Okay I have questions for the pro's
 

I have questions on Cigarette Boats
Option 1
1. What do you guy's think the overall rough cost to:
1. Paint a 35' Cig Including cockpit and bildge
2. Re-do interior of entire boat
3. New dash and gauges
But what are the chances of finding one that has EFI and newer style drives?
Option 2
Find one that is re done already or pucrchase a newer one and enjoy it. I want to make the right decision in this purchase because I will have it for a long time to come. But then it raises yet another question regarding financing on a older Cig which may not happen. Or will they loan on the older ones most banks are only going back to 2002/2003 from what I have been told which hurts alot of people trying to sell. Thanks for any help that you guy's can provide trying to map out a direction and a path.

I think it would be better to go with a newer one and enjoy it..

$15-$20k Paint
$5-$8 Interior w/ sun pad
$1500 dash panels / $1500-$2000 Gauges

My opinion, unless you have the time and knowledge to do alot of work yourself and really want to do a project boat, find one that is already to your liking and upgrade the little stuff.

Projects can get out of hand in a hurry.

1 - I bet 15k to do it right on the low side. PM Frank 4195 he might could tell you since he is in the heat of it right now.
2 - 5k in new cabin and cockpit interior
3 - 5k in new dash and guages including throttles, heads up displays, etc.....

What newer style drives are you looking for? If you get one that is cut for Bravo's you can at least get the XR's if you think it is worth it without much work.

I think Financing could be HARD unless you put down a huge % and even then I think you are gonig to find it VERY hard.

I think it is a no-brainer to buy one that is already done. Over on SOS a few months ago a guy was asking about two boats, one of which was SKRAMER's and the other was in need of some attention. When you start adding up costs to re-do one correctly, and then you look at the cost to buy one like SKRAMER's that is already done correctly it becomes obvious. Little stuff like GPS units, AC, Pop-Up cleats, Swim Platform, etc... These things add up SO quickly you can't even fathom it.

Thanks for the reply's don't know what direction to go right now I am in the just looking stages seeing what is out there for me. Another question how is insurance on the older Cig's hard to get? I just love the loook of the old school boats and the fact they turn the heads of many.

I think the numbers are way low. Just finished mine, Paint was around 40, cockpit and cabin were around 25, motors ??????? skys the limit. I know I went a bit extreme but it all still costs.

Jmbtile,

Do you have some pics of your paint, cockpit & cabin, etc? That's some serious $ spent on renovations!

Stacey at Wakezone insures mine. You might want to touch base with her and see what she says.

And jmbtile is probably right. Those numbers above are probably low. Buy the right boat out of the gate.

Generally insurance isn't an issue until the boat turns 21. (maybe they figure its going to start drinking or something :drink: ) If you have insurance at that point, stick with them because moving to a new carrier might not happen without some big bucks.

Either way they will want a survey, as will you.

I was lucky, I bought and insured mine with at 20 years and 11 months. :)

My advice would buy something newer or already redone. If you buy an older boat with the intention of redoing it a little at a time it will add up to big dollars. When I bought my boat I was very happy with it, but then I wanted to go faster and freshen up power, then update the apperance and finally paint. An older Cigarette is going to need some freshing up. Once you get started it is like a snowball rolling down a hill. Depending on your budget I would say to either stretch aliitle bit and buy something newer(rates are low too) or find a boat that someone has already redone and you can pick it up for 50 cents on the dollar. Here is a list of what I have in to my rig.

1. New motors (cables,exhaust,misc.etc) $40,000
2. New transom assemblies (old ones shot) $5,000
3. New Paint $ 20,000
4. New cock pit interior $5,000
5. new sun pad with Cig logo $2,000
6. External steering $3,500
7. New props $1,000
8. New gauges $2,000
9. New shifters and throttles $2,000
10. New powder coating $1,000
11.New rugs $1,000
12. New cleats and bow light $1,000
Thats over $80,000 including labor

Take your time and find the right boat! Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

I've got $100,000.00 into mine. And that doesn't include what I paid for the boat. It's an 87, but will be brand new more or less. Still less than buying brand new.........that's what I tell myself to make me feel better about all of the money I'm spending, especially in this economic climate.

Buy one done, not worth restoring one. You can't take short cuts with cigarettes, or else they will show it and nobody will want the boat. you will have to restore it to cigarette level or better. Best to pay a little more upfront, turn the key and ENJOY! :drink: :drink:

Thanks for all the help I have been going stir crazy thinking about which way to go about the next boat.

I have to agree to that...
Jr.

Think about what you want out of the boat that you want how long you plan to keep it and so on... restoring a 35 if you do it buy one half dead and shot may be gutted to save a buck on step #1..

step #1 brake down
crow bar and hammer work 5K if there is no power and drives with engins and drives 6 may be 7K do not skimp here you will pay later

Now your gutted and worth less stop now and u pay $10 a foot to dump it + a ride to the dump..

step 2 body work and body and "mod".. say 1978 a beat old 35 cigarette boat no "mods" 5K for you glass, puddy, core and 5k labor, to make sure the only waves are under you boat and not on it.. 3k more if you need cabin refit...


now your in primer and can take a loss if you want out say 5 k for you boat I say I'll give you 2K...


step 3 !!paint!! $150 a day 4 weeks in the both lets say 4 colors.. hull color black. cockpit & cabin vestal white, deck matterhorn white, griptex whisper white. labor 25k I'll do it like new

she shine's and is not worth your yard bill


step 4 refit... lets say you had good engine and drives & controles 3k to 5k to put them back in...

your panel is good but old ur boat is new so 3k wire and panel and 3k install no gen ad 15k for 110v 5k for a/c fridge and so on

8k to 15k in seating

and in like a day or two your ready for the water, but that guy sold out and the props not done and 6 months later you can think about if it was all worth it or about how one or more guys screwed you on the way but then you open her up and leave all that B/S behind you,,& hope fully it not a cloud of blue smoke behind you from that old engine...

pay some one to do it all and unless you have 100K you will quit and the yard will sell your boat..

do it all your self and you'll just be looking at a $25k yard bill and 30k in stuff & o ya a year of you life . hope you can sow.. or add 10k it's ok ur in deep now


add 10 to 20 k and u got it

http://sharkeyimages.zenfolio.com/sabocigarette

and its for sale

I need this translated.....

