. We took out for the first time tonight. It ran like a tank, sounded like one too. We are goin to sell it on ebay, need to repower her for sure. We will be doing some of the work on the boat. It is in really great shape, used mostly on lakes. Very little salt build up. Hull is solid, no crack in or out. So new power, rewire, work on teak and give her a new paint job. Hammerhead Boatworks is going to build a closed transom for us and add a platform. One man shop and his work is awesome. I am concerned about the gas tank and the fed hose. Should I replace them, to do so do I need to remove the helm? What have you all done?>

SC gal