'87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost :)

[a2dubnut]

Hey All,
I know you like spending other people's money - so I kept my mouth shut until the deal was done.
Negotiations are complete, survey is done, paperwork is in order and just needs to be settled, so I think I can safely say she's mine.
I've edited out her current name, reg # and home port, for the old owner's privacy, and for mine. But here she is:

First boat, and it's been a LONG search.... Happy to be adding 'er to the family. Name will be disclosed once I've gotten through the 'renaming ceremony' - I'm not that superstitious, but I am superstitious enough not to mess around with it.

 

[jobofly]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Great looking boat, congrats! Enjoy, what are you going to use it for?

 

[a2dubnut]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Mostly cruising with the family and just enjoying time out on the water. Occasionally a good weekend out - we're close enough to enough major bodies of water that she'll get good use. (Delaware river and bay, Chesapeake via the C&D canal, an hour's drive from raritan bay, and Lake Wallenpaupack in the poconos).
Family is still young, so watersports weren't a huge concern - yet

 

[Solittle]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Hope you have a good size tow vehicle and experience in towing. I had a 27 1/2'er flybridge years and it scared the crap out of me pullin it.

 

[southkogs]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Congratulations on the buy ... y'all enjoy!

 

[dls322]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Congrats on the new boat!

We have a cabin at Lake Wallenpaupack, that's were we boat. I'll keep an eye out for your boat. Maybe see you in party cove!

Good luck with her

 

[heatz1express]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Congratulations. You made it through the boat purchase anxiety that I am going through right now...see post "boat buying blues".

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

We are gonna need details like motor & outdrive,year... your tow vehicle info....congrats!

 

[Opnine99]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Congrats on the new addition.....hopefully you and your family make many great memories on her!:thumb::thumb::thumb:

 

[a2dubnut]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Details:
Merc 454 - runs like a top per my ear and the Surveyor's
Alpha One outdrive - both drive and motor have been well maintained.
it's an '87 Wellcraft Antigua 265 - yes it's big, yes it's my first, and yes I have friends that are very experienced boaters (one being my neighbor) to come out with me to get some 'on water' experience before cutting me loose... and yes, took the PA boater safety course, and have considered additionally the USCG aux or power squadron's courses.
and finally - tow vehicle - '12 Ram 1500 with a 3.92 rear (10k towing capacity) - boat's listed at 5k lbs and trailer @ between 2-2500 lbs.
I've got plenty of trailering experience over the years (was a mobile DJ for a couple years, have towed cars on both 2 & 4 wheel trailers). While a lil bit of nerves, I'll quickly break through them with trailering this beast.
Excited for the coming months and years - and hopefully keep 2foot'itis at bay for at least a few years

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

sounds like a winner! I'm happy for ya! This reminds me of my Wellcraft--loved the boat but it was a bear to launch & load, basicly by myself. I kept it in the water in a slip a few years but it was too expensive slip rental & fuel. .
We only slept on her the day I bought it. never used the genny or fridge, stove or microwave. I ran it like a runabout and it was great. I sold her and just run a little old runabout now and it is fine. Unlike myself, I hope you enjoy the boat by using it for what it is designed for.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

You're not gonna mention the WCCGOC????

 

[belleview3]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Sweet looking ride. . .With a 26' class Wellcraft, you can't go wrong. OK, I might be a little biased. I pull my 26 Wellcraft with the same setup (Ram 1500 Big Horn) with absolutely no problem.
Will be looking for that new name to show up soon. Congrats!

 

[tazrig]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Congrats on the purchase! Don't forget the tie down straps. You wouldn't want something that big bouncing off the trailer.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Looks really nice for an 87.

When you get some pics of the cockpit, cabin and engine bay post those up to get a better view of it.

On your weights with that vehicle, if you have one of the trucker scales or moving companies around you, might want to take it there and unhook the truck and get a true weight.

The brochure on my 270 said 7500 pounds dry and the weight of the trailer based upon the registration document shows 1800.
With only about 3/8(40 gallons) of a tank of fuel, my boat/trailer weighed in at 11,200....not quite sure what my f350 diesel dually is rated to tow but I can't imagine towing that safely with less.

Mark

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

Congratulations and best of luck!

 

[a2dubnut]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

....annnd She's home.
The trailer registration and the State of PA are evil, but got it home, and it's now in it's temporary home between uses (a local storage place)....but the debate about getting a wet slip is on.
I'll post up a couple additional pics a bit later, took one on the trailer from a rest stop, and another once she was in front of the house. Now I need to add a pic of it in the water to the collection.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

You're not gonna mention the WCCGOC????

Well since 26aftcab454 didn't 'splain for ya I will.
He used to welcome people to the wellcraft cool guy owners club before he switched sides on us

CONGRATS and welcome to the club

 

[a2dubnut]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

LOL at the WCCGOC - I actually did a web search to try to figure out what it was! And thanks for the welcome!
here are the pics as promised... and yes - it did rain - hard - on the 3 hour long trip home, pulling a trailer I'm not familiar with, over rough roads. *whiteknuckles* Slowly leaned into the gas to stabilize some sway - which was scary enough in itself, and then slowly leaned outta the gas until I was 10 under the speedlimit on the PA turnpike. Got 'er home and caused quite a stir amongst my neighbors. Totally ready to get out on the water now!
anyhoo - here's for the pics:

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: '87 wellcraft 26' - its mine - almost

LOL at the WCCGOC - I actually did a web search to try to figure out what it was! And thanks for the welcome!
here are the pics as promised... and yes - it did rain - hard - on the 3 hour long trip home, pulling a trailer I'm not familiar with, over rough roads. *whiteknuckles* Slowly leaned into the gas to stabilize some sway - which was scary enough in itself, and then slowly leaned outta the gas until I was 10 under the speedlimit on the PA turnpike. Got 'er home and caused quite a stir amongst my neighbors. Totally ready to get out on the water now!
anyhoo - here's for the pics:

Well I was going from memory and got it wrong or you COULD have found it with a search!

from Dec 6 2009

Smoke, wellcome to the CGWOG (Cool Guy Wellcraft Owner's Group).
I have a 1984 Wellcraft 26 aft cabin that looks to have the same footprint. It was repowerd with a 1996 7.4 L(300hp) bravoIII . it moves up on plane quick and WOT 4600RPM at 40MPH-I love this boat . it has a 1960s 3K onan genset- HVAC- Hotwater- Galley -power winlass- loaded. I mostly cruise around 3400-3800RPM = 26 to 30MPH.

your boat being just a little bigger I would suggest having at least 300-400HP minimum.

The hull is very solid and rides excellent in rough water. I have people all the time come up and tell me how much they like the boat.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Also that sway would disappear if you could gain some tongue weight I Have about 1200-1500 lbs on mine but 800-1000 lbs SHOULD be enough for yours I BET you are in the 250 lb range now