Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

[boatunc]

I've been fishing/diving on other people's boats for a few years and I'd like to get a 20-22' boat for myself, my budget is $7,500 - $12,500 and what I have been looking for is an older hull (80's) with a newer engine (1998-2004). I've seen a lot of Makos and Wellcrafts, but since I've never bought a boat I'm a little worried about making the wrong decision. I've heard good things about Mako and Wellcraft, but which is better? Should I be looking at other manufacturers? I'll be using the boat primarily nearshore and once in a while offshore and will keep it trailered.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[m&m252]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

I have a mako and it doesnt mean anything find what is practical for you money,towing,storage,experience,etc. do you want a live well or are you happy tossing a bait bucket over the side and keeping you bait alive that way? shop around go to boat shows where are you going fishing ...ask a lot of questions ....

 

[boatunc]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

don't need a live well, i'm actually going to use it more for diving than fishing.

 

[m&m252]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

then one of the features you would want is a transom door / transom bracket where you can get in and out of the water with ease...

 

[Solittle]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

Either the Mako or Wellcraft in that size is a good choice. The decision should be the condition and not brand and especially it needs to be rot free.

I have a 20 year old Wellcraft CC with twin V4s. I have had this rig for 12 years and love it. It is over built if anything. I had my transom redone about 5 years ago due to rot (not the fault of Wellcraft but the idiot who rigged the engines). I had the shop use Coosa rather than plywood for the core.

Also I think you are in the right price range (at least in S Florida).

You will need a substantial rig to pull a boat that size.

 

[oops!]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

welcome to i boats.

if youve been on buddies boats, you allready know the features you want in a boat. your budget looks good.

just make sure you have a qualified person check the boat over...

see if the floors soft. transom rot, elect, and motor runs good, with even comp.

i think the manuf would be second to features as stated earlier.

when u find a boat u like and it checks out....read some consumer reports.

but i think youll do fine.

cheers
oops

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

the prettiest is not always the best boat. all good advice above.

 

[boatunc]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

thanks for the replies guys.

I have been reading a lot about Makos and most Makos from the years that I'm looking at have pretty low transoms, people have complained of taking water over the transom in some not-so-rough waters, should I only look at boats that have a closed transom and bracket instead of the open transoms?

You guys mention that I need a substantial rig to pull this boat, if my SUV is rated up to 5000 lbs do you think that's enough or will I have problems with that?

I have also looked at other manufacturers, including Cape Horn, Cobia, Robalo, and Dusky, should I stay away from any of these?

Final question: I have pretty much decided that I want a Yamaha engine in the boat, I have heard good things about them and one of my good fishing buddies is a Yamaha mechanic. Is it worth passing on otherwise decent boats just because they don't have yamaha engines?

Thanks again, your help is much appreciated!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

all the mainline motors are good, it is the owner/maintanance that is bad. there are 55 year old motors still churning water, and 3 year olds in the bone yard. the Yamaha 4 strokes are well represented in the Fl Keys.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

manufacturers listed in your most recent post are all high quality.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

On the SUV - The answer you don't want to hear is that it depends on which SUV, which boat, how you typically load it and where you have to pull it.

If you have a full size SUV you will be close to maxed out with a 5,000 lb limit.

I had a 1993 Explorer when I first got my rig and it was way underpowered, too light and too small. I now have a 99 Yukon with the 5.7L and it pulls just fine. Trailer brakes are a must and disk preferred.

 

[orion25]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

On the SUV - The answer you don't want to hear is that it depends on which SUV, which boat, how you typically load it and where you have to pull it.

If you have a full size SUV you will be close to maxed out with a 5,000 lb limit.

I had a 1993 Explorer when I first got my rig and it was way underpowered, too light and too small. I now have a 99 Yukon with the 5.7L and it pulls just fine. Trailer brakes are a must and disk preferred.

Continuing this I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 I6. I put on an external transmission cooler and it pulls my boat with no problem. But, I keep it in dry storage during the boating season. I am only towing the boat at the beginning and end of the season along with the 1 or 2 times I decide to go to a different launch less than 50 miles away. The GC is rated at 5,000 lbs and my boat/trailer weighs about 4,500lbs unloaded. It all depends on how much towing you plan on.

 

[boatunc]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have decided to look at and most likely purchase a 1994 Dusky 203 with a 2001 200HP Johnson Ocean that had the powerhead rebuit 4 months ago and is under warranty for 3 years. The guy is asking about 9K and says that it's in great condition and has the dusky drive, dive platform, t-top, trim tabs, a 2005 aluminum trailer, and some other extras, is that price about right? The boat looks good in the pictures, the only issue is that it has a small chip on the back where the fiberglass is showing, how big of a deal is this? I was thinking I could probably fix that myself...

Thanks again for helping out a newbie

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

i don't know the Dusky, but it is 14 years old. check transom, and deck for soft spots and rot. besure to do a test run.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

A lot of people like to dive off of RIB boats. The group I work with runs several of them in lake superior.

Easy to get divers in and out over the sides of the chambers, they have a payload capacity that's at least twice any other boat of a similar size, they're easy to trailer because they're so light, and they're practically unsinkable, which is really nice for the big waves.

The lightness also helps keep fuel costs down.

We can put 8 divers with all their gear in a 20 footer and they're comfortable for a half hour trip in moderate chop.

The down side is that anywhere away from the coasts they can be hard to find, and they're more expensive than same size fiberglass boats.

Erik

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

A lot of people like to dive off of RIB boats. The group I work with runs several of them in lake superior.

Easy to get divers in and out over the sides of the chambers, they have a payload capacity that's at least twice any other boat of a similar size, they're easy to trailer because they're so light, and they're practically unsinkable, which is really nice for the big waves.

The lightness also helps keep fuel costs down.

We can put 8 divers with all their gear in a 20 footer and they're comfortable for a half hour trip in moderate chop.

The down side is that anywhere away from the coasts they can be hard to find, and they're more expensive than same size fiberglass boats.

Erik

If you want to know more about RIBs then paying rib.net/forum a visit is well worthwhile. Ribs are massive fun (I own one) but they can be significantly more to maintain depending on what you buy. They definitely aren't the cheaper end of the market-but you do get what you pay for.

 

[mymako21]

Re: Desparate for advice, newbie buying boat

I owned both, 25 Wellcraft Sportsman and 21 ft 1980 CC Classic Mako with 98 -250 Johnson, Mako wins hand down great hull, handles great. Bought it in 2000 cheap, boat,T Top, motor, 1998 trailer, everything else had to be redone, put 2500 into it, turned out great, took 3 months did everything myself, so no labor except my sweat. If you have the time and the ability you can get your self a good old Mako with a good motor & trailer for the money you want to spend but you will probably have to put $$$ into it to make it the way you want. For me it was worth it, the only downside is the older boats dont have the kind of storage, live wells and fish boxes like the new ones have but you dont have the high price either, so its a trade off, one I was happy to make. I know Ive posted this site before but if your going to be working on a boat check out the one resource site I always use www.allboatingfishingstuff.com you will find manufacturers that have whatever you need for your boat.