Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder
 

Hi got my first (off shore) boat a 1995 Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder.:D It runs a sold 60 GPS and was wondering if any one has had or none one of these mid 90's Nova's and how they liked it or what they thought about it.:confused: The only thing I know is it needs to go faster:D and it is to small:D . Realy Id like to here any coments specialy with the crap going on at the Wellcraft plant.:cool:

another shot
 

2

Nice looking boat. What do you have for power? I'm running an 1986 26' Nova II. I like the boat but its heavy. I have new power (twin 409's @ 425 HP). Right now its running mid 60's with a full tank, but I have yet to dial it in and redo the bottom, it has bottom paint that was rolled. It kinda like pushing a non-skid surface through the water. What I have found with the mid 80's Nova, is that they are built tough, are heavy in the ass with twins in a 26 foot boat. They can handle pretty good sized waves without pounding too bad.

In the late 80's the quality of the Nova kinda went to hell. There were problems with stringers rotting out and overall quality problems. They got their act together later on in the 90's. Overall the quality of the workmanship and materials isn't what alot of the boats that the guys are running here, but for the money you can't beat it.

Overall I like my boat. I'll probably like it better when I get it dialed in. But it handles well, has enough room for the family, and didn't cost as much as my house.

Jeff

a good friend of mine has a 91 nova with a 450hp crate motor....we cant get it to go over 63mph.....but it takes the chop better than my other buddies 93 spyder with stock 454/385hp. They both run the same speed, the newer novas were built lighter, but came better equipped, with morse throttles and stand up bolsters like yours........the 93 also has a problem with rotted stringers around the motor mounts.......the boat has a total of 175 hours on it. your boat looks clean and i am sure sounds great!!!! just take it easy in the real rough stuff, as the boat tends to hit hard sometimes coming off the bigger waves. enjoy the boat while you have it......you will always want something bigger and faster.....its a disease that is uncurable!!!!!!!;)

Jr
I have a '92 26' Wellcraft Nova ST that I took the bottom paint off of earlier this year. I did make a difference, 1 mph on the midrange (45 mph) and 2-3mph on the top end (75 mph) as indicated on the speedo with 3/4 fuel. Mine was as yours painted on with a roller and was very rough. It took alot of work, but was well worth the effort in the end.

Ray

Ray, I know what you mean. Once mine wears down enough, its gone. But I'm not looking forward to the work.

I bought a 95 nova new and I loved it. They have a huge cabin and a wide beam. I had mine custom painted then sold it to a friend who put a zz502 aluminum head crate engine in it with gil dry exhaust. It ran 74 on gps with three guys on board. He is now having the engine freshend up and putting a bigger roller cam and porting and polishing the heads.

Ike
 

:D Thats what I like to here:D mine has that black bottom paint on it also but it looks like they put it on with a brush, very ruf:mad: did not find any wrotin stingers:confused: It has a 454 mag with through hull on it.:D

I've got a 94 with the 330 hp in it, running with a 23 mirage plus, like it better then the mirage, love the boat. The speedo has hit 65 at best, has silent choice exhaust. Stays dry in rougher stuff and decent gas mileage. It's alot bigger than any other 23 I've seen of the same style. I have 267 hours on the boat and haven't noticed any rot problems yet. The floor in the boat still feels very solid like a concrete slab foundation, maybe that's why it's so heavy. The folks at wellcraft are worthless.

I have an 89' Nova XL with 330 HP, it runs 58 on GPS with thru-hull exhaust. I was interested to hear about the stringer rot. I just crawed in the bilge and poked around with an ice pick...no worries. I am running a 13-3/4" x 23" Mirage and I am turning 5000 to 5200 RPM. Need some advice on props. I understand 4 blades do not do well on Novas because of the rounded keel. Other than proping and landing on the tail after launching I am pleased with the boat. What is the deal with Wellcrafts factory? Are they having problems? I was thinking of moving up to the 29' Scarab with a single.

The stringer rot came from the fact they didnt seal the limber holes with resin. They just drilled them and left them at that. With the location of the bilge pump, at least on mine is ahead of the engines, The bilge can hold alot of water that never gets pumped out. The water sloshes around and keeps getting the bare wood wet. Again this is on my twin 86'. When I had my engines out I put a small automatic pump at the stern to get out as much as possible.

Here is my Nova. I absolutely love it!! It's a '95 with 330hp. I have put just about everything you can put on a boat on this. Silent choice, docking lights, CD, bezels, canvas, graphics...etc. I can get 63 on GPS. You say it is too small and slow?????? What do you want for what you have invested? For the size boat it is, you can't find ANYTHING that rides as nice as this under 25'. The speed......we all want to go faster:cool: . I just wanted a boat that did 60..... Now, I want to skip 70 and go right to 80! The bottom paint has to go. You have a whole white boat. Take your time and do something good with it. My graphics got rushed and didn't come out like I wanted (they are still good). Good luck with it!

Nice looking Nova. Are your graphics paint or vinyl? ANYTHING under '25? My 24 Superboat rides pretty good and it's pretty fast too.

The graphics are vinyl. Quite the project. When I said "anything", I was trying not to start a war with people that own a certain 24' boat (B**a). I've never rode in one, but I would say your super boat would be an exception to the quote.

If you know of anyone interested, it's for sale!!!;)

(315) 625-7421

CJC, Nice looking boat. Graphics look ok to me

I always thought that the 94'-95' Nova was a nice alternative to the Baja Outlaw, and certainly not as many around. The bottom paint definately needs to go.

Take a good look at Ike's former Nova, that has to be one of the better Nova's I have ever seen. He must off also taken of the factory swim platform (fiberglass) and replaced with one from extreme marine. Certainly looks tougher with the tubular platform.

