Cheap Boat

Scott Lusted · **Joined:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:52 am **Posts:** 215

Hey Guys,

Well.... what originally was intended as a casual day on the lake with another family friend turned my two oldest into boat fanatics....
We had a boat growing up and always had fun memories of the time on the lake so I started the craigslist searching for boats that need work.

Back in the day we had a 19' Renkin with a 160HP mercruiser that worked perfectly until the day it wasn't winterized properly and cracked the block of the old I6. Really sucked since it happened 6months after we complete rebuilt the floor and stringers.

Most boats in the 19' range seem to come with 130HP 3.0L I4 or the 4.3L V6. From what I can tell, the 4.3L is the way to go but the I4 isn't bad if the boat is small. I'm not looking for something that will set speed records, just pull a tube and kneeboard.

Any input on make/model, years, ect.? I'm wanting to find something with mechanical problems for less than $1000.
I found a few examples like:
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/3759845816.html

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/3792585994.html

JamesShort · **Posted:** Wed May 29, 2013 2:11 pm

Cheap and boat are mutually exclusive terms....

. Like cheap BMW or cheap wife, etc.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Perhaps similar to what James is saying, a "cheap" boat can quickly become an expensive boat. You might find a good deal that will work perfectly with very little work/expense, but I believe the odds are against you. I quickly determined spending a bit more upfront to get something that needed nothing, was in good shape and well maintained was the way to go.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

A boat is a GREAT thing to rent IMO.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed May 29, 2013 3:14 pm

but I am just a jaded, ex-commerical crab fisherman.

Turner Oppy · **Posted:** Wed May 29, 2013 3:20 pm

My dad's got an old boat. I think my mom wants him to sell it. I'll look into it.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed May 29, 2013 3:21 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

but I am just a jaded, ex-commerical crab fisherman.

Wait, what? Crab fisherman in a past life? Do tell....

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed May 29, 2013 3:31 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

but I am just a jaded, ex-commerical crab fisherman.

Wait, what? Crab fisherman in a past life? Do tell....

Don't read too much into that. Likely it means Ryan once had crabs. :lol:

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed May 29, 2013 3:56 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

but I am just a jaded, ex-commerical crab fisherman.

Wait, what? Crab fisherman in a past life? Do tell....

I'd love to say it was 1% as glamorous as The Deadliest Catch, but its not :sleep

I am the son of a commercial shrimp boat owner. It literally was the best of times and the worst of times. Dad sunk the boat on Diamond Shoals when I was about 11. Two years later Mom gave him the ultimatum of her vs the boat. Dad decided it was time to get off the water. Fast forward a few years and Dad gets the "itch" and starts a commercial crab fishing operation. Makes some good side money. Fast forward a few more years, young Ryan is just finishing his Freshman year at ECU and Dad offers him a job working the crab boat while Dad "takes the summer off". Unlike the Deadliest Catch, we would put up to a buoy and turn the wheel hard right and do circles. Surprisingly it didn't make me nauseous. I did that for 3 summers, at my peak I think I was fishing 400-500 pots per day. After I finished my third summer I told my parents I would be a male prostitute before I stepped foot on another crab boat.

In those 3 summers I:
-Got jellyfish slung into every orifice on my face (surprisingly, the nose was the worst, by far)
-Every appendage bitten by a crab
-Lost most of the skin on my hands (think dishpan hands x eleventy billion) and they stank (a hit with the ladies)
-Sunk the boat
-Tore ligaments in my wrist
-Stranded more times than I can count
-Ran head-on into another boat
-Ticketed for undersized crabs (still shows up on my background checks)
-Searched for running drugs
-Threatened multiple times for fishing others pots (hell I didn't want to fish my pots much less someone elses)

Great life experience but still wouldn't do it ever again. The grounds we used to fish are mostly dead now due to over fishing.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed May 29, 2013 4:02 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

-Ticketed for undersized crabs (still shows up on my background checks)

Damn, this just keeps getting funnier! :lol4:

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Scott, don't listen to those guys. I'm a happy cheap boat owner, and it's still cheap. You're mechanically inclined and a DIYer, you'll be fine.

