Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

[mysticowner]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

Some states say 8 or 8'6" max width.

From what I understand, depending on the state, the max width can be extended with the right permit(s).

I don't need a boat that wide. My wife is about 110 lbs and I'm just 190 lbs.
I'll find out when we step inside but I bet we can pass in the smaller boats.

I won't rule out the larger boat but again as with the engines, I'm not looking
for one. The Sea Ray 268 keeps coming to mind.

I don't want her to comfortable in the cabin boat.... she may not want to take the jet out again..... Naaaaa, that'll never happen

You guys touched on the bored factor. Doesn't happen with a the jet.
Heck, just hearing that beast of an engine is a thrill in it's self!

 

[daddystoy201]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

I have owned searays for many years and loved them first 82 sd 260 w/ 260 mercrusier great boat had it for many years and trailered it. we have 4 kids and it did a great job and we lived in michigan at the time. If it was me , I would buy another sundancer in a heartbeat. And i am looking at one now a 39 sd w/ t454s for 25,000 Go look at boatrader.com and look around michigan moneys tight in that state good deals to be had

 

[mysticowner]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

I have owned searays for many years and loved them first 82 sd 260 w/ 260 mercrusier great boat had it for many years and trailered it. we have 4 kids and it did a great job and we lived in michigan at the time. If it was me , I would buy another sundancer in a heartbeat. And i am looking at one now a 39 sd w/ t454s for 25,000 Go look at boatrader.com and look around michigan moneys tight in that state good deals to be had

Thank you, I'll do that

 

[daddystoy201]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

I have family in michigan and with all the lay-offs people would rather sell than take the hit on the credit report. i bought our new boat a 91 four winns liberator less than 200hrs on it for 5500.00 and it is mint i put more money in it built the motor up to 425hp love the speed. The reason we buying a bigger boat is the kids and their familes i seat 6 fine for my wife and our 2 boys at home but not good for 4 more and a grand- daughter will never get rid of the Lib.

 

[daddystoy201]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

1983 Searay Sundancer, 26', with trailer, new tarps and electronics, 100 gallons of fuel, ready to go in spring, must sell, 1ST $7500.00 obo 419-215-0771 TOLEDO

 

[mysticowner]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

1983 Searay Sundancer, 26', with trailer, new tarps and electronics, 100 gallons of fuel, ready to go in spring, must sell, 1ST $7500.00 obo 419-215-0771 TOLEDO

I'd like to stay near 89 if possible. Bravo drive prefferably. Do you know where I could get detail on this one though. I don't like to bother people on the phone till I know I'm definately interested.

 

[mysticowner]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

Just a word about the Bayliner cruisers. Bayliner offered all most all of them at an entry level and then the buyers decided what options they wanted. You can not assume anything about the amenities based on the fact its a Bayliner. (Think $18K Impala vs. $26K for the same car.) As far as mechanicals, they use the same exact engines and drives as everyone else. No differences there, although you will find they had a wide variety of engine sizes, again it depends what the original buyer wanted.

Wanting to run 40 MPH? Whew, I think you are being optomistic. Most of these boats will run in the low to mid 30s. Yes, you can throw HP at it and do it, but man, your gong to burn fuel like there is no tomorrow to do it.

Hmm, trailering a 26' crusier on a weekly basis. Yes, you can, but its a lot of work and you are going to need a serious tow vehcile to do it on a regular basis. As to problems when floating it off the trailer during launch, none I can think of.

As to a "Ford" engine. Ford hasn't been a player in the marine industry in a very long time and parts are getting harder to find all the time. (For the entire drive line.) Heaven forbid, but if something goes bad your costs to repair it are going to sting. Most of the big block Fords coupled with the OMC King Cobra and parts for them are rarer than hen's teeth and cost big bucks. (Read the forums of guys throwing their Ford King Cobras out and putting Chevy 454 / Mercs in their boats.)

If I were you I would open myself up to a road trip to get the boat I wanted. If you don't want to trailer long distance it fairly easy to find a licensed, bonded service to do it for you. (Usually around a buck a mile if you shop around.) If you do some prop kicking you could find a boat meeting your needs somewhere in the $10K range if you don't limit your self to only looking in your backyard.

Or as anther option, you say you like doing your own work so you might consider trying to find a project boat with a cracked engine / drive due to poor winterization on the cheap and repowering as desired. (I have the feeling there are gong to be a LOT of those this spring in southern states that normally don't worry about freezing.)

I guess the jet spoiled me on the top end speed. This wouldn't be the everyday boat but just for overnighters.

Was the 460 only on the omc drive? From what I've gathered here I should be sticking with the Bravo drive so I guess Chevy it is.... It should be ok for lower RPM use )

I would love to find a boat with a broken block but then there is the risk of manifolds and drive being cracked too isn't there?

I am willing to travel to pick one up or use a shipper if necessary. I'd probably be game for 150 miles myself. My son and I went Central Pa to Illinois last spring and picked one up. That's to far, I won't do that again.

I didn't know about the options list of Bayliner. Was Sea Ray the same way?
That just makes the research all the more necessary

Thank you for your info, I really appreciate it.

 

[Impactg]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

I have owned searays for many years and loved them first 82 sd 260 w/ 260 mercrusier great boat had it for many years and trailered it. we have 4 kids and it did a great job and we lived in michigan at the time. If it was me , I would buy another sundancer in a heartbeat. And i am looking at one now a 39 sd w/ t454s for 25,000 Go look at boatrader.com and look around michigan moneys tight in that state good deals to be had

+1

I live in PA, but purchased in Michigan. The best deal on the same boat that I could find in this area (Baltimore) was 30K more. A buddy I boat with also purchased in Michigan this same year. Both his and my purchases were at dealerships/marinas on Lake St. Claire.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

The best deal on the same boat that I could find in this area (Baltimore) was 30K more.

