What can you guys tell me about an '88 35ft cafe racer??? I am relatively new to cigs but I am looking seriuosly at restoring a cafe racer. It used to be a drug smuggler boat. The whole thing is painted gray to help hide the big boat out in the ocean. I mean everything is gray, interior, guages, upholstery, everything. Obviously it needs to be stripped down and painted, the 502 need rebuilding, and the bravo drives need going through. The guy wants 25,000 for the boat. Am I crazy to get into something like this? I dont mind the restoration part, I restore early broncos occasionally, but I dont know alot about the costs of restoring boats. Unlike my other restoration experience most of the boat restoration would be hired out. I know its difficult to say without seeing it but what do you guys think???

Thanks!

at 25k you should be ok!!!

contact Sean. He just restored one.

Problem is I am very new to this site and have no idea who Sean is. I did search and there was a guy from Colorado who did one. Is that Sean?

Follow below link

follow this link

I've been working on mine over the past three years. Go to http://www.geocities.com/greshah/Cafe35.html and you'll see my progress. Next winter will be painting the boat and dash. If you have any specific questions let me know.

I would do a complete hull and stringer inspection. Paint and vinyl are easy, stringer and bulk head work is not. I looked at 4 Cafe's before I settled on the 89 I bought. All the others had loose stringers, bulkheads or some sort of loose tabbing. If the boat your looking at was a smuggler, it was probably ridden hard and put away wet a few times. Pay real close attention to the structure! If the hull is tight, you could have a good "project" boat. If not, it may end up being more expensive than you think...

Mongo

clc900,

I've seen pics of the boat you are looking at and I don't believe it is a Cafe Racer. The deck looks all wrong. Compare that deck to Cignificat's deck and you'll see what I am talking about...

Here's a Cafe project on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2427168490

Here's a 38 SE that may go cheaper than the 49K...it's been for sale for a LOONG time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2427669942

best of luck in your search.

Show us pictures of this 25K Cafe...

Mongo

mongo,

i think this is the boat he is looking at

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/7/6/53603176.htm