What do you guys think

[dkillianjr]

Hey guys, I am looking for a realitively inexpensive boat to get started with, even a fixer upper to keep me busy over the winter. I'm still on the fence about cuddy or open bow. Are there any real pros and cons to either for a novice boater?


What do you guys think about this deal? I havent looked at it yet. It looks in good shape, just a very little faded. Says that the floor is solid and just needs some cosmetic work.

1986 23' Mach 1 cuddy with trailer
260 HP mercruiser

Here is the ad:

1986 MACH 1 SPORT

GREAT STARTER BOAT. OPTIONS INCLUDE: COCKPIT COVER,STEREO,TRIM TABS NAD VHF RADIO. PUT A FEW $$$$ IN THE INTERIOR AND YOU WILL HAVE A SWEET RIDE.


Thanks, Dave

 

[642mx]

Re: What do you guys think

Welcome to iboats!

I've had both a bow rider and now a cuddy. Both have there good and bad points, but I really like my cuddy cabin. The bow rider had more storage and was easier to get in and out of, but there is no place to hide when the weather gets bad. And I like being able to sleep on my boat.... if I've had to much to drink, I can throw an anchor out and not have to worry about driving home. I don't think I'll ever go back to a bow rider.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What do you guys think

Ayuh,.... Sounds decent, if the stringers, transom, 'n decks aren't rotten...

 

[Solittle]

Re: What do you guys think

Welcome Dave - A 24 year old 23' boat with an unknown age engine and outdrive is not exactly a starter boat. Forget the stereo & radio stuff and focus on the boat (any rot?) and the mechanicals. Spend a bunch of hours surfing around ibaots.

And if you want meaningful input you have to provide some detail and preferably some pictures. As to the cuddy vs open bow - that depends on your preference which we have no clue.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: What do you guys think

Be careful with boats that need interior work, it usually indicates the wood beneath the vinyl including the deck is rotted too, left out in the snow and rain year after year.
Other than that it could be a good start, cosmetics is one thing but soaked wood changes everything.
A 23' can make for a decent cuddy, but anything less serves a better bow rider.

 

[dkillianjr]

Re: What do you guys think

Thanks for the replies guys and the welcome!


642mx, those are my thoughts exactly!


Bondo, I'm not sure yet, I may stop over the weekend and take a look at it and deffinetly a close one


Solittle, I really never thought about the age of the motor and the hours. that is deffinetly something to look at!

a70, I have noticed that in just looking around for a boat a lot of them have some rot problems.


Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but is ther an average number of hours a boat may have per year? Like how a vehicle is 12,000 miles. Or a good number to look for per year? I know its tough because boats can be used all year in some places and not in others.


Thanks, Dave

 

[ziggy]

Re: What do you guys think

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but is ther an average number of hours a boat may have per year? Like how a vehicle is 12,000 miles. Or a good number to look for per year? I know its tough because boats can be used all year in some places and not in others.

it's more about condition than hours of use.
my boat is real old. but apparently had good care over it's life time. it has flaws, but there's something there to work with.
i've seen many newer boats than mine that were just plain garbage for lack of care. ie. wood rot, upholstery shot, engine and drive work necessary. be sure to check all these items out 'yourself' to be sure they are in good order. never believe the seller.
fwiw. if you do your own boat work. think about how tight (confined space) the bilge is and how hard it will be to work on the engine and anything behind it. can ya get to the spark plugs, starter, etc..

myself, i've had a bow rider and they have their place. great for water sports and hauling lots of folks.
i've never had a cuddy so can't comment there.
i do have a hardtop closed vhull now. can turn the whole boat enclosed. man, that i like. if i had to choose between cuddy and br right now. i'd go cuddy. i sure do like the enclosed space of what i have now.
i'm a pleasure boater. no fishing, no water sports. though what i have now you could do both from.

 

[boomerman]

Re: What do you guys think

Welcome to the forum.
I just wanted to say there is no such thing as an inexpensive boat
As others have told you make sure you take a good look at it.
See if you cant test drive it as well.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What do you guys think

When I think starter boat, I think of something more like this http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/1989130828.html I'd rather log some hours on something like that before tackling a 23' with an I/O but that's just me.

No rot and a non-obsolete powerplant are you biggest concerns. I wouldn't worry about engine hours so much.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: What do you guys think

EZ - I never would have guessed you'd pick a Starcraft.

Anyway, for a starter boat I'm with EZ. Especially with the outboard. On an outboard boat there are fewer things you have to watch out for and most things are more accessible. It makes it easier to learn the systems. Some of them are fuel hogs though. That is especially true of the older larrge two-strokes.

Go for the most open boat you can find and start relatively small 16-18' until you learn the ropes. The more open the boat is the harder it is to hide a defect and right now you don't know where to look for them.

Make sure the transom is solid and if you use a transom saver on your OB; be sure you tie the boat down to the trailer or that saver may become a destroyer. There are a thousand other things a new boater has to learn and the simpler you start the easier it will be.

BTW - trucks don't run under water and parking brakes don't always hold.

Also, I have the same type of boat as Ziggy and they are relatively trouble free. However, I wouldn't want to have it as my first boat.