Tsunami/Sceptre 23....Inboard -vs- I/O -vs- Outboard

[DonV]

Originally Posted by uncleboo

Any chance we could see some pics of brother's boat?

Search "billsseacraft" on here or "seacraftrenovation1972" in IG, I'll get on his ass about getting back on the site more often and post some more pics. Maybe the goofy "SeaCraft Photos" moderator won't delete them.

[kmoose]

SeaCrafts are no stranger to the MGs.

[Kbfisherdude]

KMoose, how's that open transom do for keeping water out of the cockpit? I'm leaning towards a closed transom since it's a 40-60 mile run to the gulfstream from where I live in NC and am a bit nervous about having a giant hole in the transom.

[uncleboo]

That's an old picture. he closed the transom and installed a bracket. Search 'Finished and Clean'....

[kmoose]

Originally Posted by Kbfisherdude

KMoose, how's that open transom do for keeping water out of the cockpit? I'm leaning towards a closed transom since it's a 40-60 mile run to the gulfstream from where I live in NC and am a bit nervous about having a giant hole in the transom.

Actually the open transom was fine with the inspection plate glassed in but the motor would take a bath often. The big downer is all the room it takes up in the back of the boat.

On the boats first rebuild done after that pic got rid of the stock splash well for a much smaller one. Even though it was lower it never gave us a problem, even backing down in seas. It's a tough call on open or closed. If you close you have to go with a bracket for outboard power. In my case it was worth the negatives gaining space. On the flip side, the notched transom with outboard handles much better and allows for way less trim to keep the bow down in seas.

[Kbfisherdude]

And in saying closed transom, I may be moving more toward an inboard after reading on their stability and handling in snotty conditions. I got caught in a squall that came out of nowhere about 10 miles off Clearwater in a 17’ d/c years ago and that sucked butt to put it mildly. Can’t imagine Atlantic squalls giving any sort of ‘heads up, get to the dock cuz here I come’ much less being any kinder...just not sure i want to give up that much room on the dance floor.

[bmajvi]

The first SeaCraft I even rode on was a 23' inboard Sceptre back in the 70's, and it was pretty amazing how well it rode in 3-4' seas. All that weight low and smack in the middle of the boat acts almost like a gyro stabilizer. Not a speed demon, but crazy good ride, engine box takes up a good deal of the cockpit, a little more work docking than an OB or I/O, and to my ears the IB sounds way cool.

[Kbfisherdude]

The Mrs has voiced concerns over the noise and potential for the engine to be a hotbox for the inboard, not to mention taking up half the dance floor back there. I’ve seen where people turn engine boxes into seating area and bait/tackle stations among other things. Do the engine boxes get real hot? If so, I can see that being a plus in the winter but a dealbreaker in the summer.