Caravelle interceptor in rough water?

[jumpjets]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at buying a new-to-me boat. I like the idea of going a little faster than my current rig, and I found a Caravelle Interceptor nearby at a pretty good price. It's at a local boat broker, and the guy is willing to work with me on price it seems. I think it's an OK boat, but my wife, oddly enough, is in love with it. My last boat had some wood rot issues, so I like the all fiberglass construction without wood. I have a link to the boat below.

I just have a couple questions:
1. How do you think this boat will handle in rough water? I like to go out on the Atlantic occasionally, where I can see 2-3 foot seas. This interceptor has a low profile hull with short gunwhales. It also has strakes on the underside of the hull, which I'm told deflect sea spray outward. My current wellcraft loves to take large quantities of sea spray and deposit them on my face whenever I hit a wave just right.

2. The broker has a no test drive policy due to insurance regs. He said that if I agree to buy the boat, he'll take me on a "sea trial" to demonstrate that all the systems of the boat function. If anything doesn't work, he will have it repaired or replaced. I like that he accepts the burden to deliver a quality product instead of me being a detective to find issues. However, if I go on this sea trial and I just don't like the ride quality, I'm stuck with the boat. Is this a normal policy, or is this guy a scheister? This seems like a really bogus business model.


http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...re/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp&boat_id=2858334

 

[thumpar]

What is the deadrise? The higher the deadrise will generally ride better in rough water. Mine is only 16*. I can handle rough water because of the weight but it is not always fun when it gets bad.

It may be a repo and that is why he can't let you test it out. I looked at a repo when I was buying my new to me boat. They said I could not test out first.

 

[tpenfield]

Two things . . .

The dealer/broker is no good. You are not committed to buy the boat if you have sea trial (and even a survey) as a contingency. So that should be a show stopper.

The boat is not going to handle the sea well at all IMO. Do you see the sharp 'rake' that the keel line makes coming from the bow, giving it a really 'pointy nose' ? Definitely a lake boat.

 

[jumpjets]

What is the deadrise? The higher the deadrise will generally ride better in rough water. Mine is only 16*. I can handle rough water because of the weight but it is not always fun when it gets bad.

It may be a repo and that is why he can't let you test it out. I looked at a repo when I was buying my new to me boat. They said I could not test out first.

I think it has a mechanics lien on it. The previous owner got a bunch of work done, and couldn't pay for it, so he left it with the broker to sell it and take the debt out of his cut. My 21' wellcraft can be a little bumpy in 2' seas, so I'd like something more stable, not less stable.

 

[jumpjets]

Two things . . .

The dealer/broker is no good. You are not committed to buy the boat if you have sea trial (and even a survey) as a contingency. So that should be a show stopper.

The boat is not going to handle the sea well at all IMO. Do you see the sharp 'rake' that the keel line makes coming from the bow, giving it a really 'pointy nose' ? Definitely a lake boat.

Yeah I thought it mike be a lake boat. I can't find any youtube videos of an interceptor on wide open seas or large rivers. The boat moved here from a lake in Ohio. It might get eaten up off the beach of the atlantic coast.

This whole situation stinks. I really like my current boat. It's been a fun rig. I was thinking about re-powering it with a cammed 355, and I discovered that the motor mounts and inboard stringers are rotting. I'd love to rip into it and do a light restoration and re-power, but I just don't have the time. Uncle Sam is sending me to the middle east again.

Almost all the boats in my area are CC outboard fishing boats. Cuddy Cabin I/Os with decently large powerplants are very rare.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

I think it has a mechanics lien on it. The previous owner got a bunch of work done, and couldn't pay for it, so he left it with the broker to sell it and take the debt out of his cut. My 21' wellcraft can be a little bumpy in 2' seas, so I'd like something more stable, not less stable.

Wellcraft's are a bit above ride in ride quality on ruff water soo start with 24' ft..7' beam and the sharpest dead rise you can find or afford....It's all about wheelbase for rough water and smooth ride.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Wrong boat and wrong broker... Look elsewhere.