New Boat

[MarylandDmax]

Hi,
I am looking into buying a new boat, this will be my first boat. I know i want a center console in the 20' range. i have been looking at this boat on Craigslist.
http://smd.craigslist.org/boa/2463187316.html

I know this boat does not have a engine, i have a chevy 350 sitting in my garage that was pulled out of a truck. do you think i should get a donor engine and transfer all the parts needed to put the 350 into boat, or just get a remanufactured engine to put in. Do you think it is too much work and i should look for a boat that is a little more complete. plz give me your idea on what to do

 

[MarylandDmax]

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

With the boat i buy, it will have to be able to fish on the bay, as well as run in shallow water when i go duck hunting with it.. Do you have any suggestions for a possible boat i should look at.

 

[nlain]

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

First, welcome aboard. Now, no truck engine, you need a marine engine for a boat. What is the age of the boat, how much wood is in the boat, how much of that wood is rotten wood, is the outdrive good or bad, How long has it sat out in the weather, I see the blue tarp, they leak as they get older, how much water has sat inside the hull and did it freeze there. Just some things to think about before you spend the $3000.00.

 

[nlain]

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

With the boat i buy, it will have to be able to fish on the bay, as well as run in shallow water when i go duck hunting with it.. Do you have any suggestions for a possible boat i should look at.

An I/O will not run in as shallow water as an outboard, so if you want shallow water running you should look more at outboard powered boats.

 

[MarylandDmax]

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

I went and looked at the boat yester day, there isnt much wood on the boat, but what little needs to be replaced, which isnt hard. Some of the paint could use a little touch up, no big deal. i found a marine engine that had a cracked block and i was going to take all the pistons, crank, cam and such out and swap it over to the engine block in the garage.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

For shallows including marshes duck hunting, as well as the bay, get a 17- 19' J series Carolina Skiff, Bay Runner, Skimmer or Palm beach imitators, or a jon boat like polar craft of similar size.
Second choice is a "bay boat" design hull.
A 17' whaler will do very well, too.

If you can find a Chincoteague Scow design, grab it.

Outboards only.

When you say "not much wood on the boat" the wood that is your concern you can't see--it's the core of the transom and the stringers under the deck.

PS I am a duck hunter and flat water boater on the Eastern Shore, seaside, and have owned or operated a variety of boats there for 40 years. I now regularly use a 19' Carolina Skiff and a 17' Key West (bay boat hull) in the marshes, bays amd ocean inlets.

ETA that boat in the ad is a good looking hull but not what you want for the skinny water. I have one like it, too. but wouldn't take it to the shore.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

Same seller/boat:
http://smd.craigslist.org/boa/2483128786.html
It's not much of a deal when a running four foot bigger Sea Hawks like this are water ready:
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/boa/2477926897.html

This one is priced a little better:
http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/boa/2445356768.html
IMO your find is a $1500, 2k at the most boat.

 

[MarylandDmax]

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

i see what your saying, i didnt have a chance to get up in the boat, just able to look from the outside. Now i can see it would be alot of work to even get it on the water setting aside the fact that i want a boat for hunting ducks, it would be alot of work to get a functional motor, make sure outdrive works, along with the controls.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New Boa

Re: New Boa

That era Chris Craft probably also has an OMC stern drive which is difficult to get parts for. Price is ridiculous for a boat with no motor. Also, I think you're missing our point on the rotted wood. We're talking about teak accents here, we're talking about important structural components of the hull: deck, stringers, transom.