1986 Cafe Racer
 

Thoughts and opinions on this boat. I hate the red interior but I love the exterior. Seems like a really nice boat for the price. What do you think the top speed would be with those 454's? Im not doing anything right now but definitely looking. That being said Ive never even been on or ridden in a Cigarette or any go fast boat. My 24ft Cobalt is perfect for where I live but not the best in big water. I live on a river and Ive got the 2nd biggest boat out here. Mostly pontoon and flat bottom aluminum mud boats.

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1986...racer-7367680/

Pretty boat and does seem like a good price.

But, boat is in Fla and through a broker.
So due diligence would be paramount.

Trs drives too.

Hopefully the Cigarette Boys here in Ohio will chime in.
Theres a 1/2 dozen or more of them that have lived/breathed them for yrs.

Last summer I saw three Cafe Racers at the same water front pub.
One owner was educating me that there is quite a variety in what each one is.

I like too that at 35’ it wouldn’t be too bad to tow, load/unload etc.

Good luck w/your shopping.

One of my favorite things to do.

Seems like a nice clean machine with decent updates. I would get a survey, a sea trial and compression and leakdown on the engines. TRS drives are fine with that setup and you should have no problem with them. As for speed, I bet it is a 62-65 MPH machine with the Merc 454 420's and the TRS drives. I like the timeless graphics my self. Indicator cables are a pretty cheap fix if they are bad and I would just go with a simple Add on GPS for speed.

try insurance first

I have an 89, mine is a little different due to having a notched transom, but this looks like a nice boat, I to like the timeless graphics. As others have said make sure to get a survey and sea trial. As far as pulling a 35, this is a heavy boat, empty it is about 9600 lbs. with fuel, gear and the trailer you will be over 12,000. That being said they ride great, for speed with the 420's and TRS you should be between 60 to 63 mph. The TRS's are no longer made but with proper care and not over powering (I would not go over 550hp) they will live. Like any boat if you beat on it, you will destroy it.

Nice looking boat and seems like a decent price. Agree with what everyone else has said. Loved my Cafe and it ended up in Louisiana. Good luck in your search......

That’s Nabil Boutros boat. Look him up on Facebook.

Thanks for the input guys. Towing won't be a problem. I drive an F350 single wheel and tow a lot. I love the graphics but Im not sure if its the right route for me. That boat is such overkill for where I live but I do want to travel soon. The last kid has 1 more semester of college and the house is almost paid off. Im starting to second guess myself. Am I settling or should I wait and get a newer model with more upgraded engines? My wife thinks Im crazy and its too early to actually enjoy a boat like that. My goal is to maybe hit the poker runs and do some exploring. Ive captained 45ft sailboats for many years now but have honestly never even ridden in a go fast.

Lucky Strike Jr Ill check him out tonight. Thank you again guys. I definitely need to do some more homework. I want to make sure I get what I want and will use. I use my Cobalt almost every day from spring until Thanksgiving. Then I switch gears and hunt till January 31. I also will need to extend my boat house. My 24ft fits perfect but there is no way in hell a 35ft will even come close...

Im so redneck its almost pathetic. My house is on stilts because of the flooding.

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I refuse to allow common sense to interfere with my boat buying decisions.

BTW, man was I off on towed weight!
Yikes.

Lastly, it is unacceptable to have a place like that w/o a boat like that Cig in the lift.

That’s a beautiful home.

Keep the red interior, it is part of the cool factor !

The boat looks beautiful in the photos, I can see why you like it. Lots of good info on here, I’ll just add a note about buying. Don’t want to sound too negative but do your homework and anything the broker says is worthless until you can prove it with your own eyes.

POP yachts have many great boats for sale but several of their brokers know zilch about go fast boats and very often, have not even seen the boat they have listed. This one could be perfect but be sure to check everything with an experienced eye. Transom, stringers, engine condition etc, etc.

RR.

P.S. Love your lakefront house, looks superb. The Cobalt fits nicely but I have to agree with twin OB, a Cig would look even better. :)

Thank you guys. The house was a guys bachelor pad. We’ve been working on it going on 6 years. Basically a shotgun house on stilts. The river we live on is mud puddle. Rises and falls and is pretty dirty. Raw water pump is replaced every spring. Someone else had commented on the reliability of the Merc 500’s and 525’s. Just need to weigh all of my options. I really do like the paint on the above Racer. I like a simple look over some of the crazy paint jobs I’ve seen but that’s just me. I still havnt FB the owner yet. I’m going to wait and get through this week and see if I’m still feeling it this weekend to decide if I want it surveyed. I do have contacts in the Tampa St Pete area.

its not overkill at all. just have to get out and strech your legs in the lakes. go to maddisonville slidell new orleans biloxi etx you will like that 30+ feet heck just going to the one side ofg the lake to the other...

I use to run all over that place back in the day. Are you the nephew of Crazy Charlie? I’m definitely going to make the 200 if your putting it on for 2021.

Just as a comparison my buddy just sold a 93 35Cafe Carbon. fresh 540's with 60 hours on them, bravo drives, aluminum bolt together trailer. Working gen and AC. I liked the cabin in the later cafes better.

Motors pulled about 645-650 on the dyno in full marine trim. Clean boat, sold it about two months ago for 60K, in my book this one is over priced.

His ran right at 72-73 with that power.

Wow!

Beautiful boat! I mean, if those are recent pics...that thing is in GREAT shape. Obviously very well cared for. I guess my only complaint would be...WHY are there "unfixed" items on the boat...like the trim cables, speedometer? Chit like that drives me nuts...and indicates a certain...laziness?
Great looking house and Cobalt, by the way.

