Let's talk hulls - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

keeperreaper · 08-07-2006, 08:49 AM

I agree totally with capesams. The potter built seacrafts INHO might be the best designed small hull ever and they built them heavy not like the newer seacrafts. MV hulls will pound versus a DV hull which slices the water but rocks more.

Mr. Sandman · 08-07-2006, 09:33 AM

What is the unique aspect of the seacraft hull design is that instead of spray strips to separate the flow at speed, the design uses a series of steps in the hull wedge. Most deep V's today have a chine like strip to separate and deflect the flow and this causes a positve presure region under the strip, and inturn tends to reduces the deadrise effectiveness. You need to separate the flow to reduce the wetted area and have a dry ride somehow and what seacraft did was have a inward longitudal step in the hull to obtain separation but without reducing the effectiveness of the V by putting a large spray strip or chine. The result was a very soft riding hull for its size. (Without a lines drawing of common V and a seacraft this is the best I can do to explain why it is better) Look at a seacaft bow on and any other boat, the seacraft hull looks inside out. (sortof)

As for the "old" vs the "new" hulls I think there is a lot of personal issues dealing with this as the lines of the hull and the design principles are the same. I prefer the new hulls as 1) they have no wood in them and 2) they are lighter 3) the resins today are better in seawater. Back in the 70's they used wood for various structual elements and this basically was a bad idea and most of them eventually rotted. I will take a 100% glass boat and if I want a "heaver" boat I will carry more fuel or payload. The weight adds to a softer ride in any boat. But you pay to carry weight around.

I think the cult following of the older boats has evolved because that you can pick them up pretty cheap, fix them up (with a lot of sweat equity) and have a good hull in the end. I think it is great to see the older boats around and I know the owners are proud of the design and their hard work.

Soundings or some other mag I get did a review a while back of the 10 best hull designs ever and seacraft was among them. ***For the size*** this hullform gives you an impressive ride. (its a little boat though, keep that in mind)

capesams · 08-07-2006, 11:07 AM

older hulls you can:

leave on a trailer for years without the fear of the rollers pushing the bottom in.

you can drill just about anywhere and only need washers to back up the bolt...not alum. plating or starboard or wood.

the sides don't flex like tin and won't spider crack.

punch a hole in anywhere and you have some meat that surrounds that hole to work with/repair.

they can take a pounding and keep on going.

I've seen half the bottom taken off of an older 23 seacraft by a floating log and it came home from offshore safe and sound[thick hull] wouldn't want to try that with a new boat / thin new an approved resin's.

keeperreaper · 08-07-2006, 11:53 AM

Amen.

When your miles offshore I like to know I'm riding a seaworthy safe overbuilt boat for peace of mind.

Krispy · 08-07-2006, 12:38 PM

Im just starting a long term project on a 20' Seacraft. You would not believe the amount of glass laid up on these boats. 35 years old, hull mint, stringers mint, floor solid, transom solid, not many boats built these days would last that long.

zacs · 08-07-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krispy

...hull mint, stringers mint, floor solid, transom solid....

So whats the project? sounds like new power, some new electronics and maybe some paint and you are off to the races?

Krispy · 08-07-2006, 01:12 PM

converting the 650lb i/o thats sinking the scuppers 1.5 inches below the waterline to an o/b. Raising the floor 2" , repositiong the fuel tank forward and converting the cuddy (Seafari model) to a CC by cutting the top off and remolding the cap edges w/ supports. Will also need a few rib supports added into the hull as well.

Hooper · 08-13-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capesams

older hulls you can:

leave on a trailer for years without the fear of the rollers pushing the bottom in.

you can drill just about anywhere and only need washers to back up the bolt...not alum. plating or starboard or wood.

the sides don't flex like tin and won't spider crack.

punch a hole in anywhere and you have some meat that surrounds that hole to work with/repair.

they can take a pounding and keep on going.

I've seen half the bottom taken off of an older 23 seacraft by a floating log and it came home from offshore safe and sound[thick hull] wouldn't want to try that with a new boat / thin new an approved resin's.

'Nuff said

danno1 · 08-17-2006, 02:24 PM

What do you guys think about the ride in a 83 21 Mako ? I just bought one, and would like some feed back on it

Krispy · 08-17-2006, 02:57 PM

HiLiners 22'
Awesome looking boats

PS. I chopped the cap at the transom on Tuesday, and will be cutting the rest of the engine box out Friday night. I may be able to use part of it as a splash well. Im still attempting to remove the volvo i/o, this things got bolts in the most awkward places. Theres been some previous work done in the back, some of it sloppy. So far the transom wood looks solid, we'll get a better idea after the outdrive gets removed.
Saturday I plan on doing the rough cut to remove the cuddy and begin removing the floor down to the stringers.
My wifes back

(she took the my new camera), so Ill post some pics over the wekend

capesams · 08-17-2006, 03:26 PM

they shore r....most that I've seen around here have been turned into cc...there's one not far from me that the guy put a dog house on and a new 225 honda on a bracket.Two other's r just like your pic and a third one is being rebuilt, another cc.

danno1 · 08-17-2006, 03:45 PM

If that`s the pic that`s showing, it`s a NICE looking rig. How do these boats compare ride wise ?

Roger · 08-08-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

I prefer the new hulls as 1) they have no wood in them and 2) they are lighter 3) the resins today are better in seawater. Back in the 70's they used wood for various structual elements and this basically was a bad idea and most of them eventually rotted.

That's basically true. If someone gets a Potter hull they should assume that they will need to redo the transom and floor. However they are the only places that there is wood. The stringers are boxed fiberglass.

The newer boats are better in overall design in many ways as you've pointed out. The big problem is inconsistent/poor quality. The worse problem is stringers coming loose from the hull. That just doesn't seem to happen with the Potter hulls.