But I think he was saying the same thing - buy one done.

lol! :drink:

I have rebuilt alot of boats in my life and unless you are a person that really enjoys projects and you have a family that can enjoy the projects with you and have the patience, money,experiance and time I would say go for it!
BUT if you have never taken on a project like this, I would suggest buying a boat that has been completed, because right now you can buy boats cheap. I would look for someones misfortune, where they have put a ton of money into a boat and need quick cash! or go new!
JR

That scared me a little but and I did not know what was going on:lolhit:

I went against everyone's advice and am in the midst of a project boat. I've spent alot of money already and I haven't even touched the boat myself yet. In fact, it's about 1500 miles still being worked on.

Things WILL add up fast. I also had the mindset that:

1.) I can't afford a newer boat
2.) If I were to buy the era boat that I can afford, it would need work regardless, tearing apart a working boat did not make sense to me.
3.) I just happened to get an offer I couldn't refuse so I dove in head first.

I have come to the realization that I may break even when all is said and done. The boat will be like new and will reflect my tastes.

The only way to come out close to break even is to get the project CHEAP!!!

If you like working on boats, get a project. If you like DRIVING boats, get one that's 95-98% good to go, but still a little bit left that you can tweak to your style a bit.

If you didn't know what was going on and got a little scared then I gave you the feel of what a large refit is like...:drink:


I brake a restoration down into 4 steps with a large project
if you pay for it and do nothing:
#1 tare down: 5 to 7k
#2 body work and mod's : $5 to 8K
#3 paint with booth time: 25 to 30k
#4 refit: put parts on..... how much u want to spend on parts? say 20k leaving some stuff out
10k yard fee...
one constant on a large boat the yard fee 20 to 50 a day + lift fee's, blocking fee's a 35 foot go fast with cabin is a 6 month job with out a cabin can be 2 months less, if your lucky. So plan on twice that...

70k but un finished refit no ac or microwave and so on.
100k done with hard where & bright work.

ur labor if u can do it all in 6 months. 35K

non have power at that price.... all are give or take 10 to 20k....

If you have a lot of cash and can afford the loss on resale when selling buy new or newer..
If you have a vintage boat in mind or with history that you like and the cash to pay some one, do it...
If you do not have the cash to buy or pay out 4 labor or like doing this stuff and can stick to the project. You can build your self some thing nice, maybe nicer then any other...

You will appreciate it!!

Johnny buy one that is already done. Insurance and financing helped my decision when I was looking to buy. Another thing that might not have been address is that the older cigs take bigger power to run in the 70-80 range resulting in questionable drive reliability.

Andy

True - I think if you are looking at a Cafe you need to bank on a SOLID 600 each side to consistently touch 75.

Thanks for the encouragment, I need it!!!

I saw your dad last night, he was gonna go out but it was a little iffy and windy. Also, there's one sweet NorTech from FLA in dry storage next to your Gun, pretty badass rig. Staggared w/ #6's and all.

Questions about painting the hull / deck:

1.) You guys mention upwards of 30K for paint, what if you prep it yourself, have a place to do it so it's not sitting in a booth, and get everything ready to spray and have the painter come to you, or trailer it over just for the painting portion?

2.) Would a painter even consider this?

3.) Any issues with doing all the prep work yourself, such as painter not wanting to spray something he doesn't have control over or hasn't prepped himself?

The quote on the paint is probably the hardest detail to give you an estimate on. No one knows what you want to spend on the paint job, or how much you want to spend on the materials to create it.

You can have one design picked out, and have it painted in a wide variety of ways, which would obviously include a wide variety of prices.

You could spend a lot to paint the design, by using pearls, metallics, & other kinds of expensive paints. Or, you could just do it with basic paint & clear, & spend much less.

You can clear the boat 2 times, or 12 times. The boat can be prepped in a variety of way as well, some more in depth than others.

I don't know of a single credible boat painter that would consider letter the customer have anything to do with the painting process. No painter with a good reputation would want to risk their name, by taking a chance on the customer doing a bad job prepping the oat, or any part of the job, then having their name as the person the painted it.

Boat paint jobs are usually quoted by the foot, after the types of paint & materials have been established, as well as how wild the design is going to be.

Thanks Andy! I saved up money for a depo quicker than I thought and just looking around. After all the help on here I think done is the way to go and then do little things from there. But the Cigs have something about them that I really like at this time. But as you may know I don't care what the top speed is of my boat is long is will get on plane and cruise that is all I want. Most offshore guy's want the top speed I just want a sharp boat.

+1

That's all I wanted too. To get on plane and cruise. Back in the day, you were flying at 75. Today, with some pleasure boats doing well over 100, you'll need an endless pocket book to compete against that.