Narrowing the search: pros/cons 18SF vs 20SF

[Reddfin]

First, hello to all of you. This a great forum you have here and I am glad to have found it. I have been lurking for a while now. You guys have some very nice boats. I have just begun the search for a fishing/family boat. I am looking for a SF18 or maybe even a 20SF. I am sort of a minimalist and enjoy doing more with less. Just want to narrow it down so I am not too consumed by the search and all its variables, although that is half the fun sometimes.
I have owned several smaller boats including a classic Mako 171 many years ago. I enjoyed it very much but I wanted to try something a little different this time around. I have always like the Seacraft lines. So now I am looking for one. I am on a budget so price is a concern. I have done some fiberglass/paint work but dont want to get in over my head and have to redo the deck, transom, cap, etc before I get to use it for a couple years.
I just sold my airboat so the kids and I are looking to get out on the ocean in our own center console. I would appreciate the opinions of past present owners of either hull. Pros/cons of each one and/or specific year issues I should watch out for.

This boat would be used mostly out of Palm Beach Inlet trolling weedlines offshore, drifting reefs, trailering to the Keys, wakeboarding, snorkeling, etc. Mostly me with a couple preteens half the time and maybe a buddy.

I have been scouring the classifieds and cl and the prices vary quite bit. So, I wanted to get a little more info before I get real serious and pull the trigger on one.

Thanks for any insight from your experiences that you care to share publicly or privately ([email protected])

Regards,
Tony

[Fr. Frank]

As someone born in WPB who fished that area for over 20 years, let me urge you to the 20' for two reasons:

First, if you're planning on taking the family, and you have more than one child of any age, you REALLY need the room.

Second, Palm Beach County has 3 of the 10 most dangerous inlets in the United States. That means every inlet but Lake Worth can be ultra-nasty in the wrong conditions. And even if can be exceptionally rough. If you're taking your family out, the 20' is safer in ultra-nasty conditions.

In 1983, we had a NE winter storm just before Christmas, and I went fishing after work one day because the weather forecast was for the front to hit early in the morning. The forcasters were wrong, and I was offshore of Lost Tree in my 20' Seafari when seas built very quickly from 3'-5', which is my limit, to 8'-12', which is unsafe in a 40' boat. The temperature fell 25* in less than two hours to around 40* by 8:30 p.m. (By 7 a.m. the next morning it was 22*)

I had gone out Jupiter, but decided it was too dangerous to come back in with the NE winds blowing 20-25 kts. And the tide was on the ebb, giving breakers off Jupiter at the bar of about 15'-18'. Despite the short distance, it took me over an hour to get south to Lake Worth Inlet, only to find it looked just as bad. I watched a 50' Ocean run in the inlet and when it was in the trough, all I could see visible above the wave-top was the station on the tuna-tower. I estimated the waves to be breaking at 12'-15' at the mouth of the inlet. Not having enough fuel to sit it out, I ran in the inlet on the back of a wave that was so big it completely blocked my view of the shore and the inlet. Thank God for my SeaCraft and my Mercury inline-6 150hp motor.

The next morning we had ice 2" thick on our low dock. Nasty.

Moral of the story: Get the 20'. Bad weather can come up suddenly, and sometimes there's no replacement for displacement.

[76Red18]

The 18's are great for 2 anglers, 3 and its crowded. A 20 would give you more room for sure. I'd take my 18 cc through any conditions a 20 cc would handle and be happy to lead . Father Frank has the family boat. A 20' Seafari would be perfect.

[Reddfin]

Thanks for the response. I have plenty of respect for the sea. I understand that things get bad unexpectedly. Ive been through some nasty seas on the old Mako 171. I have fished some 5-7 days that turned uglier as we went along (young, tough, and dumb). Even a couple Bahama crossings that were pretty tense. It wasnt quite 12-15ft seas but plenty nasty and rough to lose sight of other boats in the trough. When its bad its bad. It doesnt matter much if you are floating on 18ft or 20ft of fiberglass.
With the family, a 20 makes a lot of sense. We get some elbow room. I know the kids wont be with me every time. There social life is only going to get busier. I agree 3-4ppl is pretty cozy for sure on the 18. I will consider the 20. I really wanted to go with the 18 to keep the fuel bill as low as possible in the boat and the Tacoma truck. I have seen many 20's with a bracket. I guess there will be plenty of room if I find one like that.
I know the 18's dont get bracketed much but the 20's do. I better do some more reading on the bracketed 20's.

My expereince with the Seacraft 18 is limited but the couple times I was on it were memorable. Got to love it when your 18 rides as good, if not better than many 20's.

There are many pros to cuddy cabins when the family is onboard but I want to stay with a center console. As long as we have some shade, drinks, food, and tunes we are happy.
Catching fish doesnt hurt either.

I appreciate your opinions so keep them coming. Even if they are dissenting, fire away. Lets just keep the boat from going any bigger. 20ft is the max.

Tony

[McGillicuddy]

Another vote for the 20'.
The bare hull weight difference is only a couple of hundred lbs so it shouldn't be a big difference for the little Toyota.

That being said you will be at the upper limit of safely towing with that truck.

The weight capacity of the 20 is about 320 lbs more than that of the 18. That's a lot of beer, gas or gear, or a dude and his petite gal

I like a closed transom (and I'll probably hear it for this) but due to its narrow transom beam at waterline, I don't think the Seacraft 20 is the best candidate for a bracket. 25" transom and same shaft would be my choice.

[Greno]

i have wife, two kids and an 18. we are ok for now, but i will eventually upsize.

[workinpr0gress]

I would go with a 20 because of it's availability and since the boats are so similar in weight.

[makade]

I would look at both, when I was in the market I looked at both and came to like some of the 18's features over the 20's. Like the wider gunnels and the stern set-up. I guess I would have preferred the master angler in the 20. But I ended up with what I thought was my best deal at the time, a 18. I think either are great boats for south florida.
I just bumped a old thread with some good info. Good luck!