Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

[ggeezy]

Please help me with info.... I believe I posted this add originally in the wrong section, sorry. I am new to boating. I have been several times with my father offshore when I was younger, but never had the experience on my own. My father is now passed away and I always enjoyed myself with him when we went out, always a blast! I would love to bring back the memories. I am 22 and just moved to Saint Pete Beach, FL from up north. Just graduated college. I want a boat and I put my 02 gsxr 750 for sell or trade for a boat and a guy contacted me about a 1989 chris craft 225 limited 23' foot boat. I went and looked at a boat he offered to trade me today. I am asking $4100 for my bike and he offered to trade me it evenly. It has a rebuilt 5.7 mercur motor with a new outdrive, the motor is supposed to completely overhauled and new on it, including an elderbrock carburetor, supposed to be pushing 400+ hp. He says the engine is still warrantied for 3 years and he has ALL the paperwork to PROVE everything about the engine. He says he has taken it offshore 30+ miles several times even before the overhaul. But the question I am getting at is will this boat be ok to take offshore, maybe 20 miles out on good days? If so what maximum wave height? I just don't want to get burned. The boat looked nice, but it doesn't look very deep for offshore. I am sure you all know the boat so maybe you can give me advice? I know it may not be the perfect one but will it get the job done? Is it worth the trade for a 02 gsxr 750 that has been repainted recently and is chromed out? Any info would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

I doubt he's making 400HP out of a 5.7L in a marine application. Factory was aroun 260HP, with a bit of work you can crank out 300HP max. What kind of outdrive is it?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

I'm sure it is possible on very calm days but those boats hull design does not have a very deep draft.In my opinion they are more of a lake boat.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

Hate to be blunt, but if you have to ask, then no. Not until you have the experience in handling the boat, at least. You need to take a boater's safety course, and get some hours under your belt before you go to the next level.

 

[We're Here]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

I've seen seas in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay and other waters that were so calm you would swear you were on a small lake on a calm day. I've also seen it change to confused swells with gusting winds in a heartbeat. The experienced and cautious mariner knows how to handle changing situations.

Even experienced sailors get blindsided. In my 20 years as a Navy helicopter pilot I plucked plenty of able seamen out of the open ocean.

Don't risk it. Without knowing what you are doing, you are inviting disaster.

 

[superpop]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

Before you do something like this I would get to know the boat down to every last nut and bolt. And make sure it is in tip top shape, not cosmetically but internally. How are the internals on the drive, how is the condition of the entire drive train. That is the first step, then you really need to take some boating safety courses and do your research on navigation in the open seas. Lastly, you need to equip the boat for this kind of activity, you need a radio, flares, spare parts, belts etc.. So that if you do get stuck you can do basic repairs or call for help. All it takes is one failing part and you can go from fun and games to death, the open water is very unforgiving, and unlike a small lake, can turn on you very fast.

 

[ggeezy]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

Thanks for yalls info. I am going to get to know the boat well wayy before I take it offshore, but I was wanting info to see if it was a deal on the boat or not. I did not want to be stuck with a boat that would not make me happy when I am ready to go. I knew it wasn't a perfect boat by any means, but once I got the boat down, I just wanted to make sure it was an ok choice. Thanks! Here is the info he sent me on the boat just to let you all know...

"1989 chris craft 23 feet double axle trailer. new interior new out drive alpha 1 generation 1, motor is new 5.7 mercruiser gm motor. Dyoned at 418 hp. pioneer radio. sleeps 4 comfortable and 6 total seat 8. boat is worth about 5600 book"

 

[642mx]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

"1989 chris craft 23 feet double axle trailer. new interior new out drive alpha 1 generation 1, motor is new 5.7 mercruiser gm motor. Dyoned at 418 hp. pioneer radio. sleeps 4 comfortable and 6 total seat 8. boat is worth about 5600 book"

That's too much power for that drive. At 400+ horse I would want a Bravo X.

