2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

[salmonee]

I went on another boat ride last night. It was a 1995 18' Neptune center console w/ 115hp johnson. I really like this boat. It cut through the water like a dream. This boat has a very different ride than the 2008 17'7" Maxum boat that I drove last week. The dizzyness was nowhere to be seen during my test drive. We went at various speed and even hit a couple of skier wakes. No problem for me. The trouble that I have now is that the darn thing won't fit in my garage. My garage height is 7' and this boat on level trailer is like 7'6". I can play with the trailer jack and push the darn thing in if it fits. However, I'd like to know what my options are?

I have three questions for the experience boaters out there.
1. This boat has a fiberglass floor and wanted to know if the flooring can be comprimised somehow? If so, how?

2. I also saw another center console last night on craigslist that really caught my interest. It's a 1990 center console but has a 2006 90HP Honda outboard on it. The price would be the same on both boats. It seem like the 1990 center console would be a better buy as the outboard alone is worth like 5-6k according to nada. The guy wants 7k for the boat and trailer. Which is a better buy?

3. Anything I should look out for in these "bay" type boats? A 5-10yr old seems hard to come by up in the pacific northwest, anyone know of another manufacturer that makes these type of boats. I know Mako makes one similar.

EDIT: The windshield is too tall. Another option I was thinking was to change the tire size. The current tire size is 215/75/14 If I change them to 195/70/14 what are the ramifications? I spoke with the owner and it looks like we're just 1/2" to 1" shy of where we need to be. That tire change would lower the rig by 1". The Honda has like 150hr on it. Don't know about maintenance yet. Will ask later when I see the boat.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Just about every company that produces center console boats also has a bay boat design in their line up.

Regarding question #1, You don't want to rip apart a floor to just to get a boat in a garage. What part of the boat is too tall? Is it a windshield or does the boat have some type of t-top (the latter would seem unlikely)? The options could be to remove the windshield, make it smaller, or replace it with a smaller one. The other option would be to keep it outside....

Regarding question #2, there isn't enough info here to help you out. The current condition of the engine (ex: how many hours of use on each?) and then maintenance history is very important factor in the value.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

On changing the tires, you need to figure out the weight of the trailer and boat and see if the new size tires will support the weight. My guess is that you need the larger tires that are currently on the trailer. If the trailer came with the boat the dealer who orginally sold it most likely would not have oversized the trailer for the boat.

 

[QC]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Let some of the air out of the tires to get it in the garage, then put it on jack stands. Air up when you pull her out to go . . .

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

If it's just the windshield that is too high, maybe it could be hinged at the bottom so that it could fold down for storage.

 

[salmonee]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Let some of the air out of the tires to get it in the garage, then put it on jack stands. Air up when you pull her out to go . . .

I was thinking of this as well. My garage ceiling is 12', it's just the door entry that is 7'. I was thinking that i can deflate the thing to get it into the garage, inflate it for storage, deflate it to leave. The big issue, is that i have to remember to deflate before leaving the garage!

 

[salmonee]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

If it's just the windshield that is too high, maybe it could be hinged at the bottom so that it could fold down for storage.

Can't fold down the windshield.

 

[QC]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

You should really store it on jack stands anyway, definitely over a winter. I am pretty sure you won't forget anything if it is up on jacks . . . you'll get a quick warning if you do

 

[zach103]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

go with QC that seems like its the best way to go. it wont hurt the rims any if your only going 10ft max. just go slow and have someone watch the top to make sure it won't hit. itll be close

 

[salmonee]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

You should really store it on jack stands anyway, definitely over a winter. I am pretty sure you won't forget anything if it is up on jacks . . . you'll get a quick warning if you do

I'm new. How and why should you jack the boat on stands?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

you lower the bow, with jack put stand under the back, then raise the bow, and put a stand under it.

 

[QC]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Tires that are loaded but not rolling deform over time . . . Bias ply fix themselves once they are run, but it is best to keep them unloaded and shaded. Stops cracking sidewalls.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Go to a salvage yard and get a couple of rims and tires with the proper bolt hole spacing. Put on the smaller wheels and tires for garage storage.

 

[Nandy]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

You might also be able to lower the bunks and rollers in your trailer. i know I have way more than an inch on the Cobia and close to 8 inches in the Babcock to play with. That could be the easiest fix. Look at it on detail to make sure the boat will not bump anywhere while loading or unloading.

 

[salmonee]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

you lower the bow, with jack put stand under the back, then raise the bow, and put a stand under it.

I have a hard time seeing this. This is with the boat on trailer, I assume.

 

[orion25]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

I have a hard time seeing this. This is with the boat on trailer, I assume.

Yes, boat on the trailer. When you lower the front of the trailer the rear rises. Put jack stands under the rear of the trailer and raise the front. The tires will be off the ground. Or you could use a floor jack to position the jack stands.

 

[salmonee]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Okay. I think i understand. We're raising the trailer with the boat in it. I thought we were raising the boat off the trailer.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Deflate tires? Jack stands? Cut the windshield? Put tires on that are too small?

Bah humbug, I say!

Try one of these ....

http://www.powercaster.com/
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200312193_200312193

Unhitch the boat from your vehicle and lower the tongue with the jack, until the hitch couples with the ball on the dolly. You should lower the nose of the boat enough for the top of the windshield to clear the garage door frame. If your drive is level, you probably won't even need a powered dolly.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: 2nd boat ride...Really like the boat but it's too tall

Can you put in a drop axle? A standard drop will gain you 4". Custom drop can gain you more if the chassis can handle it.