seacraft 23 savage/bertram 25

[geesea]

Has anyone the personal experience to compare the two? I have a chance to purchase a seacraft 23 savage inboard. Which would you prefer to fish offshore?

[cdavisdb]

Hard to compare, the boats are in two different classes. Never been in a savage inboard, I owned a 25 bertram for a while and there was no comparison to a 23 Formula (closest thing I could compare to a 23 seacraft) The Bertram is a much bigger boat and needs more power. Mine had twin 130 volvos and was an 18 knot boat, 18 knots in anything. It did not care what the weather was. Fuel efficient for its size, 2mpg. A friends with twin 165s would get about 22 knots cruise, but burned a bunch more fuel. For stability and comfort in rough seas the Bertram was unbelievable. You just never noticed it was rough. For space in 25 ft, amazing. Except for the speed and fuel consumption, it was my perfect boat. I sold it after I got married, realizing that I could not do justice to both a wife and a boat that size. Bought a 20 seafari as a replacement and never looked back.

The Savage inboard will also be very comfortable offshore, better than a Formula, but nothing like the Bertram. However, it will be a whole lot easier to handle on a trailer, much cheaper to maintain and probably be a bit faster and burn less fuel. Just different boats.

Nice choice to have to make.

[Fr. Frank]

The Bertram is great in big seas as long as they aren't cross-chopped, and as long as the wave period is longer than 5 seconds.

The Savage absolutely has a softer ride, but has more lateral motion at troll, drift, or anchor.

[bobbert]

Ditto two previous posts. Presently running a 25 Bert Sport Convert. "Moppie" powered with 3 liter Mercruisers, and a 20' Seacraft CC
The Bertram is a BIG 25'. It will goes anywhere anytime. Cruise speed 20KTS ar 3200 RPM. Burns 10GPH. Lands very hard after going airborne. On the drift can be real jerky in a side chop. The three different model Berts all perform differently. Hardtop and Sportfish models underpowered with 3 Liter engines.
20' Seacraft powered by 3 liter Mercruiser. This is a fast boat and is cheap to run. Airborne landing is a lot softer than the Bert. Use this boat to run around the bay and in the Ocean on select days.
The Seacraft is a much better boat to fish on the drift.
You really have to figure out what you want to do and let that drive your decision.