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Random Quote: Boats......If it isn't one thing, it's another.
I currently have a 1975 19ft CC mako and will get a new boat within a year (hopefully). I've always loved the 23ft seacraft and thought that would be the boat I'd buy. I went to the miami boat show to compare the 23/25 seacraft and the 23 regulator. While in many ways the 23 seacraft is still my favorite of the 3 I think I want a slightly bigger boat so my decision is now between the 23 regulator and the 25 seacraft. While i liked the seacraft better the regulator seemed like a vastly better made boat. The hatches and edges and finish on the regulator seemed very sturdy and secure compared to the seacraft. I never noticed poor workmanship in new seacrafts before but the models they had at the boat show seemed less than top-notch. Has anyone had serious problems with their seacrafts? Like I said before I have a 1975 mako and love the fact that i've got a quality hull thats taken a pounding for 30 years. Do you seacraft owners (of newer seacrafts) feel like your hull will last for 20-30 years and has anyone else noticed a decrease in seacraft quality over the last few years??
Thanks
The Regulator 26 was my first choice...10 years ago. The reason I didn't buy it was NO floation. That still bothers me. I know of several 10+ year old 23(before 400HP transom) and 26 Regulators that are still solid as a rock. They are very well built boats. I look at fiends boats and at new boats, their quality is hard to beat. Great ride too. What did you think of the 24 regulator?
PS I have never been impressed with any NEW Sea Craft based on fit & finish, price and standard features.
The 24 regulator is basically the 23 regulator with a head and a protected transom. There is a livewell in the transom which is nice. The 23 is has cleaner lines, more space inside and costs 10,000 less. Even at even cost I would take the 23 over the 24 no question.
Brad, I looked very hard at the SeaCraft 23 last year at the Miami Boat Show and it was very high on my short list. Looked the boat up and down and talked with Jose Wejebe' (sp?). I did notice it not on the Regulator scale but the SC show boat was of acceptable quality. Anyway, the SeaCraft salesman (who was the regional sales manager for SC) was a A-hole and had no interest in talking to me. Long story longer, I bought a 236 Sailfish instead. Johnny Norris can keep his fiberglass.
Considering that you can run down to your local Bass Pro Shop / Outdoor World and pick one up; this simple fact is a good indicator that SeaCraft, Mako, and others won’t focus on putting too much more effort into craftsmanship, quality, or much else. A shame, too – the 2 names I mention were both rock solid / must own boats while I was growing up. A Mako I looked at in Orlando’s Outdoor World was on display with spider cracking on the gunnels. This boat was not a demo and had never touched the water. Rough shipping? I think not.
It's a crying shame what they've done to that hull. do a search on classic sea craft.com This sight is really dedicated to vintage boats but the newer boat convo comes up often. Plenty of stories of warped hulls from being popped out of the molds before fully cured, poor fit and finish for the money.
It's Johnny Morris with an "M" but I agree that the Mako and SeaCraft boats from Tracker Marine are not in the same league as the boats that I knew and loved growing up. Perhaps both brands would be extinct if Tracker had not acquired them and "some" Mako and SeaCraft is better that "no" Mako and SeaCraft but for the prices that Tracker is charging for the boats, they definitely won't be seeing any of my money.
Bullshit. The newer Seacrafts have better fit and finish than beloved Contenders so I'm calling bullshit. And yes--I'm biased. Love my 2001 23 Seacraft. Lots of posts by newbies with one or two posts lately touting their line of boats and bashing any other line. Bashing new boats on classicseacraft.com--not that I've seen, warped hulls--first I've read. Regulators sink so their no good---ok. What a bunch of horseshit.
Don't own one (a Seacraft) but I crawled all over the 23 and 32 at a boat show and was impressed with the fit and finish...could not find a spot on either boat that was not finished a smoothly as the exterior gelcoat...impressive. Layout was nice too...have heard a lot about their ride and would love to try one out. That 32 was a machine...
I saw somewhere that Andersen's name has been replaced by someone else as SeaCraft Product Manager. Thats unfortunate as Andersen was probably the best thing that late model Seacrafts had going for them. You can really see it in the boats produced from 1999 - 2002.
I had my '2000 23' built on special order through one of the New Jersey dealers. It is not the same boat that I've seen at the various Bass Pro shops - There is (or was) definately an "A/B" boat production methodology going on down in Miami.
As for the older Seacrafts being of better quality, I think those guys conducting their restoration projects in less than adequately venelated work areas . Before I bought my boat I had spent alot of time on early to mid 70s vintage 23's. Yes they were/are very nice but with newer materials and hardware on the new models, they are not even comparable.
Also remember the market for the older SeaCrafts. There is alot of alterior motive about when people are asked to cough up $20K - $30K for a 30 year old restoration project.
Most of the criticism over at C-S was for the workmanship on the Tracker owned seacrafts after Potter and before BPS.As for the old ones Pounce,there may be some epoxy fumes swirling around in my head, but the hulls are basically the same.The reason people like the Potter years, was the layup and quality of the workmanship I don't think there's been any great improvement in materials, and I've changed out all my Marelon hardware.Whats wrong with running a 30 year old boat that gets the job done for 10 grand and sticking the rest in the kids college fund?
The 23' Seacraft has always been one of my favorite boats. I almost pulled the trigger on one two years ago. One final inspection at the local boat show killed the deal for me. Rough glass in compartments especially in the forward anchor well. I poke my head in there and was surprised to see where someone had made a mistake with a jigsaw and just backed up and kept on going. Made me wonder where else they hurried. For the money they were and are asking I think there are better boats - Regulator being one of them.
I ended up buying a 24' Silverhawk which uses the same hull design as the 23' Seacraft. The Silverhawk also has the same recessed bow rail which gives it a similiar look but it has a full arched transom, a beautifully made hard T-Top and some top quality fit and finish. The hatches are so heavy I actually think they are a bit dangerous.
I am sure you would be happy with a Seacraft but if we consumers are going to spend that kind of money the boats should be perfect in my opinion.
If you have seen both boats side by side then you should already know the answer, I opted to purchase a used 1998 23 Regulator over a new 2002 23 SC. It was not just the quality of workmanship either, the fish box in the Regulator just eats up 100 lb tuna and 184 gallon of fuel will get you to the fish and back safer than any other 23 footer.
I do not own either, but have looked at both at boat shows. Regulator fit and finish by far over Seacraft. I'd like to hear more about floatation problems. Another disclaimer, Regulator 32 is my dream boat.
I have run/fished two Seacrafts, a 20 & 23 over the past 4 years. The fit/finish and absence of a stress crack (not even one of those little spider cracks that some folk call normal)on either boat after what we've run through has made me a Seacraft believer. I wouldn't call them perfect (I'm not a notch transom fan) but I think they're better than a lot of the prodution 23s out there in terms of design, quality and ride.
Tracker has realized that they have inconsistant quality.And I agree that there is some variation in the Bass pro models as far as fit and finish compared to their build to order models.They have actually relocated their factory to rural North Carolina in an attempt to establish a more qualified work force. As a former 23 owner I would certianly consider another if they had a model in the 27-28 ft. range.
Declining quality of Seacraft?? 
. Before I bought my boat I had spent alot of time on early to mid 70s vintage 23's. Yes they were/are very nice but with newer materials and hardware on the new models, they are not even comparable. 
