Hopeful first time offshore purchaser - Need info on SC system
 

Hello everyone - My first thread start, been lurking for about 9 months making sure I knew what I wanted. Looking to find a nice Cafe, prefer late 80's due to the cabin style, and price point. I am a LONG way from being in the "money is no object" crowd.

I found one that I am interested in and has a blower system on it that I have never seen before. Does anyone have any information on this style of system that is pictured here. I am assuming it goes through an intake of some kind, through the silver box, which looks like it is an intercooler, and then on to the engine from there. Can anyone comment on this system - I am more interested in it's reliability, and any further operating details, than the system's ability to make power.

Thanks a lot - (hopefully I attached the file correctly)

Eric A.

I would also post in the tech section Looks like it is a procharger though do a search
Here is a link to there web page

http://www.procharger.com/marine.shtml

Take a look at my buddies. It seems like the boat for you!!

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o11427-en.html

Procharger with what appears to be the smaller 304 intercooler and blow through the carb "box". PSI is probably 3, could be up to 5. That system isn't designed for any more than that. (I just removed 8 PSI Prochargers from 500EFI's and went back to regular N/A). If setup correctly they run fine but burn a chit-load of fuel. Set-up is key here, and if done incorrectly a motor will not live long.

[QUOTE=fountain40icbm;2090861]Take a look at my buddies. It seems like the boat for you!!

QUOTE]

Yeah I have been eyeing that ad a LOT. Really nice boat, but I saw two things that were "problematic" for me.

One was the newer style interior, and the other was the SC'd engines. I want my first experience in High Performance boats to be a good one and am trying to find a Very reliable package to ensure it is.

Do you know if he has the scoops still on the sunpad? That could be problematic for the Fiance. I noticed in one picture he shows them and in the other he does not?

Yes he still has the scoops on. They take up no room what so ever. He just went through the motors and they are good to go. Before the freshen the boat ran great. Now it's even better. These are small blowers with 1 carb so they are a very reliable setup. I suggest coming to look at the boat. He may be flexible in price as well. Give him a call, it wouldn't hurt.

That boat is at my marina and is very clean and in excellent shape. The problem with shopping online is that guys put pics on from 5 -10 years ago and then you show up for a huge disappointment. You have to remember these things are not Volvos driven by soccer moms, you need to look long and hard when buying an older boat. This is the right boat! By the way in your description on year and interior you are probably going to end up with TRS boat and that is not always the best thing for resale.

:drink: Why are you against the newer style Cafe interiors (changed in the early 90's)? Just personal preference? When I was searching for a cafe I was looking to NOT buy the older style cockpit/cabin format. The newer style isn't much more than the older. That cooler that is in the newer cabin was the selling point for me!!:drink:

My preference for the older style is not for the price difference. I have a feeling that on MANY occasions we will have some over-indulged friends sleep on the boat and the two couches, while not overly comfortable, will at least provide them SOMEWHERE to crash.

Truthfully - I love the newer cabins, I think they give a much more open feeling, but the ability to sleep 2 more is a strong selling point for us to the older style. In reality, I am pretty torn but with a slight preference for the older.

cig's are for hot rodding and wave crushing. hotels are for sleeping. i have never over nighted mine.
todd

Stecz has his for sale too, kevlar boat I think he is in the mid 70's price wise and his boat is pristine.
http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o12819-en.html

Amen brother!:drink: :drink:

Everyone starts off thinking they will sleep on it, but its not any fun. It's as close to being in a coffin as I want to get anytime soon.....but juming waves it's like 35ft jet ski

I have seen that boat many times in person and it is Real Nice!

Makes sense....But as stated by others....I would love to spend the night on our Gun and planned on it even before we bought it. It's been 2 years and I've still not spent the night on it.

I understand your predicament but I wouldn't base your buying on the sole reason you want to be able to put two more people in the cabin to sleep.

