Crestliner phantom?

[Nathan R]

Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and I have a question for you all. I am not new to boating, but up to this point I have not had any say over what kind of boat I used. What I mean by that is I have not owned my own boat. Between my brother, grandpa, and mother-in-law I have had plenty of access to everything from a 70's 14 foot starcraft all the way up to a modern four winns 180 horizon.

Now I am at the point that I want to own my own boat. I am looking for something large enough to handle the great Lakes (superior and Michigan) for salmon fishing, but still able to do walleyes up on rainy Lake. I also have a wife and children that want to go tubing and skiing.

I have found a boat locally that seems to fit my needs quite well, but there is absolutely no information on it anywhere that I have searched. It is a 1993 crestliner "phantom 205" (20'6"?). It is in really nice shape and the price is right. It has a 4.3 mercury i/o for power. My question is whether any of you have experience with this or a similar boat?

Thanks - Nathan

 

[Nathan R]

Re: Crestliner phantom?

Any experience at all? How does the 4.3 merc hold up? Is there anything to look for on the welded hull?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Crestliner phantom?

but there is absolutely no information on it anywhere that I have searched.

have you tried here? look in the 93 catalog.

Any experience at all?

not with that boat/engine or that location.

How does the 4.3 merc hold up?

everyone has a 4.3. best i know, it's a desirable engine. i'd have one. my boy has one in his blazer. a fine engine. my buddy has one in his bayliner, it's the best part of the boat imho. they can break though. my neighbor has one in his '12 glastron (maybe a larson, can't remember). if ya don't winterize it proper, the block will break. however that's true for any boat engine that's raw water cooled.

from what i saw in the catalog. it's an open bow bow. while i've never boated in the great lakes. i'm quite sure it can get pretty big as far as waves go. open bow might not be desirable in those conditions. i boat in much less conditions than the great lakes can stir up. but i go out in pretty snotty stuff and when i'm in those ruff conditions, i sure do like my closed bow boat. i've scooped up a wave on the missiouri river one time in an open bow boat. it's a pretty eye opening experience. just food for thought on the open bow fish and ski type design.

 

[pckeen]

Re: Crestliner phantom?

Hi Nathan,

Mercruisers are good motors typically, but with any boat that is 21 years old, condition is everything. Take a look for some threads on used boat checklists. That boat should be fine on Rainy Lake.

 

[Nathan R]

Re: Crestliner phantom?

Thanks for the replies guys. I am not really worried about it's ability to handle big water.We been using my brothers tracker 175 with a 90 hp outboard for the last two years salmon fishing and it has worked just fine. I am actually more worried about being able to fish smaller bodies of water. Will a larger boat like this be able to launch from some of the more shallow landings like the 175?

As far as the condition of the boat goes, I will check out the used boat checklist, but it is inreal nice shape. Floors are solid, seats aren't ripped, the paint is fair, motor runs well, there are no repairs to the hull, bilge pump and livewell work, etc...

I will post some pics up if I end up buying it.