Boat question...

Ed L.

Ed L.

Well-known member
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My wife and I have put together a very aggressive two year plan to get back to the Florida Gulf Coast. This plan leaves very little cash for aquatic adventures. From what I'm seeing on line my wants are many and my funds are few. Since I value your insights I would like some suggestions on what to look for in a 19' to 21' trailerable cuddy cabin from the early to mid 1980's that would be simple in design and maintenance. My time will be mostly in the inner coastal waters but I would like a hull design that might take me say 5 to 10 miles out that would be sea worthy. I'm looking for a fishing rig rather then a pleasure rig so deck chairs are preferred over salon seating. The reason I'm asking about cuddy cabins is my wife has been under the knife for issues with the sun and we'd like to limit those types of encounters. Fuel economy on a fixed income is a thought that comes to mind so power suggestions are a concern as well. I have a little experience with the 4 cylinder Volvo-Penta setups and inline 6's with the Alpha 1 drives but other than that we've always had outboards. My budget looks to be in the $3,000 to $5,000 range which I understand is not much.


Thanks,
 
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Ah, give'em a taste of the sunshine, throw in a winter like we just had and ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, boom, they wanna run away to sunny Florida! :>) :>)
 
LOL...we were down there 2 weeks ago looking at some properties and were in sweat shirts all but two days. Very uncommon. May end up in Mexico if the weather keeps this up...:-\
 
Ed,

Look for a old 228 Mako. I know it's 22' but it is a nice layout. It is a fishing machine. We have had two in the fleet and both were great boats for inshore and off shore. Both were powered with 225 hp. I'm sure you could pick one up cheap that needs a little lovin.

You may also find more of them down south since they were made in Florida.


Here is what mine looked like:





Good luck in the search.
 
John,


I like the lines on that boat. That appears to be just what I'm looking for and still have room when the kids come to visit. I was also told to look for a Bayliner Trophy 19. I've always been told to stay away form Bayliner but they've been in business a long time so I'm not sure what the issues would be.
 
The Mako is the way to go. I had a 22 as well and it really is a great boat. Things to look for 1) soft spots in the deck 2) soft transom. If those are good or were replaced well you should be fine
 
Thanks Matt. Good points. When I lived in Florida a few years back I looked at 10 boats before I bought one. I ended up buying a 17' CC. Great bay boat but just a little small. Then I still had to replace the floor.
 
Ed,

Our company was a Bayliner dealer for 3 years. We gave up the brand because the quality was just not there. They are cheap and it shows. However, if your looking for low cost, entry level boat then it will fit the bill. They are not something I would want to use miles from shore. I would try finding a Mako, Boston Whaler or Grady White for old school quality.
 
Ed,
Have you looked into any Grady whites? We had 2 of them (22 and 24ft) that were made in the 80's and they were extremely seaworthy boats and very comfortable to fish out of. I feel like a small Grady would be perfect for what you are looking to do. Can't go wrong with a mako either....
 
Thanks Colin,
Here in the Midwest we are used to Sea Ray, Wellcraft, Cris Craft, Regal, Maxum brands as well as other. These are great pleasure boats for lakes and rivers but the hull designs may not be up to the pressures seen in waves from ocean waters. That's why I'm asking about boats in the offshore areas. I have a lot of learning to do.
 
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I would go with John on the mako line of boats. Have a 258 and it is a great boat. Start looking on craigs list etc. Handy man special might suit you and a repower.
 
Gary,


I was fortunate to fine a boat down there that had been well maintained. When I moved back north I brought the boat back up here. I didn't know what I'd find when I replaced the water pump last year but the guy had told me he flushed the motor after every use and I was amazed there was very little corrosion in the motor at all after being used in the salt since 1995. That being said, the funds I will have to buy another boat may just put me back in a 17'er.
 
From 1997 to 2003, I ran a '89 Proline 20' CC, my buddy had a '94 Proline 231 Cuddy from '94-2006. Both were great hulls and very fishable. My CC had an old 115 2 stroke and a 50 gallon tank, we would run out 15-20 miles to bottom fish all the time. My buddies 231 had a 120 gallon tank with a new oil injected engine and we ran it up to 50 miles out.
So a 19-21' cuddy with a decent fuel tank will give you all the range you want and then some. It will handle more seas than you will want to be in.
Back in 2008 or '09 when the housing bubble burst in FL, you could have found a thousand boats in your price range, people in FL were dumping hulls like crazy. Now, I am not so sure. Get on craigslist for the area you plan to move to and start looking at what is out there. It will take some looking, be patient.
The big question is the outboard. Like others noted for your price range, you are going to get a hull with an older 2 stroke or maybe a 1st generation 4 stroke. Make sure to give it a good overhaul before taking her out. And thoroughly check the fuel system, make sure to check the fuel/water separator cartridge for water. Replace the batteries (and it should be plural, 2 batteries with an isolator switch) unless they are less than 2 years old. Make sure to have a good FF and a plot charter, or better yet, two FF/GPS combos. That way you always have a back-up.
Be picky, don't buy unless the hull is solid, no fuel leaks and engine has good compression, etc.... First sign of trouble, walk away.
 
Carl,


All good advise. I'll also invest in the tow insurance again. A neighbor had to be towed back when I lived down there. He told me without the insurance his bill would have been in excess of $800. He was inside Tampa Bay. I can't imagine what the bill would have been if he were 15 to 20 miles off shore!.
 
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