TwoBallScrewBall
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2003
- Messages
- 1,695
Well I had a small deposit on a 2005 20' walksround (SeaPro). However, over the weekend I (we, wife and I) stumbled on a boat I fell in love with. <br /><br />Say Hello to Stiff Nibbles II:<br /><br />It's a 23' Wellcraft Excel, 1997. Has a 200HP Ocean Pro 'Rude on it. Here's the thing, it's absloutely 100% immaculate, not a mark, rip, tear, blemish, crack, anything anywhere on it. Annually shrinkwrapped, profesionally maintained, etc. Looking at it and not knowing what year it is, you would easily believe me if I told you it was a new boat. Only 218 hours, all maintenance professionally done with the documentation to back it up. Full canvas enclosure, Charting GPS, wide view FF, DSC VHF, AM/FM/CD, trim tabs, live wells, vacuflush head, dinette, gas burner, sink, did I mention it was immaculate? I would eat off the deck if I had to. <br /><br />Owner bought a Grady Gulf Stream, said this boat was just too small. OK. Was asking $20,500, I offered him $18,000 which was what I had put together as a down payment on the 2005, and he took it! It's in the water so I test drove it, engine starts and runs awesome as it should with olny 218 hours on it. Boat runs at a respectable clip, about 25mph at 3800R. <br /><br />Best part, no new boat financing! 
Have to buy a trailer for it ($2740 locally here, brand new roller trailer with disc brakes on all 4 wheels) so I might have to float a few bucks at the credit union, but overall I went from looking at a payment for 5 years to pretty much paying cash for this while rig. I'm happy!<br /><br />Found some reviews of the boat from back in the mid to late 90's, one where they actually compared the 23 Excel to a 26 Seaswirl, and gave the nod to the Excel. I also looked on NADA, this boat with the options it has is worth Average Ratil of $23,500. Says pirce is higher if in exceptional condition which this boat definitely is so I am one happy camper. <br /><br />Wish me luck with this one!! I pick it up this weekend! Juat in time for the fall stripers!!!!!!!
Have to buy a trailer for it ($2740 locally here, brand new roller trailer with disc brakes on all 4 wheels) so I might have to float a few bucks at the credit union, but overall I went from looking at a payment for 5 years to pretty much paying cash for this while rig. I'm happy!<br /><br />Found some reviews of the boat from back in the mid to late 90's, one where they actually compared the 23 Excel to a 26 Seaswirl, and gave the nod to the Excel. I also looked on NADA, this boat with the options it has is worth Average Ratil of $23,500. Says pirce is higher if in exceptional condition which this boat definitely is so I am one happy camper. <br /><br />Wish me luck with this one!! I pick it up this weekend! Juat in time for the fall stripers!!!!!!! 