Here's the plus for the older cabin and the plus for the new

(and of course we're talking about mid 90's guns/cafes "newer" cabins. Not the cover girl cabin...Just so everyones straight on that)

Newer cabin:

V-birth
facing seats with table (to mix cocktails, use ours ALLLLL the time)
Large (VERY LARGE) built in cooler
inclosed head
Lots of storage
bench seat on starboard side.
small sink
easy access to the radio from the helm

newer cockpit:

Updated bolsters (gives it at least a little updated look)
Updated grab handles in bolsters/deck and engine hatch (the older style had the stainless grab handles that date the boat a bit)

Newer boat (mid 90s) will come with white gauges usually.

Older cabin

V-brith
twin facing benches (for mor sleeping room)
stereo far forward in the cabin
I don't know about a sink or a cooler (?)
smaller head

oder cockpit
stainless grab handles
olde style bolsters (with out head rests)
pos. black gauges on older cigs

Those are the comparisons I made when looking. I leaned and eventually was dead set on getting a boat with the newer cabin/cockpit and have thanked the lord for my decisioin ever since.

With alot of people the cabin isn't a big part of their boating. With us, it's a huge part of our boating. I still believe the newer style cabin on the 90's cafe's/Gun's was the best cabin design on a performance boat ever.

Did I mention that cooler!!!??? You could put a body in that thing! :drink: :drink: :drink:


Then again, you get into Stecz's Cafe which is updated cockpit and older style cabin and nice,fast, reliable power, you just found yourself the best of both worlds....I'd say that's the boat to buy

What your budget? Stecz's is well known on this sight, and although I have never seen it there are threads on here that follow the work he did. Find the boat you won't have to redo everything. I have over $12,000 just in cockpit interior new gauges and shifters in my boat, and that is already done on Stecz's boat. I think people sometimes don't relize how you can spend on a 10 year plus old boat. Save your money and find one that somebody has aleady done right

Unfortunately my budget is tight seeing as how I am getting married at the end of the summer, but I am willing to be somewhat patient.

Yeah - I came to that realization early on. I have a list of "I want the boat to have's" that I have compiled in my head. Items that are more than just a couple hundred dollars and woudl like to find a boat in which I can get a majority of.

Items like -

Swim Platform
Hydraulic Steering
White Dash
New Gauges
Vacu-Flush head with holding tank, pressurized Water System
Redone Cockpit Interior
Redone Cabin Interior
A/C - (please don't chastize me)
Switchable Mufflers

I would like to find a boat where I could get say, 7 out of 10. Otherwise, it is like you said, you could turn around and sink 20 grand in the boat before you know it.

P.S. EVERYONE - Thanks for the link to the Procharger System. I had heard of them before but didn't know what they were. I appreciate it.

I won't - a well maintained nicely updated boat at the right price would take precedent over my unruly friends's comfort - Since they won't be making the payment, or probably paying for gas, I am not going to pass up a great boat so they have somewhere to sleep one off.

The older style cabins do have a sink and small cooler (you can't fit a body in there). They also have a smaller head because they have a sink in there. Pretty unnecessary waste of space if you ask me.

Since I wasn't really looking last spring I have to ask - do you guys find that more boats come on the market in the Spring, or is the Fall the time when there is more supply. Fall is an obvious time to sell them so you don't have to insure, store, etc... all winter, but do you find that a lot of boats come up for sale in the spring as owners decide they want to go bigger, newer, better?

I have to say that the newer cabin would be my choice. I just about live on my boat all summer,week ends at least and that table with the seats is the answer. I looked all over for a good Cafe before I got the Thunder and couldn't find a good one that I could aford at the time, prices have dropped in the last year or so and the ones that have been shown to you are good deals, wish they were around a while ago. I love the Cafe's. Go for the newer cabin you will love it. Remember you get one long bench seat for one person to sleep on and ya just have to get the second one to have a little more of a buzz and the floor will look awful good!

can someone post a pic of newer vs older cabin?

Thanks

If you want a reliable engine set up. Don't buy the engines. Get a good price on the boat and the rigging, drives etc. Pay someone or do it yourself if you have the ability, to get new engines built. Voice of experience speaking.

