Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

[mchrist809]

What do you'all think? Is this a decent price for what you see? Looked at this 1974 12' Sea Scamp this evening (I'm in Boston). Looks structurally sound all around, but not pretty, which I can fix or leave. Has a strong running 2002 Merc 8.8. On what seems to be decent trailer. Keeping in mind the $ region I live in, is $1,300 a fair price for this? I will be using it for Maine fishing and camping with wife and kid. (I was first there andhe got 3 calls while I was looking.) Anything especially quirky about this boat or motor I should know?

Thanks for replies.

 

[mchrist809]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Sorry, forgot the link: http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/2961020600.html

 

[BonairII]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Looks like a nice little rig. Motor looks well maintained....at the least from the exterior anyway.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

That sounds reasonable and looks like a solid fishing rig!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

honestly 3 people in a 12ftr is going to be a bit crowded and more importantly unsafe
Id suggest holding out till you find a 14 footer for your family..

 

[BonairII]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

honestly 3 people in a 12ftr is going to be a bit crowded and more importantly unsafe
Id suggest holding out till you find a 14 footer for your family..

I thought the OP had bought the boat already. I guess I should read a bit slower. :facepalm:


If that's the case.....find a bigger boat. 12' is going to be awfully small for 3 people and a bit unstable if water is rough.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Go for it.

12' is certainly not too small.

We fished with a family of 4 in a 12'er for 10 years ( 1965-1975 ) before dad sprung for a 15'.
Experienced some pretty rough waters, rolling whitecaps and strong winds, in that little boat.

Everybody wears a PFD. And always head straight into any big waves.

Oh, and its a Starcraft, no worries.

 

[64osby]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

It looks like a nice 12'er but I also would say hold out for a 14'er. I traded my 12 for a 14 and it is much more stable and added over 250lbs capacity.

 

[mchrist809]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Go for it.

12' is certainly not too small.

We fished with a family of 4 in a 12'er for 10 years ( 1965-1975 ) before dad sprung for a 15'.
Experienced some pretty rough waters, rolling whitecaps and strong winds, in that little boat.

Everybody wears a PFD. And always head straight into any big waves.

Oh, and its a Starcraft, no worries.

Interesting and worrisome points/debate. I certainly want to be safe. But the risk we're talking about here is this boat actually flipping? I'm sure that happens, but seems remote. Then again, we go to a huge lake in ME (Mooselookmeguntic, near Rangeley) that typically kicks up large white caps by late afternoon and not infrequent sudden storms. I've always been out on 14' flat bottom square stern canoe (bought precisely because it is stable/extremely difficult to flip; used my skin divers) with a 4hp 4s and it does get hairy, smashing from crest-to-crest. Gotta always keep an eye on the sky. Even still I can't imagine this 12 SC turning. But you guys have the experience with this boat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

I agree with the other guys. I always try to advise not to go smaller than 14'. That is a nice rig though.

 

[barato2]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

kid and wife aboard + "smashing from crest to crest" on big lake = you want a bigger boat. my 12' is cramped with just me and a fishing buddy and our gear. what happens when your kid wants to bring a friend fishing? outside the cruising sailboat realm, i've never even heard of someone who regretted getting a bigger boat, but there are plenty of stories of the reverse....ever heard of "two-foot-itis"? i'd even go a bit bigger and look for a 15-16' tinnie.....they weigh very little and you can easily launch em solo. kids only grow in one direction...

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Interesting and worrisome points/debate. I certainly want to be safe. But the risk we're talking about here is this boat actually flipping? I'm sure that happens, but seems remote. Then again, we go to a huge lake in ME (Mooselookmeguntic, near Rangeley) that typically kicks up large white caps by late afternoon and not infrequent sudden storms. I've always been out on 14' flat bottom square stern canoe (bought precisely because it is stable/extremely difficult to flip; used my skin divers) with a 4hp 4s and it does get hairy, smashing from crest-to-crest. Gotta always keep an eye on the sky. Even still I can't imagine this 12 SC turning. But you guys have the experience with this boat.

flipping, swamping, either way I would never own a 12 footer..unless I was rowing around central park or a private pond.

For comparison, take a look at this recent addition to the Starmada by Dave..

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=543525


Now which boat ould you rather have your wife and child in?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Yep, you need a 24'er, with an emergency dinghy, wear a helmet, a pfd, and a bubble suit.

I guess most of you never went boating/fishing back in the 50's or 60's.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Yep, you need a 24'er, with an emergency dinghy, wear a helmet, a pfd, and a bubble suit.

I guess most of you never went boating/fishing back in the 50's or 60's.

I have typed 12 different replies to this and erased them all...
You can have your opinion and your opinion and mine heck everyones opinion is exactly what makes this forum great.
So thanks for participating!

 

[Davem3]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

seems kinda small, trailer, in great shape, but also too small ( notice the boat hangs off of it??) motor in awesome shape.

i got my 88 princecraft (14') with a killer Karavan trailer and a 6HP johnson last year for 1500............

it is a Starcraft ( awesome boat) the the peeling paint scares me............

hey, I live near you, if i can help, PM me.............. Compression and water test the motor BEFORE buying it, period!!!!!!

 

[Davem3]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

i like this one ..........................

http://worcester.craigslist.org/boa/2924240940.html

motor is worth 1600, offer him 1500 to 2K ???

 

[barato2]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Roscoe--

you forgot the EPIRB and SOLAS-grade flares......

some of us boated plenty in the 50s and 60s, and survived it. i personally take my 12' boat 5-10 miles offshore. i wouldn't tell him not to take the famly out in a 12' if he had it. but when he's still at the looking stage AND boats on a hairy large lake, why not look for the right boat in the first place?

 

[mchrist809]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Guys,

I really apprecaited all the feeback. A lot. And hearing diffrent opinions (I even benefitted from reading other heated debates about 4s v 2s -- now THAT's a fight!). Here's where I'm at, what I'm thinking:

1. I'd like to have a 14 footer. It clearly would be roomier and more stable. Heck, what I really want is a Lund Alaskan.

2. But I can't justify any mor money at the moment than about this 1300 price point.

3. I've been on that lake for 6 summers now in 2 ft seas in a 14' flat bottom canoe. I've managed, though it's been hairy at times. I do try to excercise reasonabe (relative?) caution. The 12' would represent a major step up in safety.

4. I'm not marrying the thing. I use it for this summer, see how it goes and if I don't like it and/or I'm in a position to get the boat I realy want, I can sell if for at least what I paid for it.

So, I guess my question now is that last premise. Is this a 1300 rig? and can I dump it in a year or two for same?

Thanks guys. (Daveem--I emailed $1500 offer on that very nice $2800 listing in Worcester.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

So, I guess my question now is that last premise. Is this a 1300 rig? and can I dump it in a year or two for same

When I look at that boat I see a big 12 footer. The beam is a little wider and the hull is just a little deeper that most 12' boats out there. I tend to think you'd be quite comfortable in that boat. A bigger boat (name your size) would certainly be better/safer/faster/more comfortable/yada/all that but if you like this one and can't find a 14' at that price point than I'd go for it.

I'd think that you could sell it for $1K in a flash down the road if you want something bigger (you will).

For what it's worth, I was born and raised on a 12' Sea Nymph with a 6 horse Evinrude. My father and I caught all species of fish in all sorts of water, and had a blast.

Have fun!

 

[mchrist809]

Re: Decent CL Buy on Sea Scamp?

Thank you all for your good advice.