Smitten again

brushhippie · #1 06-02-2014, 10:38 AM

Howdy folks, new here, been a boat weirdo for many years and owned many awesome classics and while piling through craiglist boats as I do every day I ran across this little beauty...she is a bit small for my taste really and I am not an I/O fan at all...but I have heard the 140 was economical and hard to kill, SO like I need another hole in my head or project..this will be sitting next to the Schuster in the shop for some lovin!

Not pretty now but soon! To be continued....

otterhound · #2 06-02-2014, 11:19 AM

Congrats on the new project, I'm sure you'll spiff her right up! I have a '79 Seafari awaiting some love my little collection as well. There seems to be quite a few available, they seem to best the most unloved of all the Seacrafts. I just looked at one on Long Island yesterday that needs a stern for really cheap.

Boatboy6 · #3 06-02-2014, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otterhound

Congrats on the new project, I'm sure you'll spiff her right up! I have a '79 Seafari awaiting some love my little collection as well. There seems to be quite a few available, they seem to best the most unloved of all the Seacrafts. I just looked at one on Long Island yesterday that needs a stern for really cheap.

Wasn't the one at goldsmith's, was it?

McGillicuddy · #4 06-02-2014, 01:42 PM

Congratulations and welcome aboard! As Bushwacker will tell you, the Seafari 20 is an incredibly versatile model. I love my little boat but the economy of that I/O package would double my range and economy.

Post up some more pics when you can. Looks like a really nice score.

otterhound · #5 06-02-2014, 02:03 PM

No I looked at the one at Goldsmiths last year. This one is in Amityville sitting alongside a Seavette that that's also available. He's talking about cutting up the Seafari if nobody takes it. My wife said go look but don't bring anything home she's getting wise to me after 31 years

Boatboy6 · #6 06-02-2014, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otterhound

No I looked at the one at Goldsmiths last year. This one is in Amityville sitting alongside a Seavette that that's also available. He's talking about cutting up the Seafari if nobody takes it. My wife said go look but don't bring anything home she's getting wise to me after 31 years

Can't let her get cut up!

brushhippie · #7 06-05-2014, 03:30 PM

I went over and got to see it up close finally and I think its gonna work just fine...it is rough but she'll be a dandy when I finish Im gonna add a freshwater tank and I had thought about building a hardtop for it but maybe just the full size bimini like this one.

Ill have to build a dive platform for the stern also.

Bushwacker · #8 06-05-2014, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brushhippie

I went over and got to see it up close finally and I think its gonna work just fine...it is rough but she'll be a dandy when I finish Im gonna add a freshwater tank and I had thought about building a hardtop for it but maybe just the full size bimini like this one.

Ill have to build a dive platform for the stern also.

That's actually a navy top in the picture which attaches to top of windshield. Since top of windshield is about shoulder height when standing, you can't stand up under a navy top unless you have the original version that had a zippered hatch above the helm! A bimini top works much better, but you'll need a clear section between top and windshield to be able to run in the rain and stay dry! If you have the early style top mounts just above the gunnel like the one in your picture, you can brace the top off the windshield which will make it very rigid. A typical bimini that mounts on top of side windshield like they used on later models is very wobbly in the sideways direction!

If you have the galley seat, a 6 gallon jug will fit under it if you have a hatch in the back of it. Thought about building in a permanent tank, but a portable jug is more practical . . . easy to empty so critters don't grow in it, and easy to fill at a dock when there's no hose around!

Regarding the dive platform, I built one out of stainless tubing, teak planks and some SS bimini top fittings that folded up out of water, which allowed me to mount it right at the waterline. They're so easy to get on when mounted that low you don't really need a ladder, although I later added one for the gals to use. It was very light, worked very well for diving and was easily removable for fishing.

McGillicuddy · #9 09-11-2014, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brushhippie

I went over and got to see it up close finally and I think its gonna work just fine...it is rough but she'll be a dandy when I finish Im gonna add a freshwater tank and I had thought about building a hardtop for it but maybe just the full size bimini like this one.
Ill have to build a dive platform for the stern also.

Here's a link to Pressure Drop's old Seafari, He had an interesting hard-top set-up. Might help with ideas...
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...t=Seafari+sale

cdavisdb · #10 06-02-2014, 03:01 PM

Have a good time restoring that one, and welcome to CSC.

If you want to go diving, camping, have a do it all kind of boat, the 20 seafari is better than anything in its size class. I camped and dived hard out of mine, year round, way offshore. It is one heck of a design, and very very well built.

Connor