newbie help -price for 85 20sf?

[octdrew]

Although I've been a boater for over 50 years for some reason I was never familiar with SeaCraft. In looking for small boat to have some fun with I came across the CSC site somehow and discovered these great boats. Since disovering the site I've spent countless hours reading the posts and scouring the for sale threads.

I understand that the Potter built boats seem to be the "collectible" models, but I don't know why - could someone explain why that is the case?

That aside I've located an 85 20" SF with 1992 150hp
2 stroke - hours unknown, but assumed to be not to bad. Boat has had freshwater use seasonally. No t-top or bimini. From the pictures it looks to be in great shape. I'm not able to view the boat in person, so I'm hoping someone in the forum can advise me of what potential problems to ask about and also some idea of what a realistic price would be?

Thanks in advance!

[Blue_Heron]

Welcome to CSC. The "what is it worth" question is asked here pretty frequently. The short answer is "not enough info to guess a price". Price will depend on condition, accessories, and any number of other factors that can't be known without examining the boat. But it's a buyer's market

What to look for is an easier question. The old V6 mercs are reliable as long as they get their oil and aren't overheated. I would check the compression and spark in all cylinders. Compression should run in the neighborhood of 120psi, but more importantly, it should not vary by more than about 5 PSI from the lowest to the highest. Also check the steering arm for corrosion. It's not uncommon for them to fail due to rust. If it was primarily used in fresh water, it will probably be in good shape.

On the hull, look for soft spots in the deck and cap. Also test the transom for strength. Tilt the motor up about half way, climb up on the anti-ventilation plate and bounce up and down. If there are any screws low in the transom i.e. for a depth transducer, pull a couple and see if water drips out. If there are soft spots, or you can see flex in the transom, it's a fixer upper. A wet transom isn't necessarily DOA, but the clock is ticking.

Most of this stuff is the same for any boat you would look at. And I'm sure other members can add more suggestions. As to why Potters are considered more collectible, I don't know. The fit and finish aren't any better than the later hulls. But Seacraft changed hands a lot in the eighties, and quality can be an unknown quantity. With a Potter, you know what you've got.

I own an '83 20 SF made by Seacraft Industries. The '85 you're looking at was too. You can confirm this if the HIN starts with "SIC". It's 20'-4" long, which is 8" longer than a Potter 20. I'm happy with mine and haven't heard of any problems specific to the SIC hulls.

My $0.02
Dave