How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

[triumphrick]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

Started boating again two and a half years ago. I had been without a boat for about six years, the longest since I was 19.
That boat from craigslist was in good shape, had a good price and a Yamaha,s so I knew if it didn't work, I would sell it. I had just fininshed building a 2400 sq.ft. workshop/garage, and was ready to try and flip some boats. Here we are two and a half years and four boats later and this is our latest. This one seems to be a keeper. The twin 4 strokes have less than 350 hrs. and the rig is 7 yrs old. We need a boat this big to hit our good fishing spots some 30 miles offshore.
I started with $3500 seed money, added $11k along the way and that is my total investment in this boat...

 

[cobalt79]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

We had a 14' aluminum side consol Mirrocraft. It was a great boat, but we found it a little small for the west coast waters around us and it did not hold enough people for my 20 year old son, besides the fact that you could not wakeboard behind it. My son approached me one day and said "Dad, let's go halfers on a bigger boat. If you sell the old boat and use that money for your half of new boat it won't cost you anything". Sounded somewhat logical as we were already partners on a classic car and that has worked out great, but I figured he would never find the boat he had his mind set on for the price he wanted to pay so I thought no more of it.

The lesson I learned from this was never underestimate a highly motivated 20 year old gear head!!!!!

Not long after my son said he had found what could be the perfect boat on Craigslist. I was thinking that this would most likely be a 16' piece of junk, then he asked if I had ever heard of Cobalt boats and if we would have room to park an 18' boat in our yard. Well that did it, I had to see this boat! It turned out to be a 1979 18' Cobalt in excellent condition with gleaming teak trim (I think that's what sealed the deal as my wife and I had started out with sailboats and have a real affinity to teak). The motor, a Mercruiser 228, had been rebuilt with only 40 hours on it, it came with 2 covers, nearly new trailer, camper canvas and an Airboom wakeboard pole.

We have fallen in love with this boat, and the way that with the overall quality and the all teak she looks like a mini yacht. This is our second summer with the 'Katie Marie' and as I type this my son is out on the boat with his friends putting out crab traps to get dinner for a party tonight, and while they are waiting, maybe a little wakeboarding.

Jack

 

[Bowser4x4]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

Both of our boats came from Ebay.... Been lucky there and have gotten two good boats.

First one is a 20' Grumman Pontoon boat with a 9,9hp outboard on it. Since the lake we live on is HP restricted and I did not want to goof around with an engine swap, it took almost 2 months to find the boat I wanted for the price I was willing to go. That was 5 years ago and the pontoon has become our fishing boat also.

As the kids got older, they wanted to tube, ski and wakeboard so it was time to find another boat. Looked around and checked a lot of boatshows and decided that we wanted a deck style boat. Took almost 18 months and bidding on over 40 boats on Ebay before I got one, but it was the right deal. Went a lot further to get it...all the way to Florida {we live in NW Indiana}. Had a good friend of the family's look at the boat before I sent the payment and he gave me the thumbs up on it and said if I don't take it, he will. Got the Sea Ray Sundeck with less than 100 hours on, all service records, plus the owner threw in all the skis, vest, extra prop, ropes and two covers for a steal. According to the paperwork, the original owner took a $32k bath in 3 years...ouch. Main reason I will never buy a new boat....

Moral of the story: don't be in a rush....

Woof
Bowser

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

This is probably my 10th boat. I was in N AZ flying scenic tours of Lake Powell. Me and the other pilots had no toys for the lake for our days off. Sitting on the beach with an ice chest grew old. My room mate saw this boat for sale and I looked at it real good. The deep V hull and deck are sound and the engine runs strong. The wiring needed a lot of work.

We took it out 4-5 times and then the flying season ended and the days grew cold. I kept the boat because I knew it would be great for the ocean when I returned to CA. The boat had never floated anywhere but Lake Powell until now. It's very sea kind.

The seller was asking $1,800, I got him to bite on $1,500 and a full tank of gas. I have about $4,500 into it now. That includes new tires, surge brakes, wood runners, winch and cable, and wiring on the tandem axle trailer. All new wiring harness w/ main and acc. busses, new dashboard, two new deep cycle batts w/ new switch, new search lights, new VHF and antenna w/ new SS mount, new engine accessories, new cover, new bimini top, and new swim ladder.

 

[sharps45]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

I knew I wanted a deckboat in the 21-23 foot range, but living in Utah they're few and far between. So I went online and checked the want ads in neighboring states newspapers (big cities only) for boat ads. I also kept an eye on ebay and my local paper and tv want ads. Finally found what I wanted in a Denver paper, called the guy, and had a nephew who lived somewhat closeby to go check it out for me. He said he'd buy it if I didn't, so I drove 460 miles, checked it out, bought it, and drove back in one very long day!
No regrets!

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

Went to a pawn shop to see what kind of chainsaws they might have and saw the boat, asked the owner about it and sais it was his brothers, so I called him and he just had a new born baby and said they werent taking it out as much and sold it to me for $3500

 

[wwcj101]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

i figured out what i wanted and how much i could spend. (bass boat and 5k) started looking local lots, back yards, craigslist, ect. saw one that i liked. checked it out and bought it.

 

[SCHRECK]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

I found mine at an antique store parking lot asked the owner and he putme intouch with the boat owner, first one was a trade in at a marina not too far from my parents place.

 

[jloften]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

Did a lot of searching on craigslist as I didnt have a ton of money to spend on a boat. I looked at a lot of boat the owners said "are in good shape." Apparently some people have no idea. Got a call back from someone I had been trying to get a hold of. The boat was 2 hours away but me and my girlfriend made the trip got there about 9 pm with cash in hand. Ran the motor on muffs and put it in drive and reverse and he seemed pretty honest so i offered to buy it on site. But he would not let me leave with the boat cause he wanted to go with me to transfer titles. But he offered to meet me the next day near my house with the boat. 1983 Starcraft 17 foot bowrider with a mercruiser 120.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

Driving down hwy saw it in front yard. On impulse turned around and got number off of sign. Called and asked what he wanted, 1977 Glasstron with premo 70 HP Evinrude on original Gator trailer. Mainly interested in motor although boat and trailer in fairly good condition. When he said $500.00 I asked if he would take a check for deposit and would bring cash on Saturday. Done deal.

Nice ride and even though I would prefer center console, will make do untill one show's up.

 

[thompson resto]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

the search started when my wife decided we needed a boat for the family. i found a 1974 Thompson on craigslist with a perfect hull, engine in great condition but the floor was rotted through and the seats were completly rotted. i spent about a month putting a whole new floor in, re-fiberglased it all and built new seats. i bought the boat for $700 and probably put another $500 into it and have a great family boat now, spending almost every weekend tubing with the kids. keep your eye out, you will find a diamond in the rough.

 

[jon705]

Re: How Did You Come to Own Your Boat?

How did you come to own the boat you currently have? Or more specifically, where and how did you find it?

Was it listed on Craigslist? Ebay? Some other internet based ad publication? A for sale sign you drove by? Word of mouth? A bank repo. Some kind of auction? A gift? An inheritence?

Was it even for sale when you found it? Was it just sitting neglected in someone's barn or back yard?

This could be useful info for someone like me, a newbie looking for that first boat.

Found it on craiglist. 1980 Sea Raider with a 105 Chrysler outboard. It was for sale or trade. I had an old laptop that had been in my dresser drawer for about three years collecting dust and I figured it would be worth more on trade than a cash sale.