gonna buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

hillsideshortleg

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 10, 2011
Messages
33
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

We looked at a 1990 Bayliner 2755 Sunbridge last night the seat cushions on the upper part of the boat were in bad shape and the paint was oxidized on the outside. Every thing inside looked very nice. It has a new 7.4 Mercrusier(50 hours) due to a freeze up. the boat hasnt ran it 1.5 years due to financial problems. I really like the layout and felt very comfortable on the boat. My wife was not to impressed because of the upholstery and the boat being kind of dirty. Any opinions on this boat
http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/2569418649.html
Thanks for all the input
 

wa_ssv197

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
266
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

The floor in the aft cabin is actually lower the the rest of the below deck area. You can see how far it drops in one of the photos. It's a one owner boat that was only used on Lake Washington.
 

25thmustang

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
1,849
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

We looked at a 1990 Bayliner 2755 Sunbridge last night the seat cushions on the upper part of the boat were in bad shape and the paint was oxidized on the outside. Every thing inside looked very nice. It has a new 7.4 Mercrusier(50 hours) due to a freeze up. the boat hasnt ran it 1.5 years due to financial problems. I really like the layout and felt very comfortable on the boat. My wife was not to impressed because of the upholstery and the boat being kind of dirty. Any opinions on this boat
http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/2569418649.html
Thanks for all the input

The trailer is a big plus, but prices in your area must be reletively high? $13,500 for a 27'er thats been sitting almost 2 years?
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

ezmobee. I love the engine room. Alot of room there. Why does the bottom paint come all the way over to the gimble housing's? Or does it just look that way in pic. Nice looking boat
 

wa_ssv197

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
266
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

guessing they did that because it would hardly be seen under the swim platform, so it probably didn't matter.
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

because they are under water

the bottom paint goes a couple inches above the water line all around the boat
 

Ray W W iii

Cadet
Joined
Jul 19, 2011
Messages
23
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

if your going to keep the boat on Lake Pend Oreille you should look in Sandpoint there are several nice boats in your price range We keep our 24' moored in Garfield Bay all summer on LPO we just saw a really nice 20' boat here in town. if you want i can get you some info from around here.
 

hillsideshortleg

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 10, 2011
Messages
33
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Ray ww iii
We really like Garfield bay and hope to summer our boat there. How does the Sandpoint area advertise their boats. If you see anything please let me know. I am really looking for a 26 to 28 footer. We are checking out a 1989 Carver Allegra 25 we found on craigslist athttp://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/2566856334.html
Does anyone have an opinion on this boat?
Thanks in advance
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

If Carver manufactured dog turds they would be nice..... can't go wrong with a Carver if it's in good shape..... that one looks nice
 

26aftcab454

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
1,510
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

On my old cruiser the biggest PITA was climbing to the bow from the cockpit--boy was I glad to have a power anchor windless!
 

JoLin

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
5,146
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

I'd advise the OP to start by 'shopping' in the archives of some of the major manufacturers. Four Winns, Searay, Wellcraft and Carver all have extensive information available for all of their models going back 20 years and more, with pics and specs. It's a very valuable shopping tool. Unfortunately, Larson recently did away with their archives section, which is a real shame.

I love the cabin layout of my Four Winns (though the head is a little tight- Smokeonthewater would NEVER fit in it), but I wish the cockpit was arranged better for lounging. The '95 Larson 280 Cabrio I shopped at the same was the opposite, though I was very tempted (the price was too high). Larson makes nice boats. I looked at a '93 Carver 280 express, too. Man, that was one roomy boat, but the one I checked out had some issues that made me pass.

Look at lots and lots of boats. Use yachtworld and boattrader to check out boats that interest you- the ads generally have lots and lots of pics.

Most of all, have fun. I love boat shopping. As for 'x-foot-itis', it's a real disease. I went from 21' to 24' to 27' in 4 years. I think I'm done, but I've always had the hots fro a Carver Mariner or Voyager, so one never knows.... :)
 

25thmustang

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
1,849
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

On my old cruiser the biggest PITA was climbing to the bow from the cockpit--boy was I glad to have a power anchor windless!

This is another reason I am a fan of going with a wider boat. You may lose some cabin room, but you get nice wide walks around the boat for getting up front.

I have never been on a carver other than the larger ones at boat shows. I have noticed they do tend to fetch good money, and they also seem to be beamy for their length. I would assume they are roomy boats.
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

I thought the bottom paint wasn't supposed to go all the way to the outdrive.At least an inch away because there is cooper to some extent in the paint and thus it will speed up corrosion.
 

SteveInOregon

Recruit
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
5
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Years back I had a 27 1/2' Bayliner Victoria Command bridge. Huge for a trailerable boat. It does need a big block or twins. Do a Google.

BIG CHEAP 'SMALLER' CAB CRUISER:> I have a 1975 27 1/2 ft Bayliner Bounty command bridge, I ( almost identical to the Victoria ) difference is mine is a walk around , it too is also HUGE for a trailer'able boat ( I have a trailer ) .

Any 1 ton big block V8 pickup can haul it. ( NO 1/2 ton can haul it )

Bayliner really did a great job on maximizing the interior layout and head room , I am 6ft and have head room to spare.

Beam ( width ) is also crucial , my 10ft beam makes the boat roomy inside, so You dont feel like two people are jammed into one space , and helps with off shore stability.

You will find the older fiberglass boats is well maintained can be 'like new'.

Important: If You want a a 28 to 32ft cabin cruiser if it is a single engine you want at a minimum a beefed up 350 with a 4 barell and a Volvo DuoProp or Merc Bravo III out-drive as both of those out-drives have twin propellers on one shaft and they counter rotate thus giving you a HUGE difference in ' hole shot' ( getting up on plane ( cruising speed ) , and moving quickly from a stand still or slow speed ) also the double counter rotating prop out drive ( OD ) give you more top end cruising speed with less stress on the motor.


The engine on a single engine 28 to 32 should be a 383 stroker or big block,> if You don't have a DuoProp or Bravo III then you will need a powerful motor, as my little small block 305 without DuoProp makes my 28 footer a s-l-o-w tug boat with a 12 k cruising speed.


The older boats need updated interiors , as the old funky yellow or green counter tops and nasty checker pattern cushions are UGLY, so once you get in there and up date the interior you will notice how large the older boat interiors are compaired to moderrn sloped dyna flow loking cabin cruisers.

8,500 bought me my updated interior Bayliner, now I need to update to the DuoProp for 2k more .


Hope this helps.
 

r.j.dawg

Ensign
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
993
Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Re: gona buy a cabin cruiser need some advice

Hi there hillsideshortleg - We have a 24 foot x 8.5 pocket cruiser that we quickly grew out of this summer. I should have listened to the wise advise that was given last year at this time when we were looking. Instead of taking the advice of getting something as big as I could afford, we went with the newest. It only took a week long trip on the Trent Waterway to realise smaller and new wasn't for us. It's amazing how that boat seemed to get smaller as each day passed. We have now sold it and purchased a 27 foot x 9.5 which is what we should have purchased in the first place.
 
Top