newbie needing opinions

[tracker01]

Being new to the forum and fairly new to boating I'm wondering what more experience people's opinions are on this boat. As for sale value and handling in the water, I'm looking for something that can handle fairly large water.

http://up.craigslist.org/boa/2268626236.html

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Nice little boat!! Ya, I think it's worth the money however I wouldn't use her in "fairly large water".....as I don't know what fairly large water means. But for small to medium sized lakes...I think she'll do fine. I wouldn't take her more than a mile offshore though.

 

[tracker01]

Re: newbie needing opinions

I have the St. Mary's River near by and Lake Huron to the south and lake superior to the north. I know the waters can get pretty bad, due to the strong winds that the area sees.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: newbie needing opinions

I'm not sure that I'd take that boat into anything more than a slight chop and light winds. Defintely take it out on the water and see how she handles before you pay the owner any $$. A "Sea trial" will answer many questions you might have.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: newbie needing opinions

On the plus side that's a great little boat. I had a 16' closed bow Starcraft and it was a fun ride. Aluminum hulls are light and easy to tow, handle, and restore. That 55 will push it fine and I believe the seller's 30MPH claim. However, that looks like an electric shift model Johnson. Parts related to the shifting mechanism are no longer available so if that isn't working or stops working you're pretty much limited to ebay for parts. Parts for the powerhead should be easily obtainable. Also, that trailer looks like a project. Price is fair though.

 

[hostage]

Re: newbie needing opinions

I would not even consider taking a boat like that onto the great lakes. I live off lake Ontario and we get some big waves that would most likely swamp a boat like that.

I have a 19ft Cuddy that has an engine that is about 4x more powerful engine and a lot more free board. If I want to take some friends out for a roller coaster of a ride, I take them out on the lake. Also, when I do I stay very close to shore. I mostly stay on the bay, which is connected to the lake, but I seldom venture out to the lake. Also things can go bad to worst out there. Keep in mind a lot of larger ships lay on the bottom of the great lakes.

It should be fine for a river, though I wouldn't venture onto large bodies of water on a boat like that.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Know your limitations as a boater and the limitations of your boat. As said, that boat would be fine on the great lakes as long as it's a calm day and you aren't far from shore. I wouldn't get more than a 1/4 mile from shore but that's me. I'd be skeptical that the boat could really hit 30mph though. I bet the motor is a little tired and a 55hp motor pushing a slightly deeper boat like that isn't going to be all that efficient. I mention that because it affects how quickly you can get back to shore if conditions change quickly.

If you do venture out onto the great lakes, make sure that you have that thing prepared. It looks like it's got a closed bow, which is a good thing for big waves. You might consider adding a second (or first) high output bilge pump. As expected, make sure that you have all of the safety equipment required.

As for inland lakes, that boat should be able to handle just about anything. I'd take it on any of the big inland lakes in Minnesota which is similar to Michigan. Good luck.

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: newbie needing opinions

I can help you with that:
I had a similar boat. It was a 15ft Glastron with a 65HP Merc. It was a closed bow. The only difference is the hull was fiberglass. I took it out on Lake Ontario a few times. It wasn't pleasant. I had to drop from plane every time a large wave rolled in to avoid a hard impact. One time I dropped the wife and kids off at a park because the lake suddenly got rough. I turned around and ended up retrieving the boat alone.

I wouldn't recommend this boat for primary use on one of the great lakes. You might want to look at Tri-hulls. I replaced that Glastron with a tri-hull and my ride was a heck of a lot smoother for roughly the same size boat. Just my $.02..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: newbie needing opinions

You might want to look at Tri-hulls. I replaced that Glastron with a tri-hull and my ride was a heck of a lot smoother for roughly the same size boat. Just my $.02..

Does not compute............

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Trihull = better stability

easier?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Trihull = better stability

easier?

Yes but stability does not equal smooth ride. Pretty much no one on here has ever described a tri-hull as a smooth ride. A small tri-hull would be the last thing I'd want out on Lake Ontario.

 

[robert graham]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Being new to the forum and fairly new to boating I'm wondering what more experience people's opinions are on this boat. As for sale value and handling in the water, I'm looking for something that can handle fairly large water.

http://up.craigslist.org/boa/2268626236.html

That's looks like a well-maintained "older" lake/river boat, but for "large water" look at boats with a deeper V dead-rise transom that will be much safer and ride much better. Good Luck!

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Yes but stability does not equal smooth ride. Pretty much no one on here has ever described a tri-hull as a smooth ride. A small tri-hull would be the last thing I'd want out on Lake Ontario.

V-Hull = 1969 Glastron Sportster V-157.
Tri-Hull = 1972 Glaspar Cutlass 1600.
Same 65 hp outboard used on both.

Nope! My tri-hull was far more stable and smoother than the v-hull. Believe me, I owned both types of craft and it's obvious. The conditions of the boats were similar. Both had newer floors and decent transoms.

I get you though. A lot of people claim tri-hulls are not smooth. That's not been my experience though. You do agree a tri-hull is more stable though. Wouldn't stability be more important than anything else in a larger lake?

 

[V153]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Umm not to nitpick but a '69 V157 is a tri-hull. And an I/O btw ...

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Umm not to nitpick but a '69 V157 is a tri-hull. And an I/O btw ...

Opps. That's a typo. It's the '69 V-153. It's a closed bow and takes up to a 90HP.

 

[V153]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Opps. That's a typo. It's the '69 V-153. It's a closed bow and takes up to a 90HP.

Aha! I happen to have a '71. But last time I checked it was a V-hull?

 

[partskenn]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Don't know much about tri-hulls etc, but that is not enough boat for the great lakes. Inland lakes sure, maybe a sheltered bay on a nice day on one of the big lakes, but that's it. Nice looking boat though.

 

[V153]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Don't know much about tri-hulls etc, but that is not enough boat for the great lakes

I agree. My brother & I had a F206 Formula deep V in Buffalo decades ago & even that could get scary out on lake Erie?

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Aha! I happen to have a '71. But last time I checked it was a V-hull?

Yup. that's the same boat. You have a 90HP on yours?!? I know it's rated for it, but that's insane. LOL..

http://www.classicglastron.com/69gl-v142-153.html

 

[V153]

Re: newbie needing opinions

Yup. that's the same boat. You have a 90HP on yours?!

And then some. Motor punched .030, everything from the crank up is balanced, reed kit, 140hp carbs, etc. If'n ya ever make it down this way I'll take ya for a ride. Though the Gulf can sometimes get a lil nasty like the great lakes?