The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

[mommicked]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Lower your standards now, but get something in decent shape (safe) maybe smaller than 18'. When your out of school and have more $$$$, you can get something bigger- better. Around here a used, widebottom 14' jonboat costs $500+ w/o a motor or trailer. Ezmobees suggested boat looks pretty good to me, even if it needs some work, your budget won't buy what you really want, unless you get extremely lucky IMO.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

forget the naysayers.... shop your butt off..... click on free boat in my sig..... I just sold the trailer from the parts boat today and my current total investment is now NEGATIVE $346.... I could spend $1346 fixing it up REALLY nice and still be under your $1000 budget. It CAN be done tho it might take a while and looking on C/L there are some great deals to be had in your area... way cheaper stuff than usually found around here.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Keep in mind though that you may go look at 100 boats to find "the one" the fuel you burn driving around can really add up

 

[NEStriper]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Some clarification might be necessary.

I'm definitely expecting work, don't get me wrong! I don't mind work at all and was actually looking forward to the project aspect of my free one. For under $1k, it is to be expected. Also, this isn't meant to be a boat that can handle all kinds of nasty conditions, mainly because I know I will seriously struggle trying to find that in this price range. For the last two years I've been chasing stripers in a kayak, I know the limits of that and have been out in nasty conditions that I wasn't having any fun in, but wasn't in much danger either. I'm fly fishing and diving mostly, so high winds and swell make for a miserable experience. I'll plan my days accordingly.

I have quite a few months left before I need to make a purchase, but am I far off in thinking that when winter really hits the boat sales slow or stop as they are put away?

In response the the Starcraft V hull, I like the hull design much more however the wheel isn't in the best place for me. It seems extremely similar in layout of my Glassmaster and the wheel is so close to the floor it's not easy to jump in and be on your way. When chasing blitzing fish in the Fall, you need to be able to change position in a second. That's why I liked the idea of a center console so much.

 

[zopperman]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/2691671889.html - not bad, needs a transom but composite stringers - very appealing.
http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/2701409302.html - starcraft CC

 

[NEStriper]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

As an update, I just got off the phone of the owner of that 19' starcraft. He says it was running well and in decent shape and he would do $1000 for it, but I think I could talk him down even from that. However, I talked to my Dad (who has been fishing the Northeast for years) and he mentioned how infrequently he sees those lightweight aluminum hulls out fishing the salt. Is that a concern? It seems that if I can find a fiberglass hull in decent condition, it would be a better bet. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Well, like EZ mentioned up there, an inexpensive glass hull will likely need deck/stringers/transom rendering it an expensive glass hull. An inexpensive alum boat will likely need a deck and transom but your material costs and work load will be way less.

A big heavy glass boat will prolly handle the ocean better but an alum rig will generally cost less to maintain.

There are a lot of other factors that go into the mix, these are just generalizations.

Ya prolly just need to figure out what your most important pieces of the puzzle are.

By the sounds of it, $, which means alum would probably be your best bet.

Cheers

 

[mommicked]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

I'm no expert, obviously, not like some of the other repliers sound to me, but I think what you hope to get for your small stated investment is nearly impossible. You must pay more, or settle for what you can afford now if you want to get on the water sooner than later. A 19' boat, glass or alum. is not the best size for offshore unless its a nice day IMO. With reasonable conditions I think the cheaper alum boat would work fine for fishing inshore and outside. You must consider the real reason someone is selling their boat, some are legitimate reasons, others are because of expensive or unstated problems that can be harder to realize w glass boats than alum. Aluminum does not rot, the wood might, but thats easy to see and fix usually compared to an older glass/encapsulated wood boat that may be abasket case when you tear into it to fix your newfound, newly bought problems.

 

[zopperman]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Will the boat be trailered?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

You will NEVER get a straight answer on the tin vs glass thing.... My vote is glass and the next guy says tin and the next says........ There is no end.... In the end you have to choose which side of the force.

The SHAPE of the hull is more important than material and good luck finding a truly deep v tinny. If you DO really like the starcraft then rip out the dash and put a center console in it.... done deal

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

I just looked at the aquasport.... that would be a fine choice and a transom really isn't THAT hard or expensive.....My 20' wellcraft CC performs very well with my 115 so I'd say that 19'er would be fine with your 90.... I like it

 

[ezmobee]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

A deck and transom job for a tinnie is a HECK of a lot less expensive than a proper stringer/deck/transom job on a glasser. You can half-*** the work on a tinnie and still have it be safe. A poorly refit glasser is not a safe boat.