Starting with a restoration candidate is absolutely the best way to get into boating. Nothing fazes me now, which is good, because when something goes wrong on the water you can't just pull over and hitch a ride.

My requirements in 2010 were similar to yours:
- Open bow, 18ish feet
- V6 I/O
- Under $3k
- Swim platform

I got a 1992 Sunbird 185 for $1500. Motor was healthy (had been replaced) but interior needed a lot of work. I did a ton of work on it and it's been nearly trouble free for 3 years now. I get a lot of compliments on it.

Keep surfing craigslist, get the newest one you can find, and just make sure that with the cheaper brands that the hull has no cracks. Ideally you'd like to test the transom and stringers for rot, but I can tell you that even with a weak transom and less than ideal stringers, the boat will probably be fine... inspect the heck out of the hull though.

Here's some inspiration. I probably have less than $3k in the boat as it sits, but 100's and 100's of hours:

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Couple other comments:

That Bayliner doesn't look bad. Is it a I4? I'd suggest you hold out or free up cash for the V6. The little extra power is really helpful in pulling an adult out of the water on skis or a wakeboard

The Dixie (2nd link) looks like a pure inboard, can't tell. Not my choice/recommendation simply because the I/O is easier to deal with (beaching, prop damage, etc). Also it looks like a shallow hull which will ride a lot harsher. Look for a deeper hull.

Bayliner is considered bottom of the barrel in terms of construction and quality, so expect a lot of unexpected. Sunbird is barely above. Then Maxum, Regal, Stingray. I think when you get into the Four Winns, Sea Ray you'll be getting better construction and fewer issues... I also noticed when shopping that when you get past about 1991, the hull designs are more modern typically with the fully moulded swim platform. I got to the point where I scratched anything older than 1992 off the list. Craigslist searches for (v6|4.3) (1992|92|1993|93|1994|94) work well.

Mercruisers are more common in the 1990ish era, with OMC second. Thus parts and tech are more plentiful with the Merc. I have an OMC and haven't had any issues finding parts or info, but the Merc would be easier. Same basic engine block and heads, but everything bolted onto them is different.

Not sure how much you will use it... I didn't. If I had to do it over again, knowing how much we use and enjoy it, I would have spent more on a nicer one.

This looks ready for a lowball, people will be scared of the damage. Fresh engine
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/3760780707.html

Overpriced but a good starter if it could be had for $1500
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/3832923960.html

Scott Lusted · **Joined:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:52 am **Posts:** 215

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the input! I'm not sure boats are more expensive than racing... Your boat definitely came out very nice!

That is exactly what I'm looking for. Something that needs a bunch of interior and wood work is not really that bad in cost, just labor which I enjoy reconditioning for some weird reason. The engines are usually very reliable if they have had any halfway reasonable maint history. Most of the mechanicals are very straight forward from what I can remember.

Thanks for the input on the hulls. When I lived in Knoxville, I got the chance to tour the SeaRay plant and it was interesting. All chopped glass blown onto the mold with resin but at least it was a controlled process. Another thing I found is that somewhere around 1995, manufactures started going to an all fiberglass hull construction, no more wood. SeaRay did in 95 but others were slower to adapt. A 95 is probably going to be to new to worry about but might be worth considering.

I wonder what happened on the crashed one. It looks like just the upper shell is cracked but there could be some issues with the hull.

Google reader searches saved! Well, until GR goes away in another month....

clinehall · **Posted:** Thu May 30, 2013 9:51 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

[ After I finished my third summer I told my parents I would be a male prostitute before I stepped foot on another crab boat.

-Every appendage bitten by a crab

So many comments to be made, I can't choose just one.

clinehall · **Posted:** Thu May 30, 2013 9:52 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Scott, don't listen to those guys. I'm a happy cheap boat owner, and it's still cheap. it's been nearly trouble free for 3 years now. I get a lot of compliments on it.

/]

Get thee behind me Satan.

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