20 CC project???

[JohnC]

Hello, I’m new to this forum. I noticed it a while back from a link on The Hull Truth and it seems like a great community. I would really like to have a 20’ open set up for near shore/off shore fishing around Miami and I feel like by the time I modify it to fit my needs (bracket, full transom, oversize livewell, in-deck fishboxes and storage, … ) I would be looking at nearly complete restoration. This seems like a worthwhile project for me but I’m not 100% sure yet. If this progresses I am sure I will have many questions but for now I would like to know more about my platform of choice.
1) Sport Fishing Magazine has an annual “Boat Buyers Guide” issue (January) that states the SC 20 Classic deadrise to be 21 deg. @ transom. The SC website says 17. Is this just a typo or is there more than one 20 hull design? I am wondering about the rough water performance and I would prefer the steeper deadrise (I would rather not go to a 23’ boat).
2) Is it feasible to make a cuddy into an open, or to remove a casting deck in favor of a single level deck? I am concerned with removing something that is structurally necessary for the hull. The only potential hulls I have seen are not open CC’s but that’s what I really want.
I’m sorry to be so long winded for my first post. I am getting ready to start this project and I really need to know I am on the right track before I put too much cash and energy into it.

Thanks,
John

[Trayder]

Welcome to the site JohnC-

To answer your questions.

1) The deadrise average on the 20CC is 17 degrees. Comparing this deadrise to other boats makes 17 degrees look inferior. One has to go for a ride on a SeaCraft to really apreciate the hull design which is represented in the logo above. It provides a soft ride that can be dry. One must be honest that no CC boat are 100% dry. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

2)With fiberglass, anything is possible. It all depends on how proficient you are or how much money you are willing to pay someone to do the work. Converting a Cuddy to an open would be difficult but, yes the hulls are the same and again with alot of glass work it is possible. As for the forward casting deck, I am pretty sure it is a structural part of the boat beacause it is an integral part of the inner liner. I removed the entire inner liner on my 20 and and going with a level deck set up , similar to what, I think you want.

If you check out the 20 section on this site and choose webmaster's 20 you will see the mess I have gotten myself into [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] .

Luckily I have another boat to enjoy and find working on my SeaCraft a hobby. If The Seacraft were my only boat I would go nuts due to the amount of work and little amount of time I have.

There is no doubt , as Fellow-Ship (who restored a 23) from this forum can tell you, I will be proud and happy with my finished product.

[JohnC]

Thanks for the input. I too have another boat so this won’t keep me off the water. I have not ridden in a 20 so I am not that well informed as to its performance. I guess that I should ask around in my area for a test ride to be sure it’s the one for me. The reasons for my choice of this hull for my project are; 1) there is a 20 hull available for $1500 (asking price) very close to me; 2) it seems like there is a good market for these old boats from junk to finished product, that means I’m not throwing money away by putting it into one; 3) I have heard good things about their performance; 4) they look good. I really like what I see you doing with yours in the pictures. That is basically what I want only I would like a few more storage areas under the deck and a round livewell (lots of Ballyhoo here and they die quickly in oval or square wells). I am curious as to what you used to laminate your stringers and transom to the hull. Looks similar to fillet stitch & glue epoxy. Also, how will you fasten your deck to the stringers (I assume you will use the same fillets to attach to the sides of the hull)?