Here you Go.

And that cabin on the right has been redone with new vinyl. All the ones I've seen that are stock are dark colors. The white updates it quite a bit.

Ya and they are never that tight, Had to be redone looks very good. I also like not having that bulk head before the bed. And its a liner floor.

a friend of mine is selling a 96 bulldogs with 420 megablowers imco extreme drives very clean boat was kept in doors all winters maybe the cleanest cafe around he is asking $95g

Seaford, everyone here would love to help, but if you gave an idea of a price range, it would be helpful. Otherwise, people are just going to throw out ideas that may or may not be what you're looking for. There are some great deals out there if you're not in a hurry. I was on a very tight budget looking for a Cig under 40K.

Does it have to be a Cafe? Does it need a trailer? There was a great deal on an older 38' Mistress a couple of months ago for like 30K that was updated and looked sweet. My estimate for a cafe with seven of the 9 items listed and well maintained would be 65-75K for a good deal.

With that in mind, the boat Stecz has seems like a good price and has the bonus of nicer engines that probably make as much power as a smaller supercharged package (and would probably last longer). Otherwise, a decent example fairly well maintained but not updated may be 50-60K. There are a couple on this site in that range. If you want something cheaper than that, you may need to look at a Bullet.....I DID!

I think my budget will probably end up being in the mid-fifties - which means my patience may have to be plentiful. I have found a Cafe with all of the items I listed, less AC - asking 60k. The engines have just been rebuilt with 0 hours, and I believe the Prochargers that I asked about above have been removed. (I think that was an older photo). I am just starting my research to find out what was done to the engines. The boat is in LOTO if anyone out there is interested in taking a look at it, or knows it - It's at BIG Thunder Marine.

WAYNOFZR - We'll have to get together when I am able to put a deal together, I am over in Yorktown (Seaford).

Yes, we should try to get together this summer. I plan on getting to "Jammin on the James" this year (which is up your way), plus a couple other events. Another piece of advice. If the boat is listed thru a dealer, marina, or broker, the price is always negotiable. So present what you think is a fair offer. It may just fly.

I would ask for some help on this site (I think they probably have the biggest Cig following) to do a preliminary check on the boat. They're the nicest and most caring people on here. If it comes back favorably, then go up yourself to look at it (I wouldn't make a deal without seeing it in person).

Good luck! It sounds like a good deal if the engines were done right. Make sure to inquire about the drives too. And ask to see receipts.

I have actually got two I am looking at - both at 60k, both with brokers and I am well aware that they are like used car salesmen - always negotiable. I have been lurking this site for about a year, and really doing more research than I would care to admit. I have noticed that the Cigs have by and far the best "community" and will definitely ask for locals' help once I get comfortable with the work that has been performed, etc. Anytime I am doing my due diligence from a thousand miles, it is going to be thorough before I fly out to look at it.

So is this one not really a '95? Check out the cabin pics

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o14981-en.html

I have to disagree, with the right components and a mild state of tune, it can be done. I just finished three seasons of totally trouble free boating (300+hrs) with my old Top Gun. 700 hp blower motors, 671's Superchillers and Konrad drives. Nothing but basic maintenance, plugs impellers oil changes every 10 hrs.

Kurt

I agree with you to an extent, Kurt. Someone that has a fair amount of mechanical knowledge and understands the stresses that are put on marine driveline components can make a stronger engine combo last. They know what to look and listen for and understand the warning signs before suffering catastrophic failure. But, with the "average" boater in mind, I always equate it to a scale with speed on one side of the beam and reliability on the other. Typically, if one goes up the other goes down.

Just My .02

New to Offshore performance boats - yes. Not new to forced induction. Have a couple Twin Turbocharges cars and am well versed on the intricicies of "safely" raising hp levels through FI.

I own a 95 Top Gun and this cabin is very different than mine .

Yes, that was one of the pre-curser "Covergirl" cabins that were special ordered before they became standard on twin steps.