Honest opinions wanted of the 20' CC ride

tommat · #1 12-30-2010, 11:31 PM

Looking at a restored 1970 20'CC. Having never ridden on one I am looking for all the pros and cons. I have read that these are really wet riding boats and squirrely in a following sea. What are your thoughts and opinions?

Thanks,

Tommy

workinpr0gress · #2 12-30-2010, 11:42 PM

Hey Tommy,

See ya joined up. I would say the opposite of the following sea. These are one of the straightest tracking boats in any sea. In confused water it's amazing the boat does not ride the way the water looks if ya get my drift.

seacraftks · #3 12-30-2010, 11:53 PM

well the boat runs great in a following sea, when you get some spray is about a 20ft sea hahaha

SteveH · #4 12-31-2010, 01:01 AM

I had a 20 MA for about 20 years...... it is not squirelly in a following sea. It is very soft ride. It is a 20 ft. boat. 15mph winds; quartering seas.....yah it may get a little wet.... so what...

Bushwacker · #5 12-31-2010, 02:23 AM

Quote:

. . . I have read that these are really wet riding boats and squirrely in a following sea. What are your thoughts and opinions?

You read some bogus info! These boats are VERY stable in following seas. The vertical steps act like keels, making it virtually impossible to broach a SeaCraft! Moesly raced the old 21 in offshore powerboat races in all types of sea conditions and dominated the outboard classes; he could not have done that with a "squirrely" hull! A naval architect has tested the 25' Seafari hull extensively in very rough seas and proclaimed it one of the most seakindly hulls his firm has ever tested in it's research for the US Navy. He owns 3 25's and a 21!

The early Moesly 21 and 19' Bowrider are probably the best riding and wettest models, although the 25 probably matches the 21's ride because of it's similar deadrise. When Moesly developed the 20' hull from the 19' molds for Carl Keikeifher to enter into a 20' racing class, he did so by cutting the 19'mold down the centerline at the bow and also along the chines. He spread the hull sides out about a 1/2" on each side, adding a flat at the chines to deflect spray. He also flared the sides outward and added the clipper bow to tie it all together. It came out at 19'8" and I guess that was close enough to meet requirements for the 20' racing class. The 20 is definitely a drier riding boat in big seas than the 19 due to that extra bow flare, although those flats will develop more lift and possibly hurt the ride a little relative to the 19. However the 20 is quite a bit heavier due to it's full inner liner, so that probably offsets most of the effect of the chine flat. Moesly may have included the narrow chine flat on the 27' and 25' Seafari hulls, but I'm not that familiar with those hulls. The 23' and 18' hulls were designed by Potter who didn't have Moesly's technical and racing background. Although the 18 and especially the 23 are still great riding hulls, the flat "spray deflector" step that Potter added at the front of the inner panels would generate a little more lift, making them ride a little drier at perhaps a very slight penalty in ride. (ALL boat designs are a compromise . . . you don't get something for nothing, although Moesly's VDH hull probably offers the best combination of soft ride/good lift/minimum drag of any deep V hull design!)

Caymanboy · #6 12-31-2010, 08:54 AM

I've been boatin alittle while, had a few boats in my time, restored a couple. A 1970 SeacCraft 20 CC for that matter. Taken it to the Bahamas on it;s own bottom a couple of times. The 20cc SeaCraft is by far the best riding 20cc I have ever had the pleasure of drving or owning, bar none. Might get a little damp, but I never worry about getting home. The dampness might be drool or Mountain Dew on my face, either way, I'm happy!
OP

Bigshrimpin · #7 12-31-2010, 04:53 PM

The 18/20 has a great ride in up to 2ft chop and in following seas. Above 2ft you have to slow down to 20knts or less. The only boat I know of similar size that rides better in following seas than a 20 seacraft is a HenryO.

DonV · #8 12-31-2010, 05:39 PM

Man!!....I've been on 45'+ sport fish type boats and in the wrong conditions even those got us wet up high on the bridge. The next time you go out, way out, notice how much water there is compared to the size of your boat. The water has the avantage. Also, "rule of thumb" the wind always blows at 45 degrees to the bow when you want to get somewhere fast.....you are going to get wet on ANY boat. I'm still kicking my ass because I waited too long to pull the trigger on the sale of a 20' SeaCraft for a really, really good price few months ago, I'm a doof.....had no where to hide it, not like NoBones, 'ol Ken can make boats invisible from blondie at "area 442".

workinpr0gress · #9 12-31-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Man!!....I've been on 45'+ sport fish type boats and in the wrong conditions even those got us wet up high on the bridge. The next time you go out, way out, notice how much water there is compared to the size of your boat. The water has the avantage. Also, "rule of thumb" the wind always blows at 45 degrees to the bow when you want to get somewhere fast.....you are going to get wet on ANY boat. I'm still kicking my ass because I waited too long to pull the trigger on the sale of a 20' SeaCraft for a really, really good price few months ago, I'm a doof.....had no where to hide it, not like NoBones, 'ol Ken can make boats invisible from blondie at "area 442".

Tons of those bigger boats are wetter, a lot of them you can see the spray before the boat in the distance.

ScottM · #10 01-01-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

you are going to get wet on ANY boat.

Amen to that! Everyone thinks they have the driest boat out there, but let's face it, in this particular instance we're talking a 20-foot open boat...you're gonna take some spray in the face.