So, my husband buys a boat...

[LippCJ7]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Sorry Lipp...I must have married her sister 16 years ago. My wife told me the other day that as soon as we get the Four Winns all straightened out, I (we) need to start looking around for a nice bass boat. She really likes my buddy's new Bullet 20XD. AND...I am to teach her how to pull, launch, and retrieve so she can fish while the kids are at school........GOD...I LOVE HER!!!!!

Your not my friend anymore

 

[dorelse]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

Well, Mille Lacs is 130,000 acres...so Upper/Lower Red? Another MN native...we mostly boat in the Park Rapids area. I tend to stick to small lakes as I really like finding a lake all to myself sometimes...

I'll be curious to hear what your mechanic says. BTW...for $6K, you can get a ready to run/good, much newer boat in any style you can imagine.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Your not my friend anymore

hehe.....

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Hey.....another Century owner!

Century boats are well built boats.....however you have to be the judge when shes flat lined and it's time to call, time of death! If you get me the Hull ID number....usually on the transom in the upper right corner....maybe on the left, I can tell you what model it is.

A & A marine can sell you all of the original interior for that boat for about 2K. They have all of the original patterns from Century.....they can supply it for you to install, or they can install it. I can't post the link right now but it's www.classicboating.com They do better if you call them....they wont answer e-mail....call them at the number on the website.

Century boats hold their value a little better than some...but you're not gonna make money on it......for me Century boats are a way to hold onto my youth....I've just always loved the inboards.....but I do the work...I'm not paying someone else to do it....it's something I love to do. If your going to buy a different boat and you like Century boats...look at the inboards.... They're easy to work on! They are great for skiing and tubing....look for an 80's Resorter....very cool boats.

 

[roscoe]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/boa/2286095889.html


http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/boa/2286059668.html


http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/boa/2285989711.html

 

[DaNinja]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

You guys may be better served by buying a better Fish n' Ski type boat if a resto isn't in your desire or capabilities.

We're going through the numbers on one of our boats, as well.

Welcome!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

A boat is a hole in the water into which one pours money. But what an addiction! As compared to all the money wasted on ungreatful children boats are a bargin in my opinion. Then the problem with children is that they multiply. Now have 7 grandchildern. So much for a New Boat!

Do you ever visit Lake-Link web site?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

Send your husband out to buy a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk, while he's gone sell the old boat and buy a brand new one!

When you buy used stuff, you're usually just buying someone else's problems.

Used boats are good for first timers to learn with, now that you have the experience go get a nice new shiny one!!!

 

[Silk]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

We hauled the boat the repair shop, he only does exterior/interior work, no engine work. He went over it to check out dry rot and surprisingly, with the exception of a few spots in the floor, all else was looking good. He said the body was in good shape and everything else looked sturdy and seaworthy.

Bottom line, we would sink about 15-1700 in for a floor and another 800 for 2 fishing seats, 2 jump seats and new vinyl installed.

So hubby starts doing the math and now wants to look at some other boats in that 3500-4500 range to see what is out there in comparison. We may still end up replacing the interior and sticking with a known floating and working boat, but we'll see.

So this weekend we are off boat shopping!

Can I add some links to the ones we are thinking of and get some opinions?

The guy at the boat shop gave us some good ways to check for dry rot, but any other tips would be most helpful. .

Oh, and to my fellow Minnesotan, we are on Leech Lake.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Sell the current boat 2000 then add the 3000 you plan to redo the interior. You'll get a lot better boat for 5000.

This is the best advice given on said subject... Good luck..

 

[hostage]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

I started to look at boats a couple years ago and noticed a lot of boats for under $2k. I started looking there, then went up and saw how much nicer the boats were that were selling for $4k. Then I ended up spending $7.5k on a boat that was newer and had fiberglass floor and stringers. The boat had a lot more newer features than the older ones, would take less maintenance, would resell better. In the end I wanted to spend more time on the water and less time worrying about things going wrong. The older the boat the more likely it is going to be rundown more than a newer one. Also on my boat it came with things that my grandfather's 70's trihull didn't. i.e. cupholders, fiber glass floor, fiberglass stringers, snap in carpet, integrated depthfinder, swim platform, stereo, latest generation of the 4.3L engine, and other stuff.

Sell it off, someone might want to do the project themselves and save a few bucks. Get a better boat enjoy it more and sell it and get more of your money back than you would have for the vintage boat.

Regarding the worry about getting yourself into a whole lot of problems. My advice is if your husband is as cheap as I am, then he should learn what to look for in a good boat and read a lot of stuff on the internet and on these forums. You made a wise decision by joining this forum...welcome to the forum btw.

-Hostage

 

[Bolixt]

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

Re: So, my husbannd buys a boat...

That's good fishing in Leech. Spent a big piece on my youth on Steamboat. We'd often canoe thru the channel to fish on Leech. 16' Thompson canoe. 3 people. B4 you were born I'm sure.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

We hauled the boat the repair shop, he only does exterior/interior work, no engine work. He went over it to check out dry rot and surprisingly, with the exception of a few spots in the floor, all else was looking good. He said the body was in good shape and everything else looked sturdy and seaworthy.

Bottom line, we would sink about 15-1700 in for a floor and another 800 for 2 fishing seats, 2 jump seats and new vinyl installed.

So hubby starts doing the math and now wants to look at some other boats in that 3500-4500 range to see what is out there in comparison. We may still end up replacing the interior and sticking with a known floating and working boat, but we'll see.

