Left coast...starting 23 sceptre referbish

[DyeHard]

Good Morning.

I have been researching as much as possible on this most excellent site. The knowledge on here is unparalleled!!

I purchased an 84 23' scepter. I believe it's an SCI made boat. It has an Armstrong 30" bracket on it currently. Hangn off the bracket is an old 225 Johnson. It looks to be a welled transom that has been glassed over.

I will be using the boat offshore exclusively. I live on the North Oregon Coast. Garibaldi is home port.

I think my visions out do my pocket book but here goes...LOL Plus possibly a lil crazy.

Extend the hull 12" and re-do the transom. Porta Bracket with twins...rebuilt 2.5 litre black maxs.

Replace the floor and lower it 4". Move suppers off the floor and install em on the transom.

Air ride seats with compressor and storage tank.

Move the Helm forward to the angled gauge and jockey box faces.

Replace the windshield with a less angled taller windshield.

Add a hard top with soft side curtains. Aluminum frame of course.

Add a bow pulpit.

Boy oh Boy seems a bit lofty now that Im writing it all down. Oh well gotta start some where.

Kit back some ideas...Pros...Cons...bubble bursting...Experiences...Guide me Oh wise ones.

Thanx in advance for all your help and just what Ive read is priceless!!!

DyeHard

[FLexpat]

Welcome.
Rule 1 - multiply your worst cast cost estimate by 2 or 3.
Rule 2 - double the time estimate (triple if you only double the cost estimate)
Rule 3 - What you can do with a grinder in 5 minutes takes at least 5 hours to replace (sometimes over 25 ).

I am not sure why you would lower your deck because it will no longer self bail. When I lived in Oregon it rained a bit - not self bailing is sometimes an issue in the rain. North Pacific is a bigger issue. Twins an extra foot off the back are probably ok with std deck height but sure are not raising the freeboard (&deck line) aft.

Originally Posted by DyeHard

Replace the floor and lower it 4".

And 4" will mean that you get to cut the tops off of the stringers and replace your fuel tank - likely with a much smaller one. I think that is also lower than the chine line on the 23.

The rest of the ideas are interesting - some are a whole lot of work - take a very close look at how everything is built and figure out all the steps to re-do it before you start cutting.

Good Luck.

[Terry England]

Hopefully Kmoose will jump in here as soon as he get's home from Church. He is the Sceptre Merlin. There's lots of Sceptre experiance on this site, but I'm not sure if anyone has anymore "wheel time" than Kenny. He has a bunch of 180 mile days in the Gulf out of the Big Bend area of Florida.

[DyeHard]

Thanx for the responses. Much appreciated. The lowering of the deck is just to get the floor to sit on top of the stringers. Wasnt sure how many inches of plywood and foam that was gunna eliminate. I do wanna eliminate the scuppers from draining down through the floor and have em just run straight out the back with the one way check on the outside of the transom.

[kmoose]

First off, lowering the deck would not be a good idea. You would be losing all ability for the boat to be self bailing as it barely is now and won't be with brackets and twins. If nothing else, raise it 3" and have dry feet. If you insist your only option will be dump and pump by draining into the bildge and relying on bildge pumps to clear the decks. Been there, done that.... Not the way to go and there is no magical one way valve that will work while at rest.

Extention, all that work and expense for 12"??? The initial cost to extend the hull is excessive and I recommend not doing that unless you are going at least 3' or you won't be getting much benefit for the $$$$.

I understand the helm mod but be careful moving it forward as you will be standing closer to the bow and that doesn't equate to additional comfort. The windshield mod can be done but it will be expensive and drastically change the lines on the boat. If you do, I'll buy the center section from you as you will need a new custom set. Hell, I have a SeaCraft bow pulpit and will trade you even.

Air seat, that would be last on my list. Try it without first.... it's a SeaCraft.

Sounds like your good with a major restore with floors and all. That's good, it take that kind of ambition to get it done but don't underestimate the costs and stay away from wood as the new composites are much lighter and forgiving in backyard rebuilds and last forever cause you will not want to do this again. Welcome aboard! Sounds like your in it for the long haul and we're behind you!