Seafarer 22 purchase

[Biggun]

Hello everyone I am new to this site.thinking hard about buying a early 90’s 22 seafarer inboard. 2 questions 1 I would be using this boat mainly on superior and Michigan for salmon wondering how these boats handle Great Lakes waves and 2 if there are any common issues with this boat in a inboard configuration.
Thanks for any help

 

[ScottyCee]

The 22 Seafarer is HUGE for a 22. I loved mine in the Puget Sound, as it eats afternoon wind chop for (late) lunch. I had a Yamaha 225 2-cycle on mine and it was well powered, but it's also heavy for a 22 and you spend a little more on gas for the seaworthiness and stability. IMO. The V2 hull version is the one that I am talking about - I have heard that it's a significant upgrade from the earlier ones. I can't speak to an inboard setup - those are now less common than they used to be where I live.

 

[Biggun]

Thanks for your reply. We have been out in 6+ foot waves on Great Lakes that come out of nowhere. Not really looking to fish in those conditions just want to make sure I can get home. Not a lot of info on inboards that’s I can find. I am hoping no news is good news.

 

[Ky Grady]

Private message our member Sba. He runs a 228 on Erie, not inboard though. I've PM'd him before about his kicker setup and he responded. He's not active, but should respond to your PM.

 

[leeccoll]

I don't think they sold too many with that inboard option is what I am guessing.

As far as 6' ers, I asked my surveyor if he would be comfortable in true 4-6' seas and he said yes.

 

[Biggun]

That’s a little more reassuring.
one other question, does anyone make a extension cover for the top that will cover the seats behind the driver/ front passenger? Not lookingfor a camping top just to get out of the weather. Used to fishing in atrophy with a bighard top

 

[DennisG01]

By "inboard", do you mean a stern drive? Or, was this some kind of specially made version with an inboard?

Generally speaking, a stern drive will be a little more stable due to the lower center of gravity, but more HP is needed to do the same thing as an OB because of the weight difference. But a stern drive has a lot of low end grunt to help it get moving, which helps.

I think you'll find a lot of positive things about the hull (I've heard/read about lot's of positive things) - I have the big sister to what you're looking at and it's a great hull. I don't doubt the Seafarer is great, too.

What engine/drive package?

What kind of top does the boat currently have? Bimini... hardtop... softtop?

 

[UCPA111]

I run my 1984 model on Lake Erie. Can be a nasty, short period chop. Been caught in 5-6' waves with it and felt safe and that I'd get home. Boat handles more than people can.
Are you talking about an I/O drive? They are less common. I haven't personally seen one. Personally, I love the cockpit space with an outboard. I troll for walleye and trout. No kicker. I use my 300 Verado.


PM me with questions.

 

[ScottyCee]

300 huh? I thought they were hull rated lower than that. Maybe yours is newer. Nice boat!

 

[Biggun]

It is inboard / outboard 350 Chevy / mercruser drive. soft top covers like half the back seats

 

[Biggun]

I am primarily a salmon fisherman running 3-4 Downriggers outboard seams like it would be in the way. Never fished in a boat like that with outboard. Probably a lot faster. Furthest we have even fished is 14-15 miles and that was in a good day.

 

[leeccoll]

Dunno Biggun,

I mounted 2 Cannon Digi-Trolls to work with on my 228, but if I wanted to use the front rod holders as locations for the second pair that would be a viable option IMHO. Front units could be permanently installed, or most down riggers have adapters to use existing rod holder bases.

Attaching pics so you can judge for yourself. I just upgraded to stainless bases, so one picture will show the older black Lexan base. You also can see in UCPA 111's response above he has bases installed way back on top of his transom.

Your gonna find very few inboard 228 Gradys out there...

Lee

 

[DennisG01]

Speed isn't going to be dramatically different. Comparing 4-stroke OB to I/O in terms of fuel consumption, though, the OB would get the nod - a bit better cruising speed, too. But it's still a boat - it's not like it's going to be a night and day difference.

I'm primarily a stern drive guy and know the Mercruisers pretty well. There will certainly be more maintenance with an I/O - things like bellows and whatnot.

I'm not sure what you mean by "soft top covers like half the back seats"... I'm not understanding the comparison to the back seats?

 

[Biggun]

So if you look at the back of the top it only goes back like half way on the back seat( second picture) wondering if you can get an add on top without buying the whole thing that if your sitting on the bench seat you could be out of the weather

 

[Biggun]

Outboard definitely looks interesting for back room. I have always fishing with I/o I know there a pain to access but at least it’s an engine I can work on.

 

[Biggun]

This is our current setup with 4. 2 outside with long booms and inside straight out the back

 

[DennisG01]

OK, that's a bimini top you have there. There's some things you can do, like adding a rear bimini (but have to deal with the legs) or even just a makeshift sunshade. But before we dive too far into that, let's wait till you actually get the boat - at this point it's just "theory"!

 

[magicalbill]

Hi Biggun:

To comment on a Seafarer's handling of rough seas:

I had a Seafarer on Lakes Michigan & Erie for years back in the 90's. The boat was a '94 so it had the SeaV2 hull and a 250 Two Stroke "Saltwater Series" Yam.

Obviously everyone's perspective and level of abuse they'll take is different.

Here's Mine:

There are very few instances of long period groundswell in the freshwater Great Lakes. When the wind builds, the results are steep waves with short intervals. After the passage of a summer cold front, the winds usually veer NW to N to NE and then die down after 2-3 days. Then you have residual groundswell that lasts for a few hours that are wider spaced. (There are surfers over Superior and Michigan and Erie that follow those conditions, armed with SUV's, wetsuits and long & short boards. They time their schedules to arrive at a targeted location to catch the swell before it dies out. Look at most Great Lakes Surfing Videos on YouTube; The footage will depict leftover groundswell, sprung from a wind that has died off.) However 90-95% of the time we're talking chop & wind driven waves, especially on the Western end of Erie near the islands.

Anything over 10-15KT winds and 2 footers gets uncomfortable. A 2 foot wave is almost to the top of a Seafarer's gunwale, a little less than waist high if your standing there. Believe me, it's easy to over estimate wave height aboard a rocking boat; I've done it many times. The story gets exaggerated in the re-telling, like the fish that got away. I got caught on Southern Lake Michigan years ago aboard my Seafarer when I underestimated a cold front. I had the waves at 6-8 feet with the rogue 9' and I've been dropping the wave heights every year since. Truth be told, they were probably 4-6's, but they LOOKED much bigger.

Steep 2 footers, driven by a fairly robust wind is not fun in a Seafarer, or my 30' Marlin for that matter. SeaV2 hull or not, it will pound and take spray, especially in a quartering or head sea. On or abaft the beam it's better; The Seafarer is a remarkably stable 22 footer in a rolling situation.

Is it safe? Sure. Can you get home in 5-6 footers? Sure, but if your talking comfort & enjoyment and having a good day on the water, anything over 2 footers is, well, my limit anyway.

 

[Biggun]

Well mainly just wondering if some type of top is available without making the boat look like a hillbilly hauler. Thanks for info

 

[Biggun]

Well my experience in big waves I will admit is limited. Normally stay on the dock when that kind of
Weather is coming. But the one of the times we did get caught we were near the coast guard buoy that was registered 5-6’ honestly I would have stretch the story to 10’ waves had I not had the reference. So I do agree with the pucker/ exaggeration factor. The boat I was fishing in was hard top full cabin 22’ trophy. Just wondering how the GW is in those conditions. Thanks for your input!!