Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

[Thajeffski]

Currently I have a 19 foot bow rider up here in CT.

I'd really like something MUCH bigger. However of course I'm on a TIGHT budget! I've seen and heard of people getting great deals on bigger boats. But for some reason I'm having trouble finding one!

I'm talking like 28 - 30 feet it can be OLD if it's in good shape - don't care what brand.

one of my friends got THIS for 4k everything working like a top, nothing wrong with it! Can anyone assist in finding a deal like that?!

http://www.boatdealers.ca/images/ba...3543714/w515/bayliner-2955avantisunbridge.jpg

ps. I'm seriously considering forgetting a house right now (i'm 30 and single) and just buying a boat big enough to live on and doing that for 5 or so years.

So maybe a 40 would be better?

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

I'm in CT and bought my 29 for $6000. It needed some maintenance items from sitting, but she went in early spring and has been a great boat. A place near me had two a 29 and a 31, both under $6000 asking price, but they needed some TLC at a minimum. Deals are everywhere, you just need to look.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

I'm in CT and bought my 29 for $6000. It needed some maintenance items from sitting, but she went in early spring and has been a great boat. A place near me had two a 29 and a 31, both under $6000 asking price, but they needed some TLC at a minimum. Deals are everywhere, you just need to look.

Where is this place? TLC is fine!! 29 and 31 would be perfect!

I've been asking lots of boat people around here - problem is I'm a little wary of craigslist.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

I have paid more in slip rental 3 years than I did the boat.

you really need a house boat to live in- and it sucks walking from parking lot all the way out to the slip.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Where is this place? TLC is fine!! 29 and 31 would be perfect!

I've been asking lots of boat people around here - problem is I'm a little wary of craigslist.

I found mine on Craigslist. I've found that you can feel people out through calls and emails prior to purchase or even looking.

The ones near me are in Meriden. Only saw them listed once on Craigslist. One was asking $5900 the other $5000. Both had issues, as I viewed them prior to being listed, but both had potential. One was my exact boat a 29' late 80s cruisers Inc, the other a 31' late 80s early 90s cruisers inc.

There's a bayliner at my club sitting that might or might not be for sale...

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

I found mine on Craigslist. I've found that you can feel people out through calls and emails prior to purchase or even looking.

The ones near me are in Meriden. Only saw them listed once on Craigslist. One was asking $5900 the other $5000. Both had issues, as I viewed them prior to being listed, but both had potential. One was my exact boat a 29' late 80s cruisers Inc, the other a 31' late 80s early 90s cruisers inc.

There's a bayliner at my club sitting that might or might not be for sale...

Awesome!

If you don't mind taking a peak at your club and reporting back I'd be very thankful!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

While it's not an unreasonable step up in size, you really need to lay out a mission before you start looking at every 30ft boat you come across. I wouldn't consider most cabin cruisers 30' and under much of a substitute for a house/apartment except when used for a weekend. It's pretty cramped quarters for living on every day. A house boat, or at a minimum a Sedan-bridge style vessel would allow for more headroom/larger beam typically.

The other item of significance is the power/sanitation costs. You will have to be hooked up to shore power to run most anything of comfort/convenience on the boat. You will also be limited by te holding tank capacity on most smaller cruisers, which means you will have to belocated close to a pump-out station and you will be paying money probably weekly or bi-weekly.

Most of the systems on the style boat you posted the picture of are meant to suffice for a few days, sometimes a week at a time. They aren't made to be used daily andwhen they malfunction/break you are out of luck. Not trying to rain on your parade, but it's just a few items to think about.

 

[Chris-R]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Living on a boat in the Connecticut winter is COLD. Your marina will shut off the water sometime in November so you'll have to figure out where you take showers, go to the bathroom, etc. unless you're in a marina that has a few slips available with year round water. Also, as previously said, it gets real cramped on a 30 foot boat if you live on it over a week or so. Even a 40 footer isn't great unless you have a sedan bridge style. I prefer a trawler myself.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Awesome!

If you don't mind taking a peak at your club and reporting back I'd be very thankful!

I'll do a little digging on the bayliner. It looks to be similar to the one you posted a photo of. There's another bayliner located in central ct. Higher 20 to low 30 footer. Been on land for years at a gas station. There was a 30' Larson Contempra that came for sale early this year. Asking $10000 but if it's still for sale the number is probably lower now.

 

[QC]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

There's no reason to be leery of Craig's list. You still go see it, double check title, and pay for it if you want it. How is that any riskier than any other transaction? Not like you're going to have it shipped in the mail, prepaid . . .

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Living expenses can be cheaper than an apartment or house. I know one couple with two young kids who live on a houseboat up north for about 300 a month.

Life is ridiculously hard for them in the winter. He carries wheelbarrows of the families' sewage in five-gallon buckets from the dock to the pumpout. There is no city water during the winter, so he carries fresh water in the wheelbarrow (in different buckets, thankfully) back to the dock.

When it snows, there is no one else to shovel. After all, the marina is closed.

Now ... down south, the dock fees are at least double per month.

You want to live on a boat? If you want to give up everything you own, buy a 30-footer. If you only want to give up half of what you own, look at 40-footers.

These are things I am discovering as we prepare to sell off everything we own and cruise the Great Loop.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Honestly I couldn't live on my 29'er for more than a week. Just not enough room. Fellow boater lives on his 35'er and only during summer.