 

[ggeezy]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

Okay, I haven't looked at his dyno papers yet, which he says he has when I am ready to test drive and really look over the boat. I just don't know much about boats. I do know the out-drive is brand new, but I don't know anything about which ones are better and so forth.

 

[642mx]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

Okay, I haven't looked at his dyno papers yet, which he says he has when I am ready to test drive and really look over the boat. I just don't know much about boats. I do know the out-drive is brand new, but I don't know anything about which ones are better and so forth.

Its all good... Forums are great for advice and education.

Here is the short version on Mercruiser drives...

Alpha's are great for 4, 6, and small block V8's. You don't want to push more than 300 horse thru them. Some older boats had low horse 454's and Alpha's... which is a bad combo.

Bravo 1 (standards) are good up to 400 horse (according to Merc). I personally know guys who run up 600 horse with them and have not had any issues.

Bravo 1 X is a Bravo 1 with stronger internals thats rated to 450 horse.

Bravo 1 XR is rated for 600 horse. These are very tough! (wish I had one )

And then Mercury Racing makes some really expensive drives like the Dry Sump #6's that will handle 1200 horse!

Anyways, the reason this Chris Craft has a new drive is probably because it has too much motor. Switching from a Bravo from an Alpha isn't cheap, so he probably just stuck another Alpha on it in order to sell it.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

That seems like too much $$ for a boat of that age. I am not sure what your motorcycle is worth but I highly doubt he could sell the boat for 5k.
In regards to your offshore question that is more complex. Easy answer is depends on the "day" more then the vessel. I also live in st. pete and have boated for about 10 years here. I have been 15 miles offshore in my 17' center console and been 100% safe. And I have been 5 miles in a 31, where it was ugly. Some of the nastiest water you can see here is around mouth of the bay and that is 200yrds off shore. It is more then comfort in your boat, it is comfort with yourself. Weather, water conditions , lots of things change and my advice is if you feel uneasy AT ALL then you are too far out. I dont care if you are 500 yrds off the beach or 25mile out, if you feel uneasy then go in. Eventually you will gain experience and you will know the limits of both you and your boat. I agree with above poster, do a boating safety class for sure. Bad decisions make far more risk then any other factor. Keep asking questions, the fact you are aware and asking is a huge sign you are well on your way for a lifetime of safe boating.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

Double post ... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2998049#post2998049

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

along with the rest of the advice, buy GOOD life vests, buy a decent EPIRB.
a human in the water in the rain and 35knot+ winds and 10ft + seas is incredibly hard to find.
even when you toss Oscar off the boat and you SEE it go in the water its incredibly hard to simply maintain a visual on it.
gear suited for the expected seawater temps and conditions go a long way to insure your gonna touch dry land once more.
breakdowns and gear malfunctions happen.
its why planes fall out of the sky occasionally.
happens on the water as well, occasionally.

 

[jfried]

Re: Is it okay to take a 1989 Chris Craft 225 limited 23' boat offshore?

One thing I'd be concerned about that hasn't been addressed (using an '88 model on a lake that's just under 20 miles across) is the fuel consumption. I haven't tried it, but if you're taking the boat out 20 miles, that's a minimum 40 mile round trip, more when you factor in that you're not going direct in and out. I think doing something like 80 miles would problably be it for the range.

The boat will handle 2-3 foot chop extremely well, but anything more on a 23' foot boat that's about 22 years old boat years old would problably cut into your fun a fair bit.

I'd also be concerned because the seller is either lying to you, or has no idea what he's doing. The only way to get 400 hp out of a 5.7 litre block is to supercharge it, or go with a brand new fuel injected 383 stroker scorpion from mercruiser reman, the latter of which costs A LOT more than he's asking for the boat. If it's supercharged, that Alpha1 outdrive will not hold up. As mentioned, the limit for it is about 300hp.

For that final reason, I'd problably pass on the boat, and look for something that's more designed to go offshore.