Help with new purchase
 

I am looking to get into a larger boat 35-38ft. I was looking at a Baja 38 Special for the amenities but could sacrifice for something a little more aggressive. Like a true offshore. Would like to find a fresh water boat. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

There are alot of boats out there in that size range. What do you consider more agresive. I'm talkin about power. Also age range and price.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

The key there is what price range. There are some new boats Fountain, Baja, Formula, etc. that can be had for 150K and up up up.

Best place to start on used boats would be the OSO classifieds once you establish a realisitic price range and if you want turn key or to pick up one you dont mind doing a little work to update.

Good luck, boat shopping is always fun!!! :drink:

Re: Help with new purchase
 

look at the 33 / 37 /43 Active Thunder

Re: Help with new purchase
 

You picked a good time to boat shop. Used boat prices are in the toilet and winter is coming. If you can catch someone pre-layup you could do well.

The size you're looking at is very popular- lots out there. If you shop in the midwest, you'll find no-salt boats with low hours. It's tough to hour one up with a 90-day boating season. The downside of midwestern boats in that range is many are either trailered or docked. There's not alot of rack storage for larger boats- unlike Florida or Texas. Look for trailer rash on the bottom or evidence of extended stays in the water. Outdrive corrosion and gelcoat blisters are two big signs.

On older boats, you'll see lots of TRS drives. They're sturdy but less fuel efficient than Bravos and now that Merc discontinued them, parts are getting tough to find. Also, be very aware of wood rot on any boat, especially one more than 5 or 6 years old. The quality and reputation of the builder has nothing to do with it. I've seen lots of Cigarettes, Apaches and others with rotten transoms in as little as 8 or 10 years- especially on docked boats. They let the bilge fill with rainwater and it saturates the outdrive cutout area.

Baja is a mid-range boat. Something like a Cig is going to last longer, hold more value, ride better and have more "at the dock" value than a mass-produced boat. You can find very nice Mistress models for mid-$30's and late-80's Top Guns for the $60's. The downside is the older boats are heavier and slower.

The cardinal rule of buying a boat- get a THOROUGH survey from a professional, knowledgeable high-performance surveyor. Some guy who usually does Searays isn't going to be nearly as much help.

Also, you have to decide what your idea of a bargain is. The boat may be beautiful but if it's got tired motors, rotten exhaust and TRS drives, you're looking at serious coin to repower and convert to Bravos.

As everyone will tell you, it all starts with this question... what's your price range?

Re: Help with new purchase
 

If your looking at amenties the Donzi 38ZX is a great boat with a big cabin downstairs, Fridge Microwave full bathroom some have AC/Genys TVs and with 525s runs 78-80 mph and she also holds good value.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Damn thats some quick responces, thanks. I'm trying to keep my price limited to 70k. I know I will be throwing money at it after I purchase it but at least I can do it at my own pace. I live in Vegas so I have to have something shipped. There's just not alot of big boats up for sale out here. I'm looking at a 38 special this week. I'm just more of a racier kind of guy, so now I'm getting cold feet wondering if I'm making the right decision. It seems like all these big boats run anywhere from 60-80 top speed. Does that sound true? Thanks.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

the boat is not as important as the person behind the wheel as in any other motor vehicle. The newer models with "step bottoms: have a reputation as being a little un-stable for turning at high speeds. Proper knowledge and understanding of trim and tabs one should be able to handle reasonable turns (except DHLAW) with out causing you any safety issues, ie: throwing you and the passengers out of the boat. Do take the time and extra monies to have the boat looked at a surveyor. It could save you thousands. If this is going to be your first power boat, I also recommend that you take a boating course. There is a member on here that provides this type of training and he has an excellent reputation for knowing his stuff. The man's name is Tres Martin, here is the link to his web site http://www.tresmartinperformance.com/ . I have not personally taken his course but I will be this coming spring (no more vacation left :( ).. There are a lot of valid points that Chis S. made that should be followed by anyone. Good Luck!!

Re: Help with new purchase
 

What about tricks 36 outlaw? Its priced very well, and i think it has a/c too.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Like Chris Sunkin said...right now it is a buyer market out there. You should do good and get a lot of boat for your money...even new boats are in the dumper just look around on all the dealer websites.
Have you checked into insurance yet?

Re: Help with new purchase
 

I don't want to sound like I'm down on the Baja but you need to decide what you want before you jump. The baja "looks" like an offshore race boat, but it's not. Full cabins can slow a boat 10, 20 or more MPH. Baja isn't "overbuilt" like a Cig, Apache or many others. Many of those have half-cabins- enough to duck a brief storm or maybe to "take a nap". Toilets, extra batteries and air conditioning are cruiser amenities, not offshore hardware. Plus, all that additional weight on a mid-priced performance/cruiser is tough on it. If you want to jump over 8 footers with that extra ton and a half of bunny fur, be prepared to pop a stringer- or worse.

There's one hell of alot of difference between some of these boats. If you look at new prices, you have to ask yourself why of two equal sized boats, one can be twice as much as another.

In this market it's easy to buy so whatever you get will be expensive to change if you choose wrong.

What exactly do you see yourself doing with the boat and where will you use it? Are you planning on trailering it? If so, ad another $20K for a proper tow vehicle that will tug 10K/#+ safely and legally.

With all due respect, this sounds like your first go-fast. You probably don't need to be going 80MPH, at least not for a while- certainly not on lakes. Another thing to consider is insurance. Too much motor or too much MPH and you may not