New to the forum with a 1984 18 sf

[HunterThompson]

I'll give a little back story before I get to the SeaCraft.
I live in Mobile, Al. I grew up in a family full of inshore/offshore fishermen and shrimpers. I've spent many hours in the gulf of Mexico in many different boats. My dad had a 20' sea safe when I was a kid, uncles had wellcraft, sea pro, sea hunt, and contenders. My uncles friend had what I remember as probably a 23 SeaCraft. We went out about 45 miles in that boat when I was 10 years old and it has always stuck out in my mind as the finest riding and best layed out fishing boat I have been on for its size. I have a boat addiction and there are boats in my yard ranging from a 77 hydrostream vector, 72 monark aluminum cab boat, g3 aluminum boat, to an immaculate 1989 formula 242 ls that is currently getting a 532ci engine built for it. I always strive to improve on things any way I can. All of that rambling to get to the point.

I peruse craigslist daily and have always searched seacraft. Sometimes nice newer boats appear. I do not want a new one. I cant afford a new one with the other boat addictions. Sunday I was sitting around and found a very misleading add for a "22' sea craft center console" call the man and he has no clue about it, no clue what year, no idea what a SeaCraft even is. Had him read me the hin and he gave me "S10F820M841" I told him that was not a valid SeaCraft number. He had his wife read it and say the same thing. These folks were in their late 60s and not very savvy on phones. Finally got a picture of the Hin. It is SICF8020M84I. That tells me it's a 1984 18sf. Had him measure he said its 19' 6". Embark on my 100 mile journey to go look at it with a friend riding shotgun. The transom is as solid as a rock, floor seems nice and solid as well. Has some places on the bottom of the bow that someone has done some glass work and above the rub rail has had some work done. The price was right so I got it. I will have a friend that does phenomenal glass work check it out and give his opinion of the work. It currently has a 6" jack plate maxed out and an old crossflow v4 johnson 90 25". I have a 2000 60° v6 150 20" johnson doing nothing but sitting. Have any of you guys ran one on an 18? Too heavy? Other issues?

[Vezo, Part II]

Perfect. Whether an 18 or a classic 20 (19’6 or 19’8”). Nice score!

Vezo

[uncleboo]

I agree and, if you shift any available weight forward, you should be able to keep the jack plate on it.

[HunterThompson]

That is good to hear. It is currently on my 82 glastron bow rider with a rotten transom. I will swap it and the seastar pro over to the little SeaCraft once I paint it. Thinking along the lines of the pale yellow or light blue. Any suggestions on that? I've been wanting to try the roll and tip method just havent had anything to try it on until now.

[Vezo, Part II]

No suggestions on paint. I’m old school and would try sanding, wet sanding and polishing original gel coat, unless crazed beyond repair. The colors you are referring to are Fighting Lady Yellow (or FLY) and Ice Blue. FLY is classic and timeless. Ice blue is:

[FLexpat]

Spent a lot of time on a friends 18 with a V6 'rude 200; console was in stock location.
Super fast on calm water but he really had to work on balancing loads to plane at lower speeds. Great in surprisingly large seas but had to really work the throttle.
It barely self baled at the dock.
He always wished he had taken the time to move console and other weight forward. If he had, he probably would still have the 18 instead of selling it then losing a 31 bert in a hurricane.

[uncleboo]

Enough teasing. We need to see some pictures.

[HunterThompson]

Some moron has already painted it black on the upper portion of the sides and the whole transom. Otherwise it would be polished back to nice clean white and new pin stripes.

[HunterThompson]

Hopefully the pictures show up for you guys. Thank you for the color names. I bet a 200 pushed it into the upper 50s easily. A friend has a century pro tournament 1800 measures right at 20 and weighs 1700lbs with an identical engine to mine it is running 57.

[DonV]

"Some moron has already painted it black on the upper portion of the sides and the whole transom"

That's funny, haven't seen moron on here in awhile!!