And the Baltimore one was probably salt water used as well

 

[daddystoy201]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

I'd like to stay near 89 if possible. Bravo drive prefferably. Do you know where I could get detail on this one though. I don't like to bother people on the phone till I know I'm definately interested.

Yeah go to boattrader.com and put in searay 83-93 in zip code 48708 and put in 1000 miles it should come up if not just give me a call 803-883-1182 my name is Bill

 

[themaniam1]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

I guess have have missed something because I think nothing of trailering my 24' CC 1? hours to the lake, do it all the time. Some of the lakes I go to are 2? hours and 3000 ft higher in elevation. Twice a year we haul it 6 hours down to Lake Powell also over many high passes. I would not sweat the towing part if you have a diesel something to pull it. I do hate towing it through rush hour traffic.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

I guess have have missed something because I think nothing of trailering my 24' CC 1? hours to the lake, do it all the time. Some of the lakes I go to are 2? hours and 3000 ft higher in elevation. Twice a year we haul it 6 hours down to Lake Powell also over many high passes. I would not sweat the towing part if you have a diesel something to pull it. I do hate towing it through rush hour traffic.

Well the 24' CC probably weighs around 4-5K lbs right? The 27 ft cruisers can weigh in around 7K+ easily, so it's not quite as simple. 7K+ lbs plus trailer weight can go past the maximum towing ratings for many 1/2 trucks depending on configuration and model year. Most people don't drive diesels unless they use them for work or hauling other heavy loads, so it isn't likely the OP has a diesel. These boats really are at that dividing line between boats that are capable of going on weekend road trips, and those that should probably be left on the water or only towed a few miles to a ramp.

I wouldn't bother towing anything 29' and above, regardless of what truck I had to pull it with. Trailering and towing become more than a 1-2 person operation, especially when it's windy.

 

[mysticowner]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

Towing isn't a problem. I have a parking space less than a mile from the launch and home is only 8 miles away.

I have a F150 extended cab 4X4 to pull with. Don't you think my mountaineer can handle it ))

Do all trailers with brakes have the hyd. surge set up?

None would have electric brakes would they???? Seems to go against common sense doesn't it

 

[mysticowner]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

Given your short towing distance I see no problems at all and with the 4x4 in low range the ramp won't be an issue at all.

By law, any trailer this size must have brakes. You won't find many electrical brakes on a boat trailer, keep in mind you are going to submerse them.

That's what I mean, doesn't seem electrons would float very well )

I pulled my 26 foot camper to Florida and back (from pa) 4 times. This size boat doesn't worry me as far as towing.

My big hang up is it's winter.... the boats are winterized and burried under tarps etc. I would like to see a few to determine which brand and size I really need.

If this were summer I'd jump on the motorcycle and go check them out.

Winter sucks!

If any of you fellows have a sea ray 268 or the 25' would you send any pictures you may have on your computer so I can see what I can see?

A lot of people trying to sell stuff don't take pictures of the bad spots. Any input or info on the sea ray 268 or the next size smaller would be appreciated!
Thank you,
Dave

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

There are tons of boat trailers with electric brakes where I'm from. The electric brakes work just fine, but just like with hydraulic setups, they disengage when backing, so working in the water is a moot point. The electric trailer setups don't have a surge brake, but they do have break-away cables to activate the brakes if the trailer comes off of the hitch.

 

[mysticowner]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

There are tons of boat trailers with electric brakes where I'm from. The electric brakes work just fine, but just like with hydraulic setups, they disengage when backing, so working in the water is a moot point. The electric trailer setups don't have a surge brake, but they do have break-away cables to activate the brakes if the trailer comes off of the hitch.

That's interesting, you would think the water would get into the coils and connections and cause corrosion.

Ya learn something new every day!

 

[themaniam1]

Re: Want to buy a cabin boat and need advise

Well the 24' CC probably weighs around 4-5K lbs right? The 27 ft cruisers can weigh in around 7K+ easily, so it's not quite as simple. 7K+ lbs plus trailer weight can go past the maximum towing ratings for many 1/2 trucks depending on configuration and model year. Most people don't drive diesels unless they use them for work or hauling other heavy loads, so it isn't likely the OP has a diesel. These boats really are at that dividing line between boats that are capable of going on weekend road trips, and those that should probably be left on the water or only towed a few miles to a ramp.

I wouldn't bother towing anything 29' and above, regardless of what truck I had to pull it with. Trailering and towing become more than a 1-2 person operation, especially when it's windy.

I totally agree, especially with the wind part both loading and towing! I was just trying to say that towing a CC is not a big deal to me. Out here in the west I see it all the time. Yes we have a lot of diesel trucks but I was towing mine until last year with a ? ton Suburban, it was a strain on it but it did tow it and our bout weighs 6600 lbs not including trailer. I love having a diesel now to tow it.

OP should be totally fine with his truck towing that short distance.

Mystic, I would suggest to you to look at all the online used boat for sale sites you can find. They will have a ton of different boats and lots of pictures of their configurations and all the specs. We were also looking for a Sea Ray like you but stumbled across a Rinker and ended up buying it, you never know what you will find. Have fun while looking for your boat, we did.