1977 23 Restoration

[SnafuFishTeam]

Well guys, this boat might be blasphemy for some you but it’s the most bad ass SeaCraft ever.

After 10 years of running my SeaCraft with a single 200 Yamaha, the transom was shot and fuel tank started leaking. My mechanic said time for a new boat. I went to share the terrible news with my wife and she said just have it rebuilt, I’m not getting beat up on some other boat. Bottom line is, we love this boat. I have been on hundreds of boats in my life and the 23 SeaCraft hands down is my favorite boat. The 23 just outperforms so many bigger boats.

So the 18 month journey began. I am the third owner of the boat with all of the original paperwork including sales receipt from 1977. $14,000 with twin 115 Mercs out the door LOL! I love the original potter hulls and did my best to keep the boat as original as possible. I kept the liner, ribs in the sides, hull vents and was dead set on the original bright lines on the floor. Only four original 1977 parts remain. The compass, console and two aluminum vent protectors in the bow. After some back and forth decided to keep it as it always was, yellow. Exterior is Federal Yellow and interior is Matterhorn white.

Enclosed the transom and kept the curve in the transom, raised the floor 4” in the bow to 2.5” in the stern. Armstrong full floatation bracket. No wood in the boat. 130 gallon fuel tank and 15 gallons of water. Fishbox behind the rocket launcher and bilge access. Anchor locker box in the bow cap. 50 gallon live well in the transom with a second live well plumbed to the box in front of the console. Center console is cored and glassed to the floor moved forward. Fuel tank is 130 gallons moved forward to compensate for the weight distribution. 15 gallons of fresh water behind the fuel tank. All of the pipe work was done by Birdsall Marine. Full Garmin electronics, set of new twin 200 Yamaha Four Strokes and all the other stuff.

Water tested today for 5 hours. Boat is just incredible. Still some items that need to be installed and touched up but very impressed the way the boat handled and sat in the water.
What a difference not having to deal with that splash well and looking at the bottom through the floor of your boat. Best of all, no wet feet with three guys in the cockpit! Love the bracket.

A big thank you to all of the folks on Classic SeaCraft. Such a great resource for the SeaCraft community. I definitely read a million posts on things before and during the restoration process!

[SnafuFishTeam]

Rear view

[TOM123]

Looks fantastic! hope
you get many more years out of her.

[SeaChuck]

Looks great, I have 72 23' banana boat as well. please share the performance once you get her dialed in. I have dual 150 yamaha 2005 F's. New 200's weight about the same those, I believe.

[SnafuFishTeam]

Thanks SeaChuck. Ran the boat yesterday with 3 guys, 40 gallons of gas and 5 gallons of water. I was able to get up to 3600 rpms. Boat ran 31mph with 11.6GPH burn and 2.7MPG. I did not even touch the trim tabs. What kind of numbers are you seeing with 150s? Weight was the same 150 vs 200 in 2020. IÂ’m running 19M - 13 3/4 three blade props. They seem to be the right fit but still need some hours to determine.

[SnafuFishTeam]

Originally Posted by TOM123

Looks fantastic! hope
you get many more years out of her.

Thanks Tom123!

[BlueHighways]

Originally Posted by SnafuFishTeam

Thanks SeaChuck. Ran the boat yesterday with 3 guys, 40 gallons of gas and 5 gallons of water. I was able to get up to 3600 rpms. Boat ran 31mph with 11.6GPH burn and 2.7MPG. I did not even touch the trim tabs. What kind of numbers are you seeing with 150s? Weight was the same 150 vs 200 in 2020. IÂ’m running 19M - 13 3/4 three blade props. They seem to be the right fit but still need some hours to determine.

That boat will move right along with 400 ponies.. with the floor up 2.5" did you run the scuppers straight out the stern? how high do they sit with the twins? I have a 75 inboard 23 and I just picked up a 73 bare hull that I plan on turning into a outboard rocketship, like this must be myself. I just am worried about having enough height above the waterline with the scuppers going straight out the transom. The inboard has a custom transom livewell which I would love to add to the outboard but I'm almost certain a 30 gallon transom livewell and twins will be WAY TOO MUCH weight for a twin outboard bracket to compensate for..

[SnafuFishTeam]

The scuppers go out the transom. 7 3/4” bottom of the hull to bottom of the scupper. Had the glass bottom boat scuppers filled in. Keys really are distribution, raising the floor height and a massive floatation bracket. I know the Armstrong is expensive and people bitch about electrolysis but they have the best tub. Personally I also like the bracket to have a V versus a flat bottom again my preference. Lawrence has done a ton of SeaCrafts and knows his stuff. Not my first Armstrong, never had an issue. Do not waste your time with a project like this and a BS bracket. You will ruin the boat.

Next is the fuel tank. This is another area where people completely mess up. Tank should not be in the bilge. Kick that thing forward. I took about 12” out of the box in front of the console. My boat will sit better in the water once I load some things in the front of the boat and put 80-100 gallons in. Picture shown when I water tested literally had nothing in the console or forward hatches. Make sure to spend a few extra dollars and get some baffles in the tank to prevent sloshing. I also went with the thicker gauge aluminum. Coal tarred, foamed and glassed into the boat. Lastly nudge that console a bit forward. Will also help with weight. Batteries in the console above the waterline.

Good luck with your boat! They are show stoppers for sure.

[SnafuFishTeam]

Sorry don’t know how to add multiple pictures on a post. Here’s the scuppers from the inside. Connected with hoses to the scuppers.

[fishstu]

very nice indeed - a rocket with a soft ride