Help MJ find his next boat

Ok I went and looked at the boat, Needed huge amount of cosmetic, but thats OK, Then I looked at the motor, could have been cleaner, But I have seen worse, and all looked well.

Then I started punching the stringers, not hard and all in the engine well were solid.

NOW I ck the gauges and all the switches and they all worked even the wipers!

Got in the cuddy looked OK, lifted the cushions and there are wood hatches open the pass side first and hit the stringers, sounded little hollow?
Went to the drivers side went to punch the stringer and my hand went right thur!@! No wood left except some rotted splinters!

Guy was trying to hook up water and I said forget it, he said why, I said the stringers are roted, he came up and looked we shook hands and as I was leaving he looked like he was about to cry!!

Feel Bad I was the one to tell him!!


So the search goes on!!
 
Have you tried budgetboats.net. They had several walkaround and cuddy cabins in there for a decent price. I know you don't like I/O's but they had some good prices.
 
Thanks I will give them a try!!

Yes I hate I/O but for the right boat I will get run till it dies and convert! ;)
 
I have different boat to look at here maybe tomorrow and there is a sweet Mako in NY I like for someone to look at for me?

as much as I like the Formula & Seacraft they are hard to find here not all rotted out!! and the rest are way to far to find out.

So I am changing a little here now?? The 23 w/a Mako I seen in NY looks great but no motor, but in my price range!

Then there is a 23 W/A Sea OX here with bracket and Evinrude that looks good, I am going to try to go look tomorrow?? I waiting for the guy to call.
 
MJ....slow down and focus. While the 23 W/A Sea Ox is a tank, it will beat you to death. I thought you were looking for a boat that would ride well? Some of the directions you have contemplated seem close to backward? You don't wanna end up with a boat that rides no better than the V and costs twice as much to run?
 
one thing to keep in mind about the SeaCrafts, is the stringers are all glass, yeah most of the transoms are rotted out, but you have a good foundation to work with, with no unforseen hull issues once you start cutting
 
I don't want to start cutting!!

I have been fixing one boat or another for 15 years!! Just want to fish now (I know you no what I mean)

Just need solid boat and save for solid motor!
 
The SEACRAFTS don't have as many rot issues, but they do suffer from the same affliction as the old sterndrive 25 BERTRAMS. The stringers are held in by tabs that over time tend to delaminate and seperate from the hull. There are quite a few SEACRAFTS out there with cracked hulls at the lifting strakes where the stringers broke loose. It isn't a huge problem, but has been an issue. What year MAKO you lookin at MJ? There are quite a few different MAKO deigns out there. One thing I can tell you is the MAKO 251, 254, 201 and a few 231's were used down here by the FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISION, and they ran them HARD! They held up so well that they extended the service life of them out to 12 years I believe it was. There is still quite a few 201's and 254's in service today down here as well. Although I haven't seen any of the TRACKER built hulls in service down here(does this say anything to you ;)).
 
1989 Mako 23 W/A OB , set up for Merc, but motor blown.


I am going to look at a 1984 Sea OX 23 W/A Bracket with 225 Evinrude That has been rebuilt in two stages, lower unit one year top end the next, says I can do my own compression test!!
But one problem, has a 113 gal gas tank that does not leak but he has problem getting gas out of it??

I going in the morning.
 
Joe there is a 1984 238 Mako on budget boats that's a cuddy with a walk around cabin no motor for $3000.00 and looks pretty good.
 
Thanks AXE!! I was on there earlier and some how missed it??

There is a few good looking deals on there??

They also have a 23 w/a Sea Ox like the one I am going to look at tomorrow.

If this Sea Ox Or the Mako I am looking at doesn't work I will look there!!

I am just tired of fixing all the time!! n Took 9 years to get the V to were it is and now I am selling? And looks like I will have to give it away!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top