Seaway Coastal Cruiser Downeast 25???

H

hank schneider

New member
Hello Folks
Getting anxious to get another boat. Does anyone have info on the Seaway Boats 25 Coastal Cruiser Downeast. There is an 08 for sale with 18 hours - I'm still a rookie and have never heard of this boat.
Thanks
Hank
 
Mark said,

"Resembles a Rosborough IMO."
Click to expand...

Pretty close isn't it. There are probably some Rosborough fans that can confirm with more authenticity here, than I am, ( Byrdman, Les ....)

Great color choices if you like white :wink:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
hardee":1nq7pu96 said:
Great color choices if you like white :wink:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Click to expand...

Yeah, I saw that on the website. Like Henry Ford said: "You can have it in any color you want....as long as it's black". :lol:
 
That's pretty close to a Rossie IMHO.
IMG_2116a.JPG

IMG_0286.jpg

Rossie RF-246

 
Well folks..look a little closer as it is no Rosborough.... not near the hull or build quality....

but, rumor mill has it that Bruce Perkins, who use to rep for C-Dory, Ranger Tug, Sea Way.... may have went to work for Eastern Boats....along with the Sea Way hull molds.

One thing that truly stuck in my mind onc night enjoying dinner with Bruce in Atlanta...is his statement of "the good thing about selling and building boats in America, is the fact that Americans that buy boats do not know anything about building boats." Interesting ...if you break that down.

Now, I do recall Bruce had his fingers in the Sea Way boats to some pretty large extent... but... who knows in the boat industry any more.

Next thing we know, Peter Brown, the guy who sold Bob Rosborough the Sisu 22 molds, and was general manager of Sisu Boats for several years and owned the Portsmouth Boat Company in New Hampshire will be working for/with Bob Rosborough.

Crazy industry...

So, anyone know if Bruce Perkins is still doing anything with Jeff @ Ranger Tugs???

As the Industry turns... Wow... that could be a soap opera...
 
Hank,
At 175 hp max it must be cheaper to run than having to put twin 150's like some similar boats. Not to mention 12k less for the second engine. Looks pretty well equipped. Should not be to hard to find owners of Seaway boats and hear what they have to say. Built in the U.S.A. must be worth something. Take that thing for a sea trail in some sloppy weather that ought to tell you something.
D.D.
 
While the Rosborough RF-246 and the Seaway 25 look similar, they are most definitely not all that similar when you start to analyze them. For example, the weight of the Seaway is 3910 lbs and the RF-246 is 5400 lbs. The Seaway max HP is 175 and the max on the RF-246 is 300hp. Those are huge differences.

The Seaway dealer in our area had an early 25 for a long time. It was introduced several years ago. In fact, they may still have it as they have one in stock and do not generally order that size boats for stock.

We have friends with a smaller Seaway and it appears nicely built. On the other hand, between the RF-246 and the Seaway 25, for me it would be the RF-246 without any question whatsoever.
 
The Seaway lacks the sliding pilot house doors which is a nice feature. I would like to see gull wing doors like a Delorean on a C-dory 22/25/255, push button hydraulic would be nice.
 
Interesting, at over 2000 pounds lighter and requiring half the power I'm guessing was exactly the designers idea. And at 50k cheaper! They must have figured not everyone wanted to have to drag around a triple axle trailer and feed a couple of 150's. Kind of like a the idea behind C-Dory's in general. I guess a used C-Dory better fits the budget. Last year this boat was available in the 70k range. I wonder what they want for the used ride now Hank?
D.D.
 
Dave said it pretty well...."cheaper"... not better.

I have to agree with Dave on something else too... I think the twin 150s on my Rosborough, are over powering the boat. Some like it, but, I actually liked the 230 hp range, and, at the same time, think 180 would also be a nice hp range for the heavier, better built RF-246, but, no one was building a 4 stoke motor with counter rotating props on the 25" shafts in the 90 hp range. When boating in all water conditions, those heavier built boats have a much more pleasant ride too...sort of like separation of a Nova and a Cadillac if you will...for you GM folks.

I actually picked the twin 115s rather than twin 90s, as to get the counter rotating props... which with twin motors is nice...if you have owned and worked them, you understand this. So, it was not the horsepower, but rather the balance, the counter rotation, and the I like twin motors factor...

As for the trailers... yes, many tow the RF-246 with twin axles...and, with only surge breaks. Again, I have had the opportunity to own both, under the RF-246...and, again, I like being able to have brakes towing down hill over the mountains...and, when backing down the ramps, and, the ability to "adjust" the amount of breaking in wet, or heavy traffic slower conditions... Again, not cheaper, but, better for the way I enjoy "using" my boat, and, I exchanged my twin axle for again, the triple axle with electric over hydraulic brakes... and again, a good quality, safety, and control issue, not cheaper.

