If you are willing to spend $160k look for a newer 38 Twin Step. They are close to 10mph faster with the same power, ride better (definitely flatter), more efficient, and easier to insure if that's one thing you are concerned about. No matter what you buy, you will have to throw money at it. Why start off with a 1998 that's $160k when you can buy a much newer boat for the same price? The Twin Step will ALWAYS be easier to get out of for the same $ when you need to sell. Now, if you are buying a $80-$120k straight bottom, that's a different story. You can't buy a 38 Twin Step for that.

Just asking, but why are these boats so expensive to insure? Is it the power, the name, the age, the value, all of the above? Guy's seem to put a lot of $$ into the upkeep and refurbishment of them. A survey that validated the structure should be enough to get a good policy and peace of mind. I have been kicking around the idea of getting a redone or good condition one, just because, but every time I get to thinking about it, the insurance thing rears it's ugly head. And don't even get me started on home insurance anymore. Geeze. I don't even think about calling those jack legs unless the damage is over 10K!

Kinda a Dick move post IMO....

Why? I guess nobody can have their own opinion around here?

Just curious...
Why you would say this? His post was probably the only post that actually answered the original posters questions.
Not the direction the thread took everyone trying to sell an older Cigarette or Apache.

I may have read it wrong, I took it as shot at Fricks boat.

If you have money for a boat like this,,,,why listen to others opinions???
Get what you like and makes you happy!!!! Buying a performance boat as an “investment “ is a terrible idea. LOL
I wanted an “old school “ classic Flatdeck, so that’s what I bought and will sink 100k plus in redoing it, simply because it’s what I always wanted.
kinda like restoring your high school car?
There is no price on happiness!!!!

I agree with Lucky guy .
Twin step is your better bet .

I don't think any of the posts here are out of line.

For sure get a Twin Step if you can find one within your budget. Have you ridden in different Cigarettes? Stock, bravo boats, TRS, SSM boats, straight hull versus stepped hull (they do ride different I don't care what anyone says - both have advantage / disadvantages). Maybe try to get on as many as you can late this season / next season before you purchase. There are a lot of variables. Also ask yourself what your boating goals are. Reliability?, does everything good?, fast top end? hotrod that only sees a few hours per season?, stock Merc power? hot rod custom power and unique? etc.

A Gladiator would be a sweet rig in that price range.

FWIW - I did a project boat and tried to get it to do everything well. Turns out that's pretty hard to achieve (impossible actually). In the end, I got fed up this season and just wanted to boat - I went out and got another boat with outboards so I could be on the water, our season is too short, and I work a lot of hours. A hot rod boat will be about a 10:1 ratio - 10 hours of maintenance, repairs, caretaking to 1 hour of boating.

I got into my project without having a lot of experience owning and operating an older vintage boat like this. Let's just say I figured out way too late that I had taken on more than I wanted, but ended up seeing it through to the end, and had to do a few things twice I had never considered. Find a friend, talk to people who have these, get some more experience around them. For sure buy what you always wanted, but also make sure it fits your lifestyle. I wish I had a little more guidance back when I took mine on. People around me got excited too, I got passionate about it and dove in head first.

Plus the cost. You might sour on the boat after a few years of paying the high running costs of a higher HP or older boat, factor in that insurance cost too. Do you do your own work, or do you need to pay someone else to do it?

Your quote "an older boat with redone engines that make a lot of power" - being that Vintage, almost all were bravo boats. Is it a bravo boat? How much is "a lot" of horsepower to you? Costly setup in both time and money (repairing hurt drives, time off the water, chasing parts to save a weekend, a trip, frustration, etc)

I've been through a lot of that - it's no fun.

I think in the end a twin step Cig (any model) with mild HP will be least cost of ownership overall - and maximum hours on the water. If you're interested - I can give you more details on my boat, I wasn't trying to turn your post into my "for sale ad", I saw the $$$ figure you put up for a straight bottom and cringed because there are probably only handful of straight bottom / older boats out there worth that much. Must be either a time capsule or a completely redone boat that someone dumped a ton of $$$ into.

Just trying to help.

Post up what you are looking at and the knowledgeable guys around here will try to help you. Ignore the comments that aren't helpful, sometimes people have their own agendas and opinions that may not align with your goals or wants.

We'll try to help you out with constructive feedback or questions to ask during the Due Diligence period. Might want to post this in the Cigarette owners thread/page.

BTW - I also considered that Apache, a lot of hardware for the money. Anyone know what it traded for?

Keep the brand going!