Feedback on 1972 SeaCraft 20'

[Fishbote]

I was wondering if I could get some input on a 1972 20' SeaCraft. Any comments positive or negative would be appreciated. I will be using it to fish near shore and about 10 miles offshore. Will this be enough boat or should I be looking at 23'? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[jmd]

You'd be happy to have that extra three feet to help stretch to the next wave on rough days. My view is, that you never regret spending a little more if you're also getting more. However, you can easily regret not buying enough as soon as you feel you could have used it.

As for the seacraft. Take a look at the work done on my friends 1971 20' Seacraft featured on the site below. He loves the boat.

http://www.bostonboating.com/Metanmarine.htm

Good luck

[jph]

I have a mid-70's 20' Sea Craft. All in all, she's a very good boat. Most of my fishing is done fairly inshore, but she'll ride through chop with aplomb. I've never been out in anything bigger than 5' seas, so I don't know how she might fare 10 miles out if it starts to really blow.

One cautionary note, the scuppers don't drain very well in heavy rains. Consequently, the transom is prone to sitting low in the water. In periods of extended heavy rain, the transom may lower enough so that water comes in over the engine well, thereby sinking the transom altogether. I lost a good Yamaha this way.

[jhurd]

I own a 20 SeaCraft, 1989. The only drawback is the low sides in the back. It's tough as nails, but not hard to bury in square block waves. I would say it's perfect for bay and close inshore, picking your days. If you plan to do a lot of offshore, the 23 has much higher sides and is geared more toward this type of fishing.

[cwn]

Stay as far away from the older 23 sea craft boats as possable. These boats had a bad habbit of sinking in the slip. I know of one personally that sank several times before the owner glassed in the transom and installed a bracket.