First year Cafe questions
 

Happy Holidays fellas; I stopped at Ocean Performance today and looked at an 86 Cafe w Chris. It's got fresh (6hrs) 540 natural tall decks, fresh trannys and solid SSM IIIs on it. Shes got original gelcoat, and all in all through discussion (no survey yet) seems to be a decent 1st boat. Question: what to look for on a first year cafe? Did they have any of the tab/stringer issues the flat decks and early guns suffered from and or did they have any adverse driveability issues ie porpoising, stern lift, wash out? What would you consider a fair asking price? Thanks guys?

With the III's you will still porpoise a little, but not as much as the TRS's. Either way, you just learn to adjust. Some early Cafe's had a notched transom - i believe that plays a part as well.

I'm glad to see it's a gelcoat boat - at least you get to see any stress cracking.

Good Luck!

I believe it was 3 late cafes that had the notch. Chris is probably the most knowledgable cigarette expert you will find in the area. If he tells you anything about that boat bet your life on it, there's no bs involved to make the boat seem better or make him look smarter.
He can tell you exactly what happened when they notched a cafe, I believe he begged the guys at cig not to do it.
I've ridden in a trs cafe and a trs top gun, in calm water the gun porpoises more. Wasn't really noticeable in the cafe.

I resent this last remark! :lolhit:

I agree, Chris forgot more about Cigarette than we will ever know. Hes a straight shooter and a pleasure to deal with. Good luck with the Cafe....Ive seen it in the storage building and it looks like a sweet ride!

Check for moisture around the Tabs. The Jig wasn't accurate in a few early boats and caused some issues.

I thought it was EARLY Cafe's with the Notch, but I could be wrong.

Not sure on what the boat looksl like but if it's got a trailer I'd say 35-40 depending on how ORIGINAL it is.....

Well let the pride and 1 or 2 mph go and drop the damn tabs!
:eekdrop:

I can't....:lolhit:

Or stop *****footin it and nail the dam throttles :evilb:

Tabs? who uses them???

Couple more drinks and tabs were gonna prevent puking!

Hahahaha! Fun day! Can wait to do it again....

Good advise
 

This is very true and common - I bet its got a rotten stringer if the hole isn't thru-bolted on the tab

Great Boat, I love my Cafe in the big stuff

Capt Greg

Do you guys realize how many boats have that lag bolt into the stringer?
Everyone of the ones I've pulled the k planes off or put on.
Pretty unfair to say it has rotted stringer over that. Transom must be rotted to since the drain plug insert just has a couple screws holding it in right?
Granted if not sealed properly it can be an issue but I wouldn't go in assuming the worst

Good info guys! X2 on Chris being stand up; I knew right away he was solid. I guess I'll work with him on a survey and we'll go from there..

I had an 87 withe TRS and 540s I didnt notice porpuse at all. I did put tabs down a bit bring the transome up but other then that i loved it. Lil red ran to Blockk with my self and a couple other on the Cafe. Im not going to say it was 8's but a sold 4 maybe 5 here or there. Ran great no issues flew level landed soft. if i didnt need to sell i woudlnt have. On issue was the danm oil pressure gauge what a mess! good luck. Chris is a great guy not to beat a dead horse. Has done my self and many OSO'ers and NE guys many times rite.
-Mike

sounds like the SSMIII boat someone was asking me about earlier. had M/T valve covers as I recall...any pics?

Sean
 

Sean - Only two boats listed under your screen name? What is the world coming to? LOL Hope all is well buddy!

haha - yes. that's what happens when you add 2 daughters... you must subtract boats...it's the new math. for the record, i do have 3 boats though - i havent added the sea ray...i'm too ashamed. :) happy holidays to you and your family.

Sean
 

That's okay, between you, Tank, Willie Barrieka, and myself, I don't think you'll find too many groups of 4 guys that have collectively owned more Cigarettes than us.

Thanks, best wishes for happy holdays for you and your family as well.