 

[sdride]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Here are a few in the philly area that you get from 8k

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/1932873651.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/1892214789.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/1942165715.html

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/1948093654.html

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/1892003010.html

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

This boat has been for sale for quite some time, and the price keeps dropping.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/1951060068.html

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Sounds like fun to me tjs. I think there have a been a couple live-aboard threads on here in the past that may offer some helpful info. I know one was specifically "how big a boat do I need". As far as living year round, I don't know what your living situation is now but I think I'd rather downgrade to a super cheap apartment in order to funnel more money to my aquatic lifestyle than give up a land domicile altogether. Living on the boat all winter doesn't appeal to me.

 

[fishdog4449]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Look out everyone he's got the bug...20 foot itis comin up!

You can find cruiser type boats from 29-35 feet for relatively cheap. However the cost of the boat is not the big cost. You need to keep it in a slip, with shore power and water hookup. Even 35 feet is only big enough for a weekend. Fuel cost is the main concern. Even diesels in a 30 foot boat burn much more fuel than you'd expect. Add up the fuel costs for a weekend of cruising, running the genset continuously if you want amenities, and additional maintenance, it really adds up!
That said, if you've figured all that out, GO FOR IT there's nothing like a boat you can overnight on...

I don't own a big boat but I am skipper of two (38' maine coaster, twin volvo TAMD40 turbo diesels and 31' bertram twin yanmar 4hla turbo diesels) at USMMA and I can already tell that I will not be owning one of these for MANY years lol.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Here are the Cruisers Inc boat listings I mentioned before. I have been on both of these boats. The 2970 is very similar to mine, the 3170 is a little more "Sea Ray looking" of a boat, but the layout is the same. Both boats have full enclosures although both need work, both boats had/have issues with leaks into the cabin, although I don't know the extent more than cosmetic or cleaning issues. The engine rooms actually looked fairly good on them, and one I was informed (the 3170 I think) was in the water at the begining of the year, but the owner traded up. The prices are fairly good (I was told $8000 each back in March) now, and there might be room to sway. They both can be viewed in Meriden.
http://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/1890840330.html
http://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/1890832310.html

Here is a Sea Ray, I know nothing about it, but $6000 for a 30' Weekender is a good starting point.
http://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/1923583893.html

A Regal in need of some engine work. Price is high IMO, but not terrible.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/1901441338.html

A Larson, although this might be getting too small. I would stick to 28'+ and pay attention to the beam, it makes a HUGE difference.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/1875125072.html

A Wellcraft, no list of size, but I would guess a 28'er, with twin 4.3s.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/1945398367.html
Another Wellcraft, the 32' St Tropez is a really nice boat. He wants $8000-10000, meaning you will walk away with it for $8000, possibly less if you push.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/1937042397.html

A 30' Rinker. Not too familiar with this boat. Theres a 28' at my Boat Club that looks like a decent boat.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/1887238521.html

A 30' Sunrunner. Says the port motor has problems, so I would say the price is high. There is a Sunrunner at my club that looks in very nice shape also. Not a bad looking boat.
http://worcester.craigslist.org/boa/1890864467.html

A 31' Thompson in need of some work. Price is high, but once again thats an asking price.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/1894647033.html

So these are some semi-local examples of boats in the 27-31 range. They are out there, you just have to pry a bit. I assume this is the style of boat your looking into, but there are other styles out there. 28-32 Older Flybridge boats can be had in the under $10K price range all day long.

 

[arks]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Take a look at the Silverton 29 Sportcruiser.
http://www.silverton.com/models/previous08/prevModels/29SptCru.html
They were made in the late 80's. Amazing amount of living space for the size. They have inboards with prop pockets to reduce draft, which is only 1' 7"! My 34 Silverton needs 3' 1".

With a little digging you should be able tio find a decent one for about 5-7K.
Here's one in Jersey with remanufactured engines asking 8950:
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/1951797967.html

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

wow! thank you so much for all your links and help!! I've clicked them all and def have some favorites, going to go back after dinner and read more on them!

Silvertons are def nice, I don't really have a set TYPE of boat.

Honestly the slip and water/electricity isn't a big deal - I've already got that handled.

Also - before jumping to 100% living aboard I think I'm going to shoot for living on the boat next summer from Thursday nights to Monday nights (I work tue-thurs in the summer).. then we'll go from there !

ps. this one is dead sexy! I asked for pics from 3 of your links!

Another Wellcraft, the 32' St Tropez is a really nice boat. He wants $8000-10000, meaning you will walk away with it for $8000, possibly less if you push.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/1937042397.html

 

[commander315]

Re: Forget "2 foot itis" I have "10 foot itis"

Currently I have a 19 foot bow rider up here in CT.

I'd really like something MUCH bigger. However of course I'm on a TIGHT budget! I've seen and heard of people getting great deals on bigger boats. But for some reason I'm having trouble finding one!

I'm talking like 28 - 30 feet it can be OLD if it's in good shape - don't care what brand.

one of my friends got THIS for 4k everything working like a top, nothing wrong with it! Can anyone assist in finding a deal like that?!

http://www.boatdealers.ca/images/ba...3543714/w515/bayliner-2955avantisunbridge.jpg

ps. I'm seriously considering forgetting a house right now (i'm 30 and single) and just buying a boat big enough to live on and doing that for 5 or so years.

So maybe a 40 would be better?

Go for a chris craft and btw he got that for 4k because its a bayliner avanti (In others words, s**t.)