73 Seacraft 23 CC total rebuild

SledDogFishing · #1 07-27-2008, 03:29 PM

Hey all,

My very first post on the board. A buddy has a 73 Sea Craft 23' CC that after years of commercial fishing, charters and dragging dozens of BFT giants over the rail has decided to rebuild as opposed to selling out for something newer. I have been building custom cold molded SF in the 34’ to 53’ range for close to 20 years, but this is my first Sea Craft rebuild and instead of re-inventing the wheel I thought I’d try to get some info from those who have done it all before.
The boat had an OMC King Cobra 7.4L I/O which has been pulled and is for sale, I’ve closed and re-cored the transom to hang a bracket and am researching both the Armstrong and the Hermco (Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?). The boat with the I/O was very stern heavy and took a while to get up, is moving the engine 3’ further back going to cause issues, or will the positive buoyancy of the bracket compensate? Looking at Suzuki 4 stroke OB a single 250 or 300 vs. a pair of 140/150s. Economy is very nice but so is a fast cruise to the Channel 50 miles out. Anyone have a boat similarly rigged and can give me an idea on performance specs?
Other issue is the cockpit drains through the hull bottom, can they run straight out the back with a scupper and a backflow stopper?
He also complained that the ride got a little wet, as wash would come up the side of the hull hit the rub rail and end up in the back of the boat. I noticed that the newer hulls have added a spray rail in the bow. How have other owners handle this?

Thanks for your help,
Kip

oldfielder · #2 07-29-2008, 08:32 AM

Next rainy day, go to town with the search function and you will find some amazingly detailed discussions and photo essays that will answer every question you could imagine. The mods you want to make have been done successfully on many of the restos on this board.

Blazin23 · #3 07-29-2008, 03:40 PM

I've just re-powered my 23' Seacraft with a new Suzuki 250 single with a 30' inch shaft and it was the best decision I made. I went with a C.L. Mattson & company bracket http://seamount-mattson.com (they are located in Tampa)that has a 36" set-back and it rides like a Cadillac! great fuel economy too...

Tashmoo2 · #4 07-30-2008, 02:11 PM

We had a '72 23 ft Seacraft with drains through the bottom of hull. I really liked it because you did not have to worry about scuppers and when running they acted like a jet pulling water out of deck.

eggsuckindog · #5 07-30-2008, 09:43 PM

Most of your issues will go away with the outboard switch,he will love the boat, please go with the big singles either will do 250/300. The 300 will ceratinly be quite quick but will have alot of midrange cruise power if its run in swells. Scuppers usually went thru the bottom but there have been stern conversions on here, Good luck keep use posted.