What is Your List of Best 20'-24' Boats for Ocean Worth Putting Time and Money Into?

[bigkahuna427]

Best 20'-24' Boat Suitable for Ocean Worth putting Time and Money Into.

I am a master auto tech and am the kind of guy who would take a boat that someone said was ready to fish and pull the engine and stern drive to go through it all. I just do not trust a lot of the work I have seen on some of these boats. It would certainly be all the little things that would give you trouble out there. Things like incorrect hose clamps, poor wiring etc. I would just rather have a boat where I know what I have when it is done.

I want something trailerable with a cuddy and a hull that can handle chop. I started looking at 20 and 21' but am now considering up to 24'. The mechanical part I think I have under control. I would certainly check out the floor, stringers and transom as I do not want to get into much of that. I just do not have the experience to know what is considered to be a recognized "good" boat. I just passed on a Bayliner and thank you to those who suggested I bail on that one!

What are your favorites in this class of boats?

 

[thumpar]

Deadrise is a good way to get some kind of idea of the hull in waves. The higher the number the deeper the V at the transom. It makes it cut through the water. Others will add to it but that is a start.

 

[smokeonthewater]

wide flared bow... wellcraft V-20 / V-21
Yes they also come as cuddys

 

[lprizman]

Carolina classic 24
dusky 223
Aubrey brothers
caliber boats
nautic star

 

[NYBo]

Outboards are the preferred boats for this purpose in this size range from what I've seen.
Grady White is another brand to consider.

 

[crb478]

I second the wellcraft v20 and v21 two true classics, Others include sea ox, robolo,Mako, and sea pro. Grady whites are great boats, but in my area they cost more. If you can afford one go for it.

 

[Thalasso]

If your going to use it for fishing yoiu will want a sharp entry and not a large dead rise at the stern if your going to drift fish. The sharp entry will help the ride and the not so large at the stern will negate a lot of rolling while drifting. Large dead rise to the stern makes the boat roll more while at drift.

 

[dingbat]

The "ocean" tells me nothing about what you are doing with the boat. Like asking for a list of the best guns to go hunting.

Different boats behave differently in different conditions. Primary use of the boat? What area? Inshore, offshore, coastal?

Deadrise is a meaningless measure of how a boat will perform without taking into consideration the design of the hull.

I/O are horrible rough water boats because of the weight distribution. Inboards perform best because of the low center of gravity, but are slow.

There is no substitute for displacement when it comes to rough water performance. I want the biggest, heaviest boat I can find when push comes to shove.

Some of my picks

Inshore:
Grady White
Parker
Old Makos
Old Aquasports
Wellcraft Coastal


Offshore:
Contender
Regulator
Hydra-Sport


The classics
http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/gallery/photo-galleries/2012/12/top-50-fishing-boats-all-time

 

[bigkahuna427]

Thanks guys really appreciate the guidance! I have added most of these names to a search I have set up. I am really bouncing around but have my eye on a 1990 20.5' Sea Pro walk around for $5900. The guy says he has 6K in receipts to include a new lower unit and fuel pump for the 1990 200HP Johnson

 

[gddavid]

I have a sea pro and have nothing against the brand but would not consider them ocean boats. If you are looking for a project to start scratch (planning on stringer, transom, bew everything) from scratch you will open your options up. If you want something use able this season that can be taken out on the ocean expect to pay much more. I would look for a seacraft safari.

 

[500dollar744ti]

how about a smaller Bertram? I saw a 24' on craigslist the other day for cheap that needed restore.

 

[dingbat]

I am really bouncing around but have my eye on a 1990 20.5' Sea Pro walk around for $5900. The guy says he has 6K in receipts to include a new lower unit and fuel pump for the 1990 200HP Johnson

receipts or not, the motor is worth maybe $1k. T he hull isn't worth $5k

 

[bigkahuna427]

I passed on the Sea Pro. NADA said that boat trailer motor etc. was $4500 he said he was not going to budge on the price. Talked to the guy about the issues the boat had and he was pretty honest with me but did not seem like a boat guy. He used the boat 3 times a year in Rye Harbor NH but described to me having no GPS, no navigation skill, and no charts. My guess, the lower unit was replace because he hit something.

Gddavid:
I looked up a Seacraft Safari. I think I know a guy up in Maine here that used to work for them! He suggested that I look for one of those. What is it about a Seacraft that I should consider buying one? Just trying to get educated here.

500dollar:
I think I did see a Bertram also a Stamas that might have been 26 or 28 feet. I have looked at a couple of larger boats. But I think I just need to get my feet wet first.

 

[500dollar744ti]

If you want to get your feet wet first, get something cheap. I always look at a boat as a total loss investment that way I'm not disappointed. I bought my boat for $2800, I never expect to get that back, nor do I expect to get back the time and money I have in it. I do enjoy every minute of my boating and that's how I get a return on my investment.

I recommend to decide on what kind of boat you want, then go one size bigger. I was in the market for a 18-20' bowrider under $3000. I ended up with a 23' cuddy cabin and it's really nice to have the extra size, capacity, handling, power, all of it.

I'm not afraid to take it out into big ocean waters and have taken it on many long and exciting trips that I would not have been able to do with a smaller bowrider.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I like my current Cruisers Rogue going out in the ICW and off shore a bit, however what do you want to use the boat for?

