Southern boats also have twice the hard usage on them with twice the hours.

That is a generalization that everyone up here makes. I believed it myself until I actually went and looked at some boats. I looked at a Regulator in Kill Devil Hills, NC and it was used hard and not very well taken care of but there are so many more boats down there and so many to choose from you can definitely find a well cared for boats with low hours.

My Contender is from Mississippi. It's a 2003 and still looks brand new. It was very well cared for, kept inside a garage and trailered. I got it 2 years ago from an older gentleman and it had less than 450 hours. To say he was sad to see it go was an understatement. He still emails me asking about the boat. He had to sell it as he was moving and it was during the BP oil spill so they had shut that whole area down anyway. I had the boat surveyed and it was mint (only think it needed was a new wash down pump). The Yamaha HPDI was also well taken care of with very low hours in the high RPM range. Boat had all paperwork etc. It was cheaper for me to buy it there and have it shipped up than what that same boat was selling for in the North East. (I did finagle a work trip near where the boat was in Miss so I could check it out which saved some $$). Out of all the boats I looked at (most in this area), that boat’s condition blew the doors off of what I was finding up here.

That's what she said.............:rotf2:

Foreclosure is a powerful motivator.

The beautiful thing about Florida boats is the shear number of them. It is mind boggling how many boats are down there tied to people in serious financial distress. As one broker told me..."Be careful if you make an offer, it could be accepted."

The state is in a real bad way. The unemployment numbers are inaccurate. Many people who lost jobs have left the state and abandoned their boats and property. Once they leave the state, they don't count in the states unemployment numbers. The real unemployment in Florida is probably close to 20% IMO. The construction sector has crashed hard there. Buildings have been stopped in all phases of construction.
Boat Builders will not even start building a boat unless the check has cleared. Nothing is built on spec anymore.



As for the use factor...while that can be true, you would be surprised, you can find a lot of boats with low hours. I did (my 03 had 220 hours on it). IMO the toughest thing about florida is the abuse from the sun and insects..yes insects!
You can find "Free"or nearly free boats there, they may not be cherry, but theyare on the cheap . But you have to go down there and spend a little time nosing around and talking to the people in the boat business. Frankly if you are serious and know what you want, hook up with a bank or broker and have him track a few down for you. Banks are discounting unpaid boat loans like nobodys business. I have seen late model boats go for 40K that were worth 4X that easy and cost 300K new. That is the kind of deals that are down there.

My boat used in the Boston area

Nice boat wrench.

My next boat will be bought on a trip down south. Guy I went sharking with this summer stole a 21 07' cape horn with Honda 4 stroke for 16K. 200 hours on the motor. You can steal boats down there right now.

Sea Pro 238CC

My ride, 1985 27 Aquasport XF, made before Aquasport was bought out by Genmar. Twin 260 Mercruiser Inboards, never met a fuel dock it didn't like.
I have owned it for 8 seasons now, it has been a great boat for me and my family

:biglaugh:

Nice ride. These boats are a great value to the fishermen and family as long as you don't put a ton of hours on them.

There are also excellent buys around here. I bought my 2005 Sea Hunt Triton CC. T-Top, trailer, all electronics and a 2005 Yami 115, 4 stroke with 340 hours on it for $15K last Winter. Guy wanted $17K but I went to see the boat in CT with a cashiers check for $15K made out to me. Told him we could go to Bank of America and cash it and I would hand him cash. BINGO, DONE!!

yeah it is a great time to buy. The guy wanted 11K for my boat and I didnt pay anywhere close to that. The motor had 100 hours when I bought it. He was pretty depressed on how much money and time he had put into it only to watch someone else enjoy it.

The fiance wants something with a cuddy that we can take the vinyard and block for the weekends. Not for a little while but I have my eye out on some. Im falling in love with the Pursuit OS 255. Hopefully i can keep the seacraft for fishing.

In East Boston

Laura-Jay 31 Duffy

Simple, straightforward,economical, with a big cockpit.
Very good sea boat as well.

(we swapped out the portable livewell in the pic for a huge built-in this winter -- big improvement)

JohnR, did you ever complete that seacraft project you had shipped up from Florida? status?

1999 26foot Dusky w 2003, 225hp Evinrude, cruise 27knts., w/o approx.36 kts., 100gal. main tank with 50gal. reserve.

One season with her. Looking forward to a lot more time on her in 2012...

Sandman ,
You have to be kidding ><><><>:biglaugh:

1985 hull 21ft alcar c.c.rebuilt totaly 4yrs ago .still w/ older electronices but good ones,and a new 150 2 stroke evenrude .boat is completely my needs{after 26yrs u got to get it wright} bass, cod n tuna have come over her sides. i though about selling her,but it would b like selling my black soul....

those old Alcar's were real battle wagons... no frill fishing boats... i worked on /set up quite a few back in that era ( mid 80's) when I worked for riverfront marine..

I was wondering the same thing?

SL
I had that hull ....... custom built from the hull up .............................. what a awesome rig ............................................ foolishly / I sold it for cheap money /When I had a time on [no brains]:wall::wall::wall::wall:







Almost as f uckup as when I sold my 1963 split window Corvette ,,,for $500 & a older Volvo sedan :smash::smash:

'95 ProLine 251 Walk Around. Does everything well, excells at nothing. Avg's 5gph. Can't beat it.
Attachment 49676

Please let me know if you decide to sell anything in the future..............

1984 23' Sea Ox walk around, nothing special but its all mine!!

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...e/006_G?full=1http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/..._003.sized.jpg

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...04_G.sized.jpg

mine. Like the tin boat better, more fun.

Nearly complete, has new transom, floors, casting deck, carpet removed and painted, electrical, plumbing, fuel tank, leaning post and rebuilt trailer, for under 2K with boat, motor, trailer incl.

K
What hull is that ???

Clammer, its 16' Starcraft Mariner. I wanted a wide skiff with gunnels and deep freeboard, 12 deg deadrise.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Where's the livewell?:devil2: