May-Craft Boats?

[PatMyGreen]

Anyone have any experience with these boats? My LDS is considering purchasing one (new) for another 6-pac charter.

[SPEARIT]

Pat
The MayCrafts are built here in NC and are similiar to my C-Hawk.

[Redneck7]

Dove from a big pilot house Maycraft...I liked it, but I'm poor and like most all new boats. If I recall correctly the deadrise is somewhat 'not-steep' (don't know the word for that...shallow?)...in any case, I like deep v boats, but that Maycraft had a nice layout and appears to be well built, so sacrifices could definitely be made.

[TriggerFish]

Let me know if that works out for them. I was looking at one myself about a year ago and thought it would be a good 6pack boat for my O.C. area. The one I saw was a twin outboard but same boat as a inboard desiel would be sweet.

[mbhalihunter]

my friend has a 27, with the outboards attached to the swimstep. It is probably the only maycraft on the westcoast. It is a very stable boat, I have not dove on it, but have fished for salmon a lot with him. Its a pilothouse with the extended cover over the back, a live bait well in the middle. I think it is very stable and fishes well.

[PatMyGreen]

Thanks guys, one of the things I was trying to figure out was how they ride in the short period 3' gulf chop that is so common here. I was hoping they had a deep vee and a modified vee as I can only seem to find pictures of modified looking hulls. They aren't too expensive as boats go. I am hearing just over $50k for a new 25' with a 225(?) 4-stroke zuki. I was thinking a 25' with twin 150's would be sweet for a personal ride or a 27' w/ twin 225's for a 6-pac charter.

I may end up driving it for them, which is the basis of my interest. The possibility of getting it inspect and taking more than 6 out is also a factor in boat choice for the shop.

Tom-How do you feel about them?

[Capt.Gene]

I think that hull is comparable to the 24' Privateer hull, another North Carolina built boat that I once owned.
If you don't want to get beat to death you might think about putting the weight inboard and maybe running a jack shaft to an outdrive.
My Privateer with a 225 OMC didn't handle the chop anywhere near as well as the same hull I rode on once that had an inboard diesel, and both boats ran at about the same cruise speed.
I think you might be down to 16 knots in 2-3's if you are catering to paying customers.
If you want a recomendation, find a 28' Delta/ Canaveral Custom boat.
These CAN be inspected for 12 plus two crew (I owned and ran one of these for years, the DIVERSION.)
A 420 hp Cat inline 6 diesel would push my Delta 28 24K in 3' chop with 12 people and 24 tanks aboard.
As of last Thursday, Mark Smith at Canaveral Cust boats had a well used/ abused 28' Dive Boat for sale that could re-gain a 12 or 14 passenger COI.
It needs a re-fit/ re-power, but that is exactly what I would be looking for if I went crazy and decided to run a dive charter again.
Why trash a new boat hauling divers?

[PatMyGreen]

Thats what I was afraid of Capt. Gene thanks for the heads up there. I believe they are also looking at Deltas and a few others. As a matter of fact their last remaining boat is a 28' Delta. This is just one I hadn't heard of nor read about and found nothing on the Hull Truth forum.

Why trash a new boat hauling divers?

The only 3 reasons I can think of are; 1) less suprises as to the condition of the vessel, which can happen even with a good survey. 2) it is also for personal use and 3) you have more money than sense.

[Capt.Gene]

My Delta 28 was bought new to run offshore Jax. I'll bet some old timers there remember diving on the Diversion. I bought it after it was traded in on a new 38' Delta.
I found it to be a great sea boat to be in if you got caught in severe weather.
The 28 Delta dive boats have a walk-through transom and will shed tons of green water in a split second because of the design. Any loose gear on the deck might exit with the water but I don't know how you could swamp it.
We once got caught offshore in true 8' seas and screaming wind that came up out of nowhere in about 15 minutes.
The divers pretty much had to set on the deck and hold onto the seat stanchons to stay put, but nobody really looked scared until the helm seat pedistal bolts pulled up through the floor and the helm seat and I almost rolled out of the back of the boat!

[PatMyGreen]

Hell of a day at sea!

[Capt Keith]

My dive buddy has a 23' Center Console May-Craft. The boat is built solid, yet light weight. His is powered with a 225 Evinrude FICHT. Cruises in the mid to high 20's. The boat is very comfortable with 3 divers. Its not a deep vee hull, no does it ride like one. It has, I believe, a 8' beam and the narrow beam does help it ride better than the same dead-rise hull with a larger beam.
Another Carolina boat thats comprable is the Parker. I have a 23' center console powered by a 250 hp Zuke. Its an awesome dive boat IMHO. It has an 8'6" beam with 21 degress deadrise at the stern. Its not the best riding hull in a head sea, so we slow down. With 4 divers, 8 HP steel tanks, pony bottles and a DAN O2 kit, I can cruise at 26 kts and get 2.2-2.5 MPG.
Both of our boats have outboard motor brackets and that really increases the amount of deck space.
If I were buying a 25-30 outboard powered cabin boat I would look for a C-Hawk. Built just like the MayCraft and Parkers, but it offers more room for a 6-Pack style charter boat and has a little more "Vee" in the bow for a better ride int that 3' Gulf chop your describing.
1st pic-23' Parker
2nd pic- Dive ladder
3rd pic-23 MAYCRAFT

[PatMyGreen]

Yeah, I have really been in love with C-Hawks ever since I went out on SpearIt with Capt Tom. Parkers are also a favorite of mine. Who made that ladder, its mighty fine lookin.

[hardcore]

Pat you may also have them look at a www.bahacruisers.com They are comparable to a c-hawk or may craft. I think a parker is a much better built boat and priced accordinly.

[eward4]

Pat, I don't know how much you're looking to spend but have you checked out Mckee Craft? They make a 28' CC that's a hell of a boat. They're built here in NC also. It has a 24.5 degree deadrise and lots of room and storage plus they're unsinkable. I believe you can pick up a used one for a good price if you shop around. www.mckeecraft.com.

[Capt Keith]

Pat,
My ladder was built by a local guy, Barry Coleman. He builds T-Tops,Bow rails and any marine related product out of aluminum. I believe anyone who can weld aluminum can make one like it or similar.
I believe the may-Crafts are good boats,along with Parker and Privateer. They are all bulit using the same, hand laid glass, rolled inside, wood stringers and transoms. The modified to semi-vee hulls are super stable for diving, but none of them really shine when it comes to riding in a head sea.
If your gonna put 6 people on one and run a charter, the C-Hawk is the way to go. More than 6 and having to hve a vessel with a COI, you'd be better off going to an Island Hopper, Delta or Fitz.

[CWitch]

I agree with the overall assesment on the C-Hawk/Parker/Privateer/Maycraft ride. Hands down, the best value right now would be a 29' C-Hawk. There are usually a few good used boats if you are willing to travel. All of these boats will beat you, I know..I have owned several of them...but if you utilize your trim tabs and proceed at a reasonable speed, they are fine. Your charter customers will appreciate the way all of these modified hulls rest at anchor. i just re-powered mine with a 250 4-stroke Suzuki and I can push 6 divers and gear at 23-25 knots at only 4300 rpms.

[PatMyGreen]

Thanks for all the help guys, they ended up going with a 36' Newton this week. Should be ready for the Summer season.