Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

[MacPointMan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

All great suggestions. I will give the Aluminium boat some thought and research. If I can not find the right boat at the right price then I will wait. It stands to reason that when the season is over I may find something better for the money.

I truly thank you all for your advice. It is extremely helpful. I plan on taking a little time and cruising around and checking things out when I get back. I do not take a large purchase lightly. If you were with me when I bought my Trailblazer you would probably have said to yourself, dang this guy is one tough sell. I used to sell cars. Yes I understand that a boat is completely different. But I wouldn't have wanted to be that salesman. I learned a lot about buying a car from selling them.

I have learned a lot from you guys here at iboats and thank you. I am open to all and any suggestions.

saxrulez: Thank you for serving. Currently my Primary MOS is 25S (Tactical Satellite Communications) (Army Reserve) yes I have earned my POG status I came out of the Infantry and Active Duty at Household 6's command to do so. If Household 6 is happy then Household 7 is happy.

MacPointMan

 

[eavega]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

If you want to pm me an email address I will keep my eyes and ears open for you. .

Same here. I am always on the look-out for my next wallet-draining venture, so I can keep an eye out for you, too.

-E

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

That will be great thanks.

Its only money, we can always Earn more right lol.

MacPointMan

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Nothing to offer but hello macpointman! I served with the 82nd airborne folks when I was in Afghanistan. My Louisiana Guard unit was tasked under them. I was a mechanic in a heavy combat engineering unit. We were stationed in Bagram from July '02 to March '03. We built and cleared a large part of that base. My Dad was in the 101st in Vietnam. He picks on me about my 82nd AB combat patch! Be safe and come home in one piece.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Thank you for serving

May God Bless you and yours

 

[WavyD]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Hello MPM,,
first,Yes,,thank you for your service !!!

I have to add a note about Lanier Marine Liquidators...
they deal mainly with used and older boats and yes I would highly suggest
NOT doing business without making a personal visit,,but on the plus side they DO have many boats and motors for parts as I found a very hard to find part from them when nobody else had it in my area.

I will keep my eye out for a boat for your needs.

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Thank you all It is definitely nice to be home, Seeing all the GREEN is crazy, it amazes me every time the stark contrast between the desert and the lush green of home. First thing first, My wife as expected is Super excited about me buying a boat for the family. That is the first step out of the way. I figured rather than surprising her with something like that out of the blue Id tell her what I was planning.

We are planning a trip to a couple of dealerships near Lake Lanier tomorrow to take a look at a couple of boats that I have been checking out online. I have talked to Lanier marine about a couple of boats that are of interest to me and they have assured me that I should definitely come in and check them out. They were quite forthcoming about the condition of the boats and said that they have no problem with me putting anything that I am serious about on the lake for a test run. I was told that they defiantly did not want me to make a wasted trip up to see them but that they had what I was looking for.

Makes me feel a bit better about them. They seem to be a big salvage operation. Good condition boats in the 3,000 - 5,000 Price range seem to be selling like hotcakes throughout the southeast right now and into the off season.

MacPointMan

 

[eavega]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Good luck! If you are headed out to Lanier Marine and its lunchtime, Be sure to hit Big D's BBQ for the best ribs you done ever ate! Its about 2 miles south of Lanier Marine at the intersection of GA 400 and Hwy 53, built onto a gas station.

By the way, if you look at my signature picture, that was taken on Lanier Marine's back lot, just before I took possession of the boat. If you look closely you can see tons of other hulls all around it. To say they are a salvage operation is an understatement. They do keep the best boats on the front sale lot, so don't go wandering around the back unless you are in the mood for a serious project.



Let us know how it goes.

-E

 

[ziggy]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Any idea on what manufactures make and models of boats that were or went to the no wood construction.

i know ya said ya wanted a bow rider. but ya also seem interested in no wood construction. AristoCraft boats meet this criteria. www.aristocraftboats.com granted they do have a small amount of wood in them. but not much.. check out the brochures from the link.
here's a few that are listed around the country... http://boat.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/boat.cgi?cat=boa&itm=aristocraft
another plus for aristocraft is they are still around and offer support.

while not a bow rider. the nineteen is a pretty darn versatile boat and once ya have a hardtop boat, i've no idea what the next boat would be that would be satisfying..

not to mention you'll have a real head turner at the boat ramp. everyone wants to know what that is...

just food for thought..

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Thanks, some tell me that I cook the best ribs that they have ever had. That being said I am always in the mood for some Great BBQ and yes we will probably be up there around lunchtime so based upon your recommendation i will have to check that place out.

Looks like they just sold one of the boats that I was looking at. I don't mind a bit of a project but just not this season. If I was going to buy something I would want it to give me 2 - 3 complete seasons before I really needed to tear into her.

This is the reason I have pushed my price range up. Looking like I'll be able to find something in the $4,000 - $5,000 price range. Fixing some cosmetic issues and covering some seats to start.

MacPointMan

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Happy Fourth of July to everyone.

Glad to say I found her and now she is mine. She is a 1988 GW Invader V181SP Bowrider with a Mercruiser 3.0 motor and a Mercruiser Alpha 1 outdrive. Not a crack in the vinyl floors are solid as a rock as is the transom.

Had her out on Lake Lanier yesterday put 6 hours on her without a hitch. There are a few minor flaws a couple of the gauges aren't working quite right But even the radio works. She needs a good buffing out and some new decals. Her carpet could use with another good cleaning and the seats could use a through scrubbing but other than that shes in excellent shape.

