Thinking And Looking
So just when I think I want one thing, another thing pops up.
As you can see, this is a "walk around" hull. The current boat is a center console. What is the difference? Well the 25 footer has a cabin. It would make a great weekend cruiser. The 18 footer has the console in the center of the boat - with the walk around the console is on the starboard (right) side of the boat. Like a car in Europe, the helm (steering wheel) is on the "wrong" side.
My dad and myself are going to take a look see at the thing Saturday after the marine flea market in the Keys. I can not exactly afford the darn thing, but other people can. I can handle the 18 footer - it only cost $2.5k. And it has been a good boat! I like the little 18 footer. It is easy to pull, easy to launch, easy to get back on the trailer, and super easy to pilot out on the water.
The 25 footer will probably be too big for my V6 truck to pull unless I get a massive trannie cooler and an oversize radiator. And even then, I will be pushing the limits. Good thing FL is so darn flat! But I do have access to a Dodge Durango 4x4 with a 318 cubic inch V8 - that will pull the proposed boat. The 25 footer has twin engines, which is VERY COOL - with twin engines boat piloting is just so darn much fun. You can put one engine in forward and one in reverse and spin the boat around on its axis. Cant do that with a single engine.
But it also will consume at least twice as much gas. If I go out in the 18 footer and run the engine a lot - I may go through 20 gallons of fuel. No big deal. The 25 footer with TWO engines could go through 50 gallons or more! Yikes. This is probably one reason the dude is selling it. However if I just launch the boat, go somewhere, shut the engines off, and chill out the fuel consumption will be a lot less. I do this a lot when I go out.
And then there is the problem of what to do with the 18 footer IF the 25 footer comes home. Two boats? That is kind of insane. I do not think either one would get used enough to justify that. Get rid of my little 18 footer? I may not use the larger boat as much due to the "pain in the ass" factor. The 18 footer is not a big deal to drag out. A larger boat - bigger deal to drag out.
I will have to discuss all the details before someone makes a decision on this beast of a boat. I am sure I would like it if someone bought it and I can just borrow it whenever - but I will miss the smaller craft.
I do not think this will effect the "I want a wave runner" thing. It may, but who knows. It all depends on the deal I can find on an older model OR used ski.
So much shit. So little spendable funds.
Labels: Coastal 250
posted by The Lazy Iguana @ 07:08
13 Comments:
I have plans to build a 30' boat someday. All I need is the time, money and a large place to build it out of the weather.
Once I get it built, I'm going to boat down the Mississippi and then probably go along the coasts for the rest of my life.
Only 30 feet? Go for broke man! Shoot for a 45 footer. You will be far more happy with the result!
Actually I was off a couple, only 28. Here it is:
http://www.bruceroberts.com/public/HTML/descriptions/Waverunner28_description.htm
And yes, if the lottery cooperates, I will go for teh 50 footer.
Dude,
I'm all for used boats. But used motors always stink, and two of them will certainly be bad.
You need new motors since they have been run in the salt water.
That's all I'm saying.
Not always Caiman. The boat I have now is a package made before 1989. The engine is in great shape.
Salt is not a problem if the engine is flushed with fresh water after each use. The engines do not have to be in bad shape.
The Lazy,
I use to flush my Mercury after each use and I still needed a new impeller each year. With labor this was about $200.
Maybe Mercury has made improvements with their motors but I never had a Mercury last for more than 6 years before it died from the salt eating through the cooling plates.
I have replaced the water pump on the lower unit. Those things are rubber and have a lifespan. It is a good idea to replace or at least check the impeller pump yearly, if the thing fails at sea you may not notice till the engine overheats really bad.
I always thought it would be soooo cool to have a boat with a cabin you could sleep in. Even in the rain ! Just poke around for days at a time. Maybe I could win the lottery. But I'd have to buy a ticket.
That's ALL that boat cost?! You mean, I can realize my dream sooner than I thought in life. I am a kayaker and spent my summer "floating" near Georgetown in DC drinking beer.
I imagine how much beer I'll be able to drink in a larger water craft.
Whoa! Nice work if you can get it.
why are kayakers always pot smokers as well...hmmmm.
so, you said the word "darn" about 90 times in this post.
i have no idea about that boat, but as senor said, i'd be leery of used motors, that old. if they took care of them like you would have, good, but you have no gaurantee of that. they could be murderous liars with a penchant for rip off scams.
on the other hand, they could be really nice people who give you a good deal
very confusing
There are things you look at when dealing with used motors. Like for example, the paint. New paint on the lower unit is not always good. Is the bottom paint on the hull new? If so, it may have sat in the water. This is not bad for the hull, but if the hull sat in the water so did the lower unit.
Is the engine already hooked up to the hose before you get there? Is the ground wet? This means the engine was started before you got there - a sign of possible trouble. Open the engine cover and feel for heat. There should be none.
And so on. The current boat has an older engine on it and it runs fine. You just have to look around to find what you want.
If the engines are questionable it will effect the amount of money offered. If only one engine is bad and one is good - then the engine on the 18 footer will be transplanted.
So much shit, so little spendable funds.
Ain't it the truth?
I will need a new vehicle soon. My 94 Ford Escort now has 171,000 miles on it. My cars always tend to fall apart after 200,000 miles.
I want a new Land Rover. But I'm looking at a minimum of $30,000. I barely made $30,000 last year and I'm still paying off credit card bills. I will never again have a credit card!
I'm still trying to come up with a good scam, but I'm too tired. So I figure I will end up buying another used car.
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