So, just so many boats... so many options...and again...that is why I have and generally do own....more than one boat. I recommend that to others too.

Good Day.
 
The Seaway certainly is a down East type of hull. Heavier may not always be better. As I understand it, Sea Way uses Composit (such as Nadicore) and resin infusion, thus giving a very light and strong construction. I do like the layout of the Sea Way (from the Photos) better than the Rossie--my personaly bias is against sliding doors in this size boat, this may have something to do with my lanky frame and difficulty of using said doors. The V Berth in the Seaway is 6'7"--the small length of the V Berth was one reason I didn't consider the Rossie. There is a nice enclosed head--and sink with shower. Full width outboard bracket is also a plus--as it is in the Tom Cat.

I would put the SeaWay 24 cruiser high on my list of larger boats--but again I am biased to the Tom Cat--the Sea Way seems to get better fuel mileage on tests.
 
The Seaway Offshore 24 was one of the boats I was considering. It is OK for a day boat. Not enough protection for year round use even down here. It is underpowered with the 150 Honda. I wasn't impressed with the handling. For a boat that expensive, the fit and finish wasn't up to par.
 
I do love the dual sliding doors on ALOYSIUS. I agree, with my "beam" it is not as easy to go in and out of them as it would be if they would slide open about another 2 to 4", or, if I weighed 175 rather than 250, but, with a few practice runs and realising where the handles and steps are it has become much easier.

For sure my air draft is much less than Bob's, and finally, me being 5'8" short..comes in handy using the doors. Now, if I were a person of my height and Bob's beam, then we would be set for good! :thup

Often when docking, I have the doors open, just because I can and it gives me a better feel for the speed I am traveling with the currents, or lack there of and the docks. When needed in bad conditions I use a boat hook to "loop" a cleat from a bit off the docks, rather than just pulling right up against the docks.

And, the really large for sure rub rail on ALOYSIUS I enjoy too. :thup It has a true rub rail. When docking alone the dual doors are really nice rather than the run out the fairway and around to the front area of the boat. This for sure has come in real handy on those days when frost and/or a bit of ice is on the docks.

Bob, my V-Berth measures 80" fore/aft, which I think equates to 6'8"... I am not sure where folks keep thinking it has such a short V-Berth??? Maybe they have never been in one when the last cushion section is installed in the "sleep" mode?? The newer set ups last cushion is 22" fore/aft that is removable. I often keep that section set up vertical forward against the flat chain locker area as this allows me a nice basically 3' x 3' area to stand in with 5' 9" of head room. Nice for me to be able to stand up right and get dressed in the mornings or to stand and get things out of the hang closet. I do need to install some shelves of some type in that closet now that I have used it for some time and now know what I generally put in there. I do not hang many cloths when traveling on the boat, so, of the 16" wide hanging area, I seldom, if ever hang more than 4 jackets which only need about 3-4". Also, the latest version no longer has the little table for the V-berth area, but, rather another deep storage box. The box is not square, but, rather V shaped. Forward edge is 5.5", aft edge is 21", sides (running fore/aft) are 25", and the depth is 18". A nice, always dry storage area.

I also like the full hull power extension on ALOYSIUS too. A great 76" wide x 29" fore/aft platform area. It is wonderful when getting in/out of the waters, landing a large fish, or, just sitting on the aft stern of the boat hanging your feet aft at anchor. On the sedan, this allows for a full 70" fore/aft of cockpit space, and, on my wheelhouse, add another 48" for a whopping 118". No room on the transom is taken up motor well/splash well/motor mechanism area... it is all my room. Sweet. I think the photos of other RF-246 boats pictures posted by others have the Armstrong bracket set up. I like my full hull extension for sure.

Again...just so many boats, and only one life on earth to enjoy them.
 
Somehow this thread seems to have turned into a commerical for Rosborough boats. Which is nice. Hank who started this post was interested in a Seaway boat he saw for sale. It happens to bare a striking resembalace to a Rosborough. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but a new Rosborough nicely equipped would be in the 130k - 140k area. A used Rosborough cost? The Seaway boat is in the 75k to 100k area or less. A used one probably much less in these times.The Seaway is cheaper, lighter, easier to tow, and more econical to run and that is probably why it has sparked Hanks interest in the first place. Is it as good as a Rosborough in a Rosborough's owners eyes? Probably not. Does the Seaway better suit the potential buyers needs well maybe. But for someone who wants that style of a boat at a more affordable, more trailer friendly for an existing tow vehicle (to them) price the Seaway appears to be a viable alternative. Just my opinion here. Not an attack on the Rosborough folks.
D.D
 
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