So this weekend we are off boat shopping!

Can I add some links to the ones we are thinking of and get some opinions?

The guy at the boat shop gave us some good ways to check for dry rot, but any other tips would be most helpful. .

Oh, and to my fellow Minnesotan, we are on Leech Lake.

Welcome aboard !

Great points from everyone here... BUT if you are gonna start looking again you can get a TON of good information from this sight and the people here..but a picture and a description only go so far..It isn't as good as being there and seeing it for yourself.

Since you are new to boating and as you said neither of you are very handy, then I would suggest taking a friend who has some boat experience(I'm sure you have made boating friends) or find a reliable marine surveyor to help you with your next purchase..

But don't forget to post pictures and ask what we think hereI'm sure everyone here would like to see your progress and what you're thinking of getting.

Good luck

 

[bassman284]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

We hauled the boat the repair shop, he only does exterior/interior work, no engine work. He went over it to check out dry rot and surprisingly, with the exception of a few spots in the floor, all else was looking good. He said the body was in good shape and everything else looked sturdy and seaworthy.

Bottom line, we would sink about 15-1700 in for a floor and another 800 for 2 fishing seats, 2 jump seats and new vinyl installed.

So hubby starts doing the math and now wants to look at some other boats in that 3500-4500 range to see what is out there in comparison. We may still end up replacing the interior and sticking with a known floating and working boat, but we'll see.

So this weekend we are off boat shopping!

Can I add some links to the ones we are thinking of and get some opinions?

The guy at the boat shop gave us some good ways to check for dry rot, but any other tips would be most helpful. .

Oh, and to my fellow Minnesotan, we are on Leech Lake.

Hey Silk, welcome aboard! I've read the thread and frankly was leaning toward the opinion of "Dump this pooch and get a boat." However, this post sounds encouraging, at least to me.

If I get it right, this guy is talking about half the cost you originally mentioned to fix the floor. You're talking about another 800 for stuff (seats etc.) that you would like to have. If you generally like the boat and it is serving your purposes, this might not be too bad.

Definitely look around and see what's out there. But IMO, you've got a boat you seem to enjoy and you're not talking real huge money to bring it up to snuff.

 

[sprcpr]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

Personal opinion is that the idea of an aluminum hulled fish and ski might be right on the mark. Bullet proof hull, set up for fishing, fum boat and very low maintenance. Prices are a little higher, but they are a better boat for the same money as they look a little funky and don't appeal to as broad of a market.

 

[444]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

Sound like it's time for you to cut and run. There are only two instances in which it makes sense investing into an old boat. One is if the old boat is something that's worth good money in restored condition(not your case) and the other is if you're in love with that boat for sentimental reasons, really love the styling, etc (again does not sound like your case). If you're not mechanically inclined and able to do stuff on the cheap, then doing an older fixer upper boat makes even less sense.

I also have to agree with the idea of an aluminum hulled fish/ski boat. The aluminum hull boats aren't the cheapest, but unlike your current boat, they're not full of wood and fiberglass to rot. The alum hulls last forever.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

We don't know it's not worth good money in restored condition.....we don't know what it is. Is this a 1976 Century Arabian? Raven?...we don't know. It may very well be worth decent money...Some Century models are very desirable...there weren't that many made compared with today's high production models. I'd like to see some pictures, or know what model it is before I say it's not worth restoring, or it's time to cut and run.

 

[QC]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

+1 ^^^^^

 

[dorelse]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

+1 ^^^^^

Aluminium Fish/Ski boats are not without wood...it'd be wrong to say so. They typically don't have a wood substructure (stringers, etc)...but I've been in plenty of Crestliner, Starcraft, Lund, Ranger (fiberglass hull) and there's wood all over the place...and it rots like any other.

Aluminum hulls can leak at the rivets and along the metal seams in the hull. They are not without their own set of issues.

Like everything else...each has its advantages & disadvantages...really need to know which Century we're talking about.

And, ultimately, only you can decide which boat & type of boat works best for what you want to do with it.

If you want to 'fish first, play second', then a good fish/ski aluminum boat would be my recommendation...if you're more the 'play first, fish once in a while' then any fiberglass runabout would work...my opinion has always been that you can do both in any kind of boat...the point is that you're on the water having fun.

 

[Silk]

Re: So, my husband buys a boat...

We don't know it's not worth good money in restored condition.....we don't know what it is. Is this a 1976 Century Arabian? Raven?...we don't know. It may very well be worth decent money...Some Century models are very desirable...there weren't that many made compared with today's high production models. I'd like to see some pictures, or know what model it is before I say it's not worth restoring, or it's time to cut and run.

Well my husband has announced we are keeping the old boat AND getting another boat, really he can drive me insane sometimes, lol.

His reasoning is this way we can have the one we will purchase up North on the lake and keep our old Green Ghetto boat down at our home to fish at our local lakes. I guess that makes sense, it still floats and goes forward, goes backward..uglier than a mud fence, but what the heck

I checked out some nice bass boats and some other nice fishing boats, but I ran into capacity issues, most were 3 to 4 passenger only and for now, with kids still living at home we need a six passenger boat. So I am more limited, I'm taking a open bow 1992 job out tomorrow for a test drive on the lake...woo hoo we'll see how she runs!

Anyway, I will post pics tomorrow of our old reliable Green Ghetto boat and the other one if we get it.