All the Cafes have bad transomes, the jig for the trim tabs wasn't in the correct place or the stringer was placed right in the through hole for the tabs (so they ran a wood screw in some) and it didn't get a nut and bold - water would go right in the hole, then in the transom - Easy to check, just look for the nut on the inner side - This is a nice boat, you can't go wrong for the price unless it needs drives and they can go without any warning -

That is correct, and for what I've seen and sold used about $3000 will get you a decent pair of 174's or 177's and you'll have a 73-75 mph reliable boat.

I would say that is not a cafe problem, all of the last 8 or so boats I've put kplanes on or taken off have had 1 lag bolt in each. It's just the way stringers line up with the chines

No Kidding! The boat listed looks like a heckuva deal.

Just have the dash painted white & it will look 5 years newer.

Great looking boat, price is :eekdrop:

I don't think "ALL of the Cafe's have bad transoms" is a fair statement.

When I redid my 320 Baja I maved the tab a hair to avoid that, but your right, alot of boats seem to have the stringer right there...I was 1/4" away so I didnt change it much..

Agreed. I know my tabs are through-bolted on the bottom.

If no, (full hyd. steering on this cafe') what did cigarette offer (back then) as their bare minimal -or- out the door standard steering system?......What would a full hyd. system cost today 'and" is it definately recommended?

Since I've never owned a trs boat, I'm not 100% for sure, but I would say that if the boat didn't have full hydr steering from the factory, it probably has the standard mercruiser steering system. While its not necessary to have to drive the boat, if I had a boat that ran more than 70, I would want it for sure, hell my boat runs 64 and I want it. I have driven too many boats that have it and it is worth the coin. I have looked into adding it to my boat (twin bravo boat) and its about 4k...I will say that most of the 420/trs cigarettes I have seen over the years do not have external steering, but every one with 525s or better does have it.