Very clean looking Cafe. It was one of the ones I considered before buying my 89. I had a different cabin preference than the 86. This one has been on market for a long time and if you contact owner (mentioned in previous posts) I'm sure you can negotiate a fair price. I agree on the speed 65 plus or minus, lots of factors and they aren't fast by todays standards by any means but one of the best rides available. Love mine!
SURVEY, SURVEY, SURVEY!!!

Thank you so much! The Cobalt is absolutely perfect for where I live. I guess I’m just wanting something bigger to go exploring on different bodies of water. My goal is to do more traveling here soon. The wife and I work way too much and are both getting close to 50. I say it’s time to start enjoying life.

Believe me...truer words haven't been spoken. As someone who has recently lost some good friends, please cherish those moments with family and friends...because they certainly aren't guaranteed.

If you've not owned or had friends with go-fast boats you may be surprised at the amount of wrenching and cost of repairs required to keep them running, especially an older boat.

Like stated above it is work and expensive, plan on about 10 grand a year for insurance, misc. upgrades and things breaking between the boat and trailer. The cost of ownership can get up there quick, especially on an older boat. That said, Yes it is worth it, and many on this site will agree.

Can you be a little more info? Im pretty mechanically inclined but I dont want to spend more time working on it then enjoying it. Water pumps belts hoses fluid changes are a super easy. I don't like trouble shooting electrical but thats just me. What else can I look forward to? The more I read the more I know I dont want a project. Where I live there isn't much help close by for boats like this. Everyone here has bass boats or party barges or surface drive flat bottoms.

Mild power is your friend, but the reality is with go-fast boats things are always going to be cropping up. When I sold my Cafe I had lots of little stuff that had added up that I simply didn't have time to address at the time with priorities on kids, etc. A trim tab that wasn't working, gauges that had given up the ghost, fiberglass work that was needed on the hatches, interior that was past showing its age, had two superchargers crap out on me in the last two years. Had rebuilt from the oil pan up both motors 2-3 years earlier, fuel pump went bad, trim pump started leaking under the seat for the hatches ram which I had to repair, just spent over 2k on new tires, hubs, brakes, rotors, calipers on the trailer.

I had spent more on the boat in the two years leading up to seeking it than I sold it for (no joke). But I will say it was all worth it, and I'd do it again 100 times over. The time with my kids and wife were priceless - my kids were 9 and 10 DAYS old when they first went on that boat and they wouldn't know what to do now without a CIG. I cried when the new owner towed it away.....

As one of my good friends always says "life's not a dress rehearsal"

I bought my cafe for my 40th birthday present to myself , after coming home from my uncles funeral- he retired at 65 by 66 he was in a wheel chair and by 67 he was dead - so much for all those retirement plans !! i was going to have it for 3-5 years well its been 22 years -- 2 sets of motors as long as motors are out better go thru drives and gimbles - yearly maintence seems plugs - caps rotors filters oils and drive oil changes impellers $$$ x 2 and then the truck to tow the heavy thing around I have a ford f 650 for towing and going to car shows and ice cream lol oil - filters $$ and batteries and then something breaks or needs tires $$$ but I cannt give it up

seafordguy waycool marine Thank you for sharing. Im definitely thinking about it. Ive decided against the above racer. Its a little too dated for me. Im definitely going to book a place to stay on LOTO as soon as they announce the date for the Cig Rally 2021.

Father’s Day weekend every year. Already have our rooms and flights. 👍

Thanks Tank. Ill start my search asap. Ill be bringing my boat so hopefully I can find a place to dock it and park my trailer. What area should I be looking at? Probably be going through vrbo.

start looking at the area around Osage on the map. Google map performance boat center and then VRBO on that finger of the lake. There’s a couple of places still on the tan Tara property which is close enough to PBC. if you call PVC and tell them your coming and bringing a cig I believe they make room at the dock for you. If you don’t want to do that though, the tan Tara / margarita hotel has a marina too. If you do t mind being a little further away there’s other spots and some houses with docks lake front. But start your search near PBC and work your way out from there is what I’d suggest. As of about two weeks ago there was a cool little shack with a dock right across the bay from PBC for cheap. Don’t know if it’s still there but it may be. I’m sure other way more experienced with the area with chime in with some tips. Main tip is book ASAP. Place fills up quick.

Thanks for the info. Found a bunch of places in the Miller Hollow Cove area. Ill see our vacation friends this weekend and let the wives decide what looks good to them. Looking at getting there Thurs the 17th and checking out the 22nd. What do you think about those dates? Im about 10 hrs away from there.

yeah. Last year I noticed everyone had boats on the water Thursday and hung out a little Thursday night. Friday was a run and everyone partied at PBC Friday night then another run Saturday and mellow hang around at PBC Saturday night. Sunday a lot of people left but we bar hopped and then left Monday. Fantastic trip. Won’t miss it again. It’s on the yearly rotation of must do’s now. Dessert storm, cig run and Key West worlds are now the every year don’t miss runs for us.

There are usually condos available at the Ledges which is near PBC. Some of the condos have covered docks available, we were there for the Shootout and it was great. This year we will be going to the Rendezvous as well.

a 100 Cigs priceless
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2019 Cig Rendezvous
 

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See you all in 2021

Boat porn on Christmas day! God bless you both!🤪

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A little more
 

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Steve, you and Bobby gonna bring the gladiator and the F2? Looking forward to hanging with you guys.