Older 23’ seacraft sceptre
 

Anyone have any experience with ride characteristics ?

best riding 23 ft boat out there, the 23 centers will get you wet, the scepter/tsunami will bounce you around a bit, mainly due to the fwd helm position, not a fault of the hull design. I've worked on quite a few and helped restore a couple. They are a narrow beam for their length, so they roll a bit in beam seas. I ran a 23 Sea Craft back from the Georgetown hole(65 miles) when the waves stood up and we decided to pack it in(had the tips of the riggers in the water between swells). Never hooked, never slammed, surfed some really big rollers all the way back home. You cant plow those hulls thru the waves, you have to grow a set and keep it on top

http://www.classicseacraft.com/

Awesome Spareparts thanks for the feedback with good detail .
So the question is HOW MUCH BETTER is the overall ride than V20/21 ?
Of course the 23’ a bigger boat but allow for that.

Reason …23’ Sceptre on my dream list as next boat that might do everything my V21 does just more capable blue water still trailerable rig.

It is far better riding than the v20/21. They are wet though, most people like the center console version, but space is limited and you will get soaked. the scepter/tsunami version has much more useable room. You will get bounced a bit because the helm is further forward, but the windshield will keep you dry. there was one local guy that ran his out to the Charleston bump(+ 90 miles) with a single 225 Optimax for overnight swordfish trips on a regular basis. That's a ways out there for a 23 ft boat. They will get a little tippy in a drift(narrow beam and deep deadrise) and they are not quite as big as the 233 Formula. If you run one and the ride isn't good, the captain doesn't know how to drive it. The worst conditions I've been fishing in a small boat, i was in a 23 SeaCraft, and it handled it well.

Interesting . Well…..my V21 is quite stable on the drift , and isnt a wet ride so that gets high marks . The deck stays dry ( no water up the scuppers ) with my 200 hp HO and more than one fishermen as well. I understand the Seacraft has an issue with water up the scuppers

that's mainly the 20 Seacraft that had water on deck. Personally, it doesn't bother me, but if you're replacing decks in a boat, especially if repowering with a 4 stroke, raise the deck while you can. The 23 had issues with sinking at the dock when the under deck live well is full and the boat is left unattended. One of the stupidest ideas I've ever seen in smaller a boat is a huge under deck live well. Most people that restore a classic 23, cut the livewell out, either build it in if closing off the transom or use an above deck portable one. The ride is where the 23 SC sets itself apart, that last time we went out on one, we were by far the smallest boat at the Hole, we ran down and passed much bigger and faster boats without beating up our boat or ourselves. The boat rides better than the 233 formula/24 Albe/Contender/sea Vee etc.. while being a bit smaller. Its still bigger than the v20 and rides beter than the v by a long shot

Hence the reference to “ Sink Craft.”
Well we shall see - I prefer the 80’s Sceptre for the helm and port boxes they built in.
My V21 near mint - never kept in water etc so im not in a hurry but watching for the right rig either redone or in good shape for some rehab