Opinions on which boat to buy.

[Home Cookin']

Re: Opinions on which boat to buy.

I know about your waters.

You want a fiberglass center or dual console with an outboard. No option. No aluminum unless it's a jon boat; no I/O. Look for a self-bailing cockpit.

From there, size is personal but 17-19 is a good range for a solo or a couple of friends, also easy to launch/retrieve. Good for cruising; just put in the removable cushions.

flat bottom gets you to the specks and pups in the marshes, but it will beat you up running across the bays. a modified V is a good compromise--look at Key West (I use a 17' Key West DC and a 19' Carolina Skiff CC in waters like yours). you want to be able to pole around the flats, whether fishnig or stuck, and you can't do that with some lead sled deep V high side Bayliner and a stern drive.

The reason there are so many bowriders for sale is that people will hang on to their CC's, or they sell fast or before being listed, by word of mouth. I bet for the bowriders for sale, like searaybayliners, the owners either quit boating or went to cc's or cabins.

You can run a smaller motor as the boat gets lighter. My 19' scoots with a 50 b/c there's nothing to it. If it were a proline or similar, I'd have a 115. Just a trade off; the more finished the boat the more weight the larger motor required.

Consider a T top for fishing (you can always add one) but if you are alone you can work around a bimini.

 

[Ofc Noobie]

Re: Opinions on which boat to buy.

Well, I think I've narrowed the list down a bit. Here are the one's I plan on looking at next week, if anyone has any additional opinions. Thanks again for everyone's input.

http://greenville.craigslist.org/boa/1216068995.html
http://charleston.craigslist.org/boa/1210156422.html
http://greenville.craigslist.org/boa/1215727083.html
http://myrtlebeach.craigslist.org/boa/1199988941.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/boa/1204818874.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/boa/1211445735.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/boa/1198266218.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/boa/1211037577.html
http://columbia.craigslist.org/boa/1200732639.html
http://greenville.craigslist.org/boa/1213435171.html

 

[Ofc Noobie]

Re: Opinions on which boat to buy.

So, after looking at several boats, here's what I've narrowed it down to.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/boa/1185898563.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/boa/1204818874.html

The Chris Craft appears to be in fairly good shape. Seats are starting to split at the seams, and the engine cover has begun to come apart at seams as well. Floor and transom seem solid, and the engine sounds good. One of the jump seats in the back needs the wood replaced, but otherwise, they are good. Owner stated that the floor was replaced a couple of years ago. And finally, the hull appears good. It's faded, but appears in good shape with the exception of one spot. There's a fairly small chip on the keel. It appears that it is down to the criss crossing webbing under the fiberglass exterior (hope that makes sense).

As for the regal, it is in as good as shape as the pics look. Owner stated that the carpet was replaced within the last couple of years, and that he just put on a new steering system. Everything appeared solid, and the motor sounded fairly good. Only thing I wasn't sure about was the engine, even though it sounded good. The engine appears like it has been repainted. There were no markings on it, and it had some parts where the paint appeared faded.

Does anyone have any thoughts? I really can't decide!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Opinions on which boat to buy.

I think I'd lean towards the Regal. While I think both of them have been maintained fairly well, I think the Regal a little better. I also think the Regal will be a little faster. I'm an outboard guy though so I lean that way anyway. There is less maintenance involved with an outboard.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Opinions on which boat to buy.

If you read many of the threads in the restoration forum you'll know that a rotten floor more often than not means transom and stringer rot also. Plus many of the floor replacement jobs are done poorly and they only cover up a much bigger problem.

Because of their age I would suspect that both boats have rotten wood in them, you just need to look closer to find it.

 

[Phoenixfirewalker]

Re: Opinions on which boat to buy.

If you are a newbie as you say you want a center console for the next reasons;
1. better and balaced view
2. easier to quickly move your self to where ever a problem may be or your presence is most needed at what ever time.
3. easier to launch and hop in if some urgent matter appears
4. less rot, most bow rdrs out there wave woden parts eager to rot
5. you'll find the open space quite fun ( trust me I have a 15' bow rider and a 19' cuddy). I wish I had that open space. Deep V hull or Cat hull NO flat bottoms (my opinion)

On choosing length think first;
1. Do I have experience hauling a trailer in back? if so how long?
2. can my present vehicle pull it up a hill? pull it out of the water in the wet ramp?
3. Do I really need to go that big?
4. My experience for hauling around I prefer the 18-19 ft no more