 

[mommicked]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Especially in the ocean.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Although glass is preferred in salt, you see plenty of tinnies. Being lighter, they can take a smaller motor. Although I've never heard of one breaking apart, the tin boats seem less sturdy on rougher water you encounter in open (salt) water. But when I was a crazy teenager I put my 16' starcraft through all kinds of rough water, and it never split open. One reason they aren't as popular is that they are loud.

So don't ask "which is better" as if you, on your budget, have a choice. Your shopping list is a list of compromises and trade-downs. You want a simple, running boat. And tin= simple.

And there are some people around here from fresh water experience who assume every old fiberglass boat is rotted. Not so in the salt water environment. just be aware of the possibility. there are plenty of old glass hulls doing just fine on my river. Including an early 70's aquasport a friend has.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

And there are some people around here from fresh water experience who assume every old fiberglass boat is rotted. Not so in the salt water environment.

You mean they aren't?? Seriously? Huh, who'd a guessed it. I was starting to think glass boats were built rotted out straight from the factory?

Just messin with ya HC



Yah agreed, it's a balance really. Sort of a game of compromises. Just have to prioritize and go from there eh

 

[mommicked]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Great advice as always Homecookin, i'm not argueing w you, I know there are lots of good, old glass boats everywhere but a novice may not be able to tell it's true internal condition w accuracy. I think the chances of someone selling a good, older glass boat w a sound hull for what he wants to spend are slim and none unless they are generous, stupid or do the young man a favor. It could happen, but in reality tin boats are usually cheaper than glass ones when new and old. I know you know that, you basically said what I was trying to say before.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

A deck and transom job for a tinnie is a HECK of a lot less expensive than a proper stringer/deck/transom job on a glasser. You can half-*** the work on a tinnie and still have it be safe. A poorly refit glasser is not a safe boat.

no argument there... I sure hope nobody suggests that the O/P take an unsafe poorly repaired boat on the ocean... Nobody has yet

I think that it is SAD that this thread had become yet another tin vs glass debate.... the real goal should be to assess the merits of the boats he has available on his local C/L instead of focusing on the same old debate he can search and find 50 examples of.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

I dunno smoke, it seems like NEStriper might be "debating" glass vs. alum boats, eh? If he is, this dialogue would be relevant, wouldn't it? It doesn't look like he has yet decided that.

And, I tend to think anyway, making the decision on the build material should probably come first, then go shopping. But, I spose that would be my course of action anyway.

Whadoya think NEStriper? You leaning one way or another? Lots of helpful guys here who are happy to help ya shop for a new craft

Cheers all!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

Don't get me wrong.. LOTS of good points, but when shopping for a smokin deal on a used project boat, too narrow of a focus might cause someone to miss out on a great deal

To rule out a boat built from X because it MIGHT be rotten, cracked, corroded or whatever makes someone hate one particular construction would be foolish..... Look at each individual boat that has a hull design that works for the task at hand..... When I found my free boat I was looking for starcraft aluminum CC's but I'm really pleased with what I have.

 

[NEStriper]

Re: The "help me with craigslist boats" thread

The input is much appreciated, everyone. I got back from looking at that original boat I posted. The guy had not ran it since April and could not get it started. He finally blamed it on a bad spark plug, but he had three that were firing and that is certainly enough to get it running, although perhaps not smoothly. He's calling me back when he replaces it, but something tells me I might not hear back. At any rate, I'm not too concerned about it, as it had one of the weakest hulls of any boat I've ever encountered. It didn't seem to be a result of age, but rather just a flimsy design. I would be downright terrified of seas bigger than 2 feet.

So the search continues. Here's a little backstory on some key new details. My father (who I've mentioned before) owns a 22' Whaler with a 225 merc. That was a 30 year old outboard that was rebuilt about 10 years ago but was declared finally dead a few years ago. With operating costs he was not very sorry to see it go! So, he is willing to spit the cost of the boat to have a way to get back on the water and keep operating costs down. This increases the budget slightly, however, he is completely opposed to aluminum boats for reasons stated before. He wouldn't buy one regardless of whether or not we found a suitable hull. The dream boat with be a 17' Montauk, but there's no way I could afford it.

So, with that recent development of a slight budget increase and no tin, I'll keep looking.