New to the site/background on myself

Dan · #1 03-31-2002, 12:37 AM

Let me start out by saying that I am a Seacraft nut!! I just learned about this site thru Mr. Miles Offshore and think it is fantastic. I've wanted a Seacraft ever since I saw my first one in 1978. I was 6 yrs old and it was love at first sight. My dad bought a 1987 cc back in '91. The boat was a bank repo that had been badly neglected. My dad and I spent the whole summer when I was home from college restoring her. We completely stripped her down, replaced every nut, bolt, and wire; then buffed the hull out to a new like shine. It turned out awesome!! To make a long story much shorter, my dad sold the boat a year later while I was away at school. It about ripped us apart. Today a man up the river from me owns the boat. I drive past it everyday to and from work and it about kills me to look at it. Anyway.... I swore that when I got a good job I was going to buy my own. So 3 years ago I bought a 1988 cc that was in excellent condition(except for the motor) and ready to fish. I don't know if you would consider it a classic being an '88 but a Seacraft is a Seacraft in my opinion. You can go wrong w/ any of them. I have since added a 2000 225hp ficht Evinrude and new curtains. She is the best ride on the water and turns heads everywhere I go. As soon as I get a digital camera I will post some pics. I look forward to giving and receiving advice/stories from other members in days to come as well as seeing everyones ride.

Dan

Capt Skip · #2 03-31-2002, 08:52 AM

I agree any Seacraft is a classic. I thought Virginia Beach was a hot bed of Seacrafts now I know it is. How many more friends does Miles have anyway?

I can sympothis, I drove past my Seacraft for 12 years thinking how nice it would be have here. Then fate got her to me, I guess its was destiny?

Looking forward to the pictures.

capesams · #3 03-31-2002, 09:45 AM

WELCOME ABOARD.

I to am new kinda. I think SEACRAFT'S
are like potato chips you can't have just one.

steve

Miles Offshore · #4 03-31-2002, 11:51 AM

Dan, welcome up buddy!!! Skip, lots more is the answer, most are still not in the "internet age" yet though-(their Loss). By the way Dan- I understand that the post Potter hulls were built just as well or better than the Potters but the fittings/hardware used were of poor quality, so if you redid it all , then you for sure have a quality-fantastic ride. Looking forward to seeing pix. Have you told Gary about this site???? (Another Inboard Skip!) Squeeze it easy, Craig

Dan · #5 03-31-2002, 03:53 PM

Craig, I haven't seen Gary since I loaned him my front rod racks last week. I usually see him walking Buck in the evenings when I get home from work. I'll be sure to inform of this site though. You are right about those fittings. All of the fittings are brass except for the 2 in the splash well. I don't think they were sealed at all! I discovered this when I drilled some holes to mount a speed/temp sensor and water drained out as if I opened a faucet. That made me real nervous so I (200 lbs) hopped on my motor to try to make the transom flex but couldn't. A friend of mine on the Eastern Shore that used to build boats said that the glass alone in that transom is enough to support the motor. So I took his advice as well as the advice and products from the Rot Doctor. I pulled the fittings and picked out what damaged wood I could. I then drilled several small holes in the bottom of the transom to let the water drain for a few months, frequently applying suction. Once it seemed dry, I injected some penetrating epoxy, sealed all holes w/ marine tex and reinstalled the fittings, sealing them w/ 4200. Problem solved....I hope.

Dan [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ March 31, 2002, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: CroakerLips ]

Miles Offshore · #6 04-01-2002, 09:03 PM

Sounds to me like your right on track Dan.Good luck, the flatties are a waiting!!!!Craig

Scott · #7 04-02-2002, 12:59 AM

Dan
Welcome ... I'm very intrigued by your post above..about the water pouring out like an open faucet.......Why I'm intrigued is I suffered a similar "OH NO !!!" well not my exact words but you get the idea...I pulled out a transducer and the boat took a leak on me too...very short in duration ...but non the less- water out of the transom..and not a weep or drip ...IT WAS P--sing out...Like I said only a couple ounces but un-nerving at best....spoke to a transom guy and he had a boat that he was working on at that time and he said he got “ many five gallon bucket fulls of water” out...said it was all from up in the stringer system....SO……

How much water did you get out?? and how wet was the transom??

I take it you were satisfied with the performance of the CPES…

I ask because I'm contemplating putting in a new transom...even though there are no signs of distress in the transom..No cracks not even crazing at any corners or around the mount. I also have little distortion when jumping on the engine... ..but I know that transom is wet. I also have other motives (its going to need to be replaced at some point)to doing the new transom but this is driving it right now.

Anyone else had this problem ??? [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Thanks
Scott

[ April 02, 2002, 12:03 AM: Message edited by: Scott ]

Miles Offshore · #8 04-02-2002, 10:03 AM

I would suggest you take a core sample, see if it is wet all the way through or not. I had the same with mine but it was only wet like 1/8" out of
1 1/4" or so. If this is the case then I would do as Dan did, let it air leak/dry for a couple weeks or so and fill with git-rot or a similar substance. One thing to keep in mind if it is freshwater it will definitely rot it out, If it is saltwater when it drys it will "cure" it, not rot it. (Generally) Hope this helps, Craig

Scott · #9 04-02-2002, 05:18 PM

Thanks Miles

I've got to think this one through. But I 'll have some more questions for you (or anyone else).. regarding this. Like I said you can "sound" the transom and its solid...or so it seems. I just dont like the looks of things around those transducer holes (One set of holes had the water pour out (did not have a rotten wood smell to it either … did have a mild odor ... and it was clear water... another set of holes towards the centerline had a slight drip ...I took off Five Transducers in all!!!)

In the picture the water came from the highest/first lifting strake (actually was on the other side but you get the idea )This makes me wonder if the stringer butts into the transom here as it is much higher than where the water was just dripping (lower in the transom). Additionally in between that nylon thru hull and the engine you can see a hole where twin motors were mounted. These holes were never patch appropriately... you can also see that has some weep ... especially on hot days when it cooks.. the wood inside is tan/brown(and NOT the BLACK DEATH color) and fairly solid.....but it still weeps out small quantities of water.. The two holes to the left were for transducer wires and are dry and solid...so I dont know what to think some say leave it..... other say put in a new transom... I know its going to need a transom sooner or later.... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

capesams · #10 04-02-2002, 07:02 PM

SCOTT:
Let me tell you about my transom on my 23'. The boat sat on the bottom for three days (before I bought it) The transom was full of water. This I didnt know until I took out all of the plugs and screws. Out it came, It looked like sewer water. All it did was drip, drip, drip. So, like miles said, I took a 1 and 1/2" holesaw and drilled a hole as close to the bottom as I could. That helped to drain (what I thought was all of the water) out. I put a heater on the transom to dry. I came back the next day, only to find more water on the floor. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] At that point, I knew that the water was being trapped up inside. So I took an air hose and put that in a smaller hole higher up. Believe it or not, that forced the water down and out. I did this on and off for a week until there wasn't anything left, then more heat to dry it out. I think you will find that if it doesn't have enough air getting into the plywood, the water just gets stuck inside. The plywood on mine was gray. Like you said, it was still hard. When the washers on the motorbolts start to sink into the glass on the inside, you will know that it's time to replace the stern. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Steve