With the all white boat (minus the bottom paint) you have an excellent canvass to work with, just be a little creative.

Good luck.

I like yur boat CJC
Someone mentioned compared to an outlaw. I have and seen the nova pull a faster 24 outlaw in some bigger water.

Lose the bottom paint and have fun with the graphics!
Have ya figured out what the supports on the ceiling in the cabin are for yet?

CJC
 

Ha your's looks REAL nice:D I am more than happy with it I don't wont any one to think other wise.:rolleyes: 70+ would be nice so I could keep up with the big boys in the salt water as for the bottom paint it will go someday for know I have coverd up the black paint with off white superspeed from HMG.:cool: I think the suports on the celing in the cabin are just that suports The deck is prety ridged when you walk on it (or girls dance):D :eek:

I think CJC should tell ya what those supports are for!!!!
Nothging to do with structure my friend!!!

My 94 still has the factory graphics on it, not sure how to post a picture. Anyone have an idea for methods/cost of getting a 23' nova painted (just white)? I've got a good friend who owns a sign/vinyl shop who'd love to design some graphics for it.

ragtop409,

You obviously haven't christened your boat yet!

If you're wondering what that "support" is for on the ceiling of your cuddy........................

When/if, you get that special gal in the propper position. She'll figure it out on her own!!!!!! ......just watch where she puts her feet..... :D

jb,

I think that's where you were going??

CJC

suports
 

:D That makes good sence I have only used the back seat so far:D she did find an extra long screw( that heled the strap for opening the bottom of the back seat) the hard way:D SUPER DAVE to post a picture use the Browes buton that is under the aria were you type letters then you can find the file or folder were your picture is stored. you will probable have to make it smaoller though.:eek: Charlie

Thanks Charlie,
The gel coat is still in good shape, but I'd prefer the plain white.

CJC that is where I was going ....and been!!!

;) :D

jb
 

:D trust me JB when I was looking at 22-25 foot boats the size of the (stabin) cabin had a lot of influise on me.:D just did not lay on my back when pondering it:D Dave if the gel coat is still nice just peel of the vinal graphics then give it a buff and wax and you will never no they ere there. Charlie

Hey CJC, wanna go for a ride in my 24 B**a?????:D

Graphics on the Nova are painted, not Vinyl.
Whats wrong foul, cant I come for a ride on that B***.
Dont leave me out now that I am semi-boatless!

Come on over jb!!:D

Waterfoul,

I would be delighted to ride with you! Always a pleasure to be on any boat. Hope you didn't take offense to any comment.

CJC

Has any budy budy else ever noticed anything funny with four blade props on rounded keel boats.:confused:

Sorry I did not post a new thred in Q&A but it dosent get the traffic:rolleyes: Charlie

Abud of mine uses a worked 24 bravo 1 4 blade.
It loses a mph or two top end but he experiences far better handling and midrange.

That WAS what I had used. Now the new owner can figure it out on his own. Yes..... the boat has left the garage. :(

Had to be done. Now is the time to build. There will always be another boat out there - according to jb.

I spoke with a guy (had a 94 Nova) before I bought my Nova. He said he had tried just about every combination of props known. Advised to just get a Mirage 23 Plus and never try another prop.
Which is what I did - for the first 3 years....... Then jb gave me a 24 pitch 4 blade just to get me on the water for the day while my 23 was being worked. Well, I ended up getting the 4 blade worked instead. I lost 4mph on top end but my mid range was 8mph FASTER! Not to mention the handling was incredible. Felt like I was driving a whole new boat. I was never gonna be the fastest, so the top end sacrifice was worth the mid range and handling.

But, if you're looking for the fastest stock prop - definitely Mirage 23 Plus.

Good friend of mine has a 1995 23 Nova....identical to yours on the interior. He had a 454/330.....ran mid to high 50's. Now he put in a 509 500hp. He runs 74-76 on radar. They are lighter than the earlier years. Another friend has a 1990 23 Nova 454mag....weighs same as my 283 Checkmate!

Re: Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder
 

What is the "Spyder" package? I've come across a '94 23 Nova "Spyder" with the 454 Mag for sale... apparently, it's immaculate with VERY little hours. He's asking 13 for it. I'm new to the offshore market.

Re: Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder
 

spyder package is...just a name

Re: Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder
 

Wow...old post. I think I know this boat....

Actually it did do 62-63, but on the speedo, not gps.

It's been re-powered with a ZZ502/502, and does well over 62-63 gps now .... more like 72-73 gps :D

And if anything goes right, the ZZ502 will be re-worked a bit, and come next summer, the Humble Little Nova should do even better :drink:

You listen'n CJC??

Re: Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder
 

They are perfectly good boats. Don't hear about em much on this site. Lots of guys started offshore boating with Novas. But if you are going to run in big water you might be able to find a 26 for that much money or so. The 21 and 23s handle big water, but the ride smooths out a lot at about the 26 range.

Re: Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder
 

Had a 23 1991 Nova not a spyder, I guess you could say was my first performace boat with a 454. Loved the boat rode nice in big water better then most 23's out there and with a few mods would do 63mph all day. I loved the boat. Very hard to find boats though. Took me a over a year to find this one and it was in near perfect shape. I should have kept it.BTW 13 is an average price for the spyder if it is in good shape. When I was looking for them 3 years ago they were in the $15,000 ball park in avg. condition.

Re: Wellcraft 23 Nova Spyder
 

Thanks for the input. I'll be in Lake St. Clair (Michigan), the biggest water I was in this past season was 3-4 footers. Looking around on the net, I found that it has a 20 degree deadrise; but people say it rides nice. A flat bottom and nice ride? Hmmm...
I'm still trying to find out what the "Spyder" thing is...
Keep 'em coming folks!