 

[bigkahuna427]

Seen so many boats now my head is spinning. My experience has been that mostly a LOT of the boats are not cared for or not PROPERLY cared by people who do not know what they are doing. I have looked at boats from $1500 to $15000. I soon as I hear they rewired the boat now I am thinking OK it probably needs to be rewired again. Might just as well buy a $1000 dollar boat and go through the freakin thing myself. I am certain not paying 15K for a boat that has Romex going to a bilge pump.

I do have a line on a Cruisers Inc Bonanza 21' and a1975 SeaCraft 23' Tsunami which looked really cool. I have also found a 20' Bertram with outboard that looked real nice.

Is Slickcraft or Stamas considered a decent boat?

 

[gddavid]

As you have found, condition is king. Both Slickcraft and Stamas have good reputations. The guy who started slickcraft sold it off, signing a non-compete agreement with the buyer then founded S-2 yachts and made sailboats til the agreement expired then he went on to start tiara and pursuit which also have great reputations.

Overall condition is the most important factor in buying any used boat but you have the additional requirement of being ocean capable. Like others have mentioned it depends how, where and when you would venture onto the ocean but overall that is a high expectation. For the average inland user, an average boat in great condition is better than a once incredibly seaworthy boat that is now in poor condition. The challenge is that the average boat in that size range wasn't capable of ocean duty when it was brand new so you are looking for those rare boats with legendary seaworthiness, old enough to be affordable but in good enough shape to be serviceable.

The early center consoles were amoung the first ocean capable small boats and the market has continued to grow since their inception in the 60's. A ton of builders got in the game and some with really great reputations are still in business today. Far fewer of these hulls were made as cuddy cabins simply because there wasn't the same demand for that configuration. I suggested the safari because seacrafts are amoung the highest regarded small offshore boats due to their hull design and construction and they are one of the few that made cuddy cabins. Their center consoles still command high prices but the cuddies can be found cheaper because many fishermen prefer a center console. Mako's, boston whalers are also great handling boats but didn't make many cuddies. As others have mentioned wellcraft steplifts, pursuit, tiaras, bertrams and cruisers are good options. Hold out for a vintage, high end well loved boat that was garage kept whose owner has passed away and the family doesn't know what it is worth. Hard to find but they are out there.

 

[bigkahuna427]

These are some classic boats that have caught my eye. What do you think?

http://newlondon.craigslist.org/boa/4528628552.html
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/boa/4538560718.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/boa/4580134771.html This is in FL but it would not be totally beyond to go there repack the wheel bearing and run it home. Old but simple engines and I would pull them right out and go through them. Wonder about fuel consumption?
http://newlondon.craigslist.org/boa/4572753775.html Expensive motors and it has two YIKES
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/4600680139.html
http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/4575877352.html Looks like a well built classic but I think I am looking for 23 or so now.
http://maine.craigslist.org/boa/4503425521.html

 

[bigkahuna427]

As you have found, condition is king. Both Slickcraft and Stamas have good reputations. The guy who started slickcraft sold it off, signing a non-compete agreement with the buyer then founded S-2 yachts and made sailboats til the agreement expired then he went on to start tiara and pursuit which also have great reputations.

Overall condition is the most important factor in buying any used boat but you have the additional requirement of being ocean capable. Like others have mentioned it depends how, where and when you would venture onto the ocean but overall that is a high expectation. For the average inland user, an average boat in great condition is better than a once incredibly seaworthy boat that is now in poor condition. The challenge is that the average boat in that size range wasn't capable of ocean duty when it was brand new so you are looking for those rare boats with legendary seaworthiness, old enough to be affordable but in good enough shape to be serviceable.

The early center consoles were amoung the first ocean capable small boats and the market has continued to grow since their inception in the 60's. A ton of builders got in the game and some with really great reputations are still in business today. Far fewer of these hulls were made as cuddy cabins simply because there wasn't the same demand for that configuration. I suggested the safari because seacrafts are amoung the highest regarded small offshore boats due to their hull design and construction and they are one of the few that made cuddy cabins. Their center consoles still command high prices but the cuddies can be found cheaper because many fishermen prefer a center console. Mako's, boston whalers are also great handling boats but didn't make many cuddies. As others have mentioned wellcraft steplifts, pursuit, tiaras, bertrams and cruisers are good options. Hold out for a vintage, high end well loved boat that was garage kept whose owner has passed away and the family doesn't know what it is worth. Hard to find but they are out there.

Thank you for the well thought response.....

 

[crb478]

Seen so many boats now my head is spinning. My experience has been that mostly a LOT of the boats are not cared for or not PROPERLY cared by people who do not know what they are doing. I have looked at boats from $1500 to $15000. I soon as I hear they rewired the boat now I am thinking OK it probably needs to be rewired again. Might just as well buy a $1000 dollar boat and go through the freakin thing myself. I am certain not paying 15K for a boat that has Romex going to a bilge pump.

I do have a line on a Cruisers Inc Bonanza 21' and a1975 SeaCraft 23' Tsunami which looked really cool. I have also found a 20' Bertram with outboard that looked real nice.

Is Slickcraft or Stamas considered a decent boat?

It looks like you have some good prospects to look at, as for the boats that have been rewired. Well a lot of boats need to be rewired, many use crimp ons and butt connectors and corrode over time. Sometimes the wires fail dues to resistance. As far as the Romex, Many tinned wires come sheathed and look like romex, but they are not. They are actually what you want in a boat. Of course you may have come across someone who actually used romex. I trust my soldered connections, but not everyones, so look the wiring over closely.