I have to tell you Lanier Marine Liquidators were quite good. They fixed a couple of minor issues and drained all the old fuel out of her put new lights on the trailer . I haven't gotten any problems out of them and feel quite comfortable doing business with them. They have assured me that if I have any problems with her I can bring her back and they would see what they can do to fix it. The advice of making sure that you LOOK at their stuff is paramount they even told me the same. I told them about the few boats I wanted to look at they pointed me straight to this one. Then showed me the others. By far this was the boat in the best condition.

Thank you for your advise and tips. You all have been instrumental in helping me make the decision to buy. I am sure to have loads of questions when I need to start fixing things.

Happy Independence Day and Happy boating.

es am sending this message from my boat with a beer in hand. I am officially a member of the Drive Way Captains Club of Lake Concrete.

Pictures to follow

MacPointMan

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

That is great news all around. Pics are now required. Congrats on your purchase.

 

[sbbamafan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Glad to hear you got one that makes you happy. I just got in from Lanier about an hour ago. ONe of the best days ever out there. Great weather. Spent time in the new Sunset Cove area. Lanier has been needing exactly this kind of place for ever. Make sure you go there. Starboard marine has the best gas prices and I have been going to them every time I am out. ENJOY... and thanks again for serving our country.

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Yes I know it is long overdue I owe you some photos. Here are a couple of the boat. She is in great shape will need some work on the gelcoat during the off season possibly a repaint.

But here you go.

She is a 1988 Invader 181 powered by a Mercruiser 3.0 and a Mercruiser Alpha One Drive. Will be putting her in the water as much as possible when I get back home in mid September.

I bought her AS IS from Lanier Marine Liquidators in Dawsonville / Gainesville. First day out I put her in the water and started her up and backed her off the trailer. she ran for a couple of minutes then quit. Woah dang my buddy and I had to swim her back into the dock thankfully not too far.

While doing so we saw another guy putting in and waved to him asking for his help He blatantly told us NO. He had his kids and all on his boat. Great example, Thanks guy. I told my buddy to remind me to never leave anyone stranded in the water.

We put her back on the trailer and took her back to Lanier Marine. They pumped the tank primed the motor for us and even replaced the winch tower on the trailer for us. we went on our way fueled up the boat and put her back in the water. She ran great we put 6 hours on her that day.

Lanier Marine has been great. They told us to let them know if we have any more problems they do their best within reason to fix it.

I did a bit of tinkering on her and got her purring like a little kitten. Had her out on Lake Jackson and she backfired under full throttle quite a bit. I towed another boat in to the marina and afterwords on the way back to the marina that we put in at she only gave me about 5 mph. I checked her out and saw that the motor had thrown the belt. I checked the spark plugs the next day and found one that was completely fouled.

I took a trip to NAPA auto parts and ordered the necessary tune up parts and a new Belt. I Picked them up the next day and installed the spark plugs and replaced the belt. I was taking the family to Lake Lanier the next day so on the way we stopped at Lanier Marine. They reattached the throttle cable to the post it is supposed to go onto without any problem for me.

The tachometer and the volt meter don't show accurate readings so I will have to troubleshoot that issue but the battery holds and gets enough of a charge to keep it from dying and continues to start the boat I carry a Brand new marine battery as a spare just in case. I may need to replace the alternator for those gauges to work. Apparently the Tachometer gets its readings from the Alternator which would explain the issue with both gauges not giving me a proper reading.

She needs to be wet sanded buffed and waxed to get her all shiny again. The gellcoat on the Hull is pretty old and has a few cracks in it but otherwise she is in great shape she may need to be repainted.

She will get a new prop next season and I am exploring having the Drive cleaned up and repainted with the boat as well.

the Icing on the cake is when I took my 4 year old daughter out on the boat together she kept on saying "Go faster daddy" I would slow down and she would say "No daddy I want to go fast". When I took the family to Lake Lanier I could not get her off the boat when the day was over.

Lanier Marine included a Bimini top with the boat I will probably have it installed at the beginning of next season.

All in all a good experience. No regrets and cant wait to get to boating again. Ill get her back to TIP TOP shape. She is a boat that I can be proud of.

Currently she is parked at my Mom and dads house because my driveway is too steep to get her up without the drive kitting the concrete pavement. Despite the perfect parking space right next to the house. It is done the next house will have an accessible parking spot for the boat. Thankfully we do not plan on living in this house but for a few more years.

This is the listing for the boat when I bought her. Lanier Marine still doesn't have her listed as sold but she most definitely is. http://www.laniermarine.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=04289209X8K2K2010J9I47I51JAMQ3441R0&veh=1735618&nv=y



MacPointMan

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

Looks real good. I think the gel coat on that boat would clean up really nice with the proper products and elbow grease. Glad you're having fun with it!

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Looking For My First Boat in Atlanta Georgia Area

I have a buffer and some Mcguires cleaner wax for boats at home that I plan on trying on her when I get home. I buffed out a small part on one side of the boat and it looks like it will make a difference. Until I can get it really cleaned up with wet sanding, Buffing, and Wax. There may be some spots on the GelCoat on the bottom of the hull that need to be fixed in the off season that have bubbled and cracked.

I updated my previous post and started a new thread to tell the tales of my boating experiences and to ask questions as they arise.

Thanks again for all the help and advise from all you Iboaters. It is really appreciated. This site is an excellent place for information and sharing.

only about 6 weeks till I can get her back on the water again when I get back to the world.

MacPointMan