spray rail question on a 23 cc

[gchop]

wildman I am interested in closing in my transom as well. I have a 250 suzuki 25 inch shaft that I want to reuse. What bracket and shaft size motor are You using?

[pianewman]

My dad and brother, who had this 20' CC OB boat for 18 months before I "inherited" it (with leaks, bad transom) started calling the sprayrails "the tip-strips", because of how it would pull the bow down under certain circumstances. Did they make that up, or hear it somewhere? Is their experience (strips pulling the boat down) universal? only on 20's? Incompetent piloting?

[Seacraft84]

I have owned a 23 and 2-20's. I put spray rails on one of my 20MA thinking they were going to help. They helped with the spray put did not let me take full advantage of the trim tabs and in a sea with some chop they would not let the bow dig down as far and kinda made the boat ride alittle funny. Basically it did not ride as well.
So I decided I would rather have a better ride and get wet, then not get wet and not have as good of a ride. Curtains are a must on boats!!!
These Seacrafts are very seaworthy. Had mine out 60 miles this past weekend and caught 6 wahoos, 21 dolphins, 3 blackfins, 30 triggers, 20 beeliners. And only used 40 gallons of gas

Thinking of restoring another 23 soon and I will not put rails on mine.

If anyone is interested in some spray rails I will give them a good deal. They are plastic ones about 10ft long/each.

[pianewman]

Wildman those are the same ones I have only mine go back further and are bottom painted. the boat rides awsome and is dry as a bone but I have nothing to compare it to as i have never riden in one without rails. I will be repainting the hull so my dilema is do I want to go through the hassel of putting them back on. I have a leak that I cant find and believe may be associated with the rail.

Very curious. I've been chasing a leak as well, assuming first it was the transom, then the scuppers (replaced/sealed). The sprayrails look intact, but maybe need a closer look?

[Wildman]

If they are bottom painted I would be suspect. Dig out some of the old sealant and run a new bead.

[george90]

hey would you ride these spray rails in big seas i have the same ones as wild man. and i go out alot in big wave full trottle but never with the spray rails. how bad will they dig.

[GodsReel]

Seacrafts are amazing boats, we all know that,but in some occasions and conditions they don't deflect water as well as some newer hull designs with more flare at the top. i will take the trade off any day, but some curtains and use em when u need em. I vote no to rails they don't let the hull run as efficiently as it was design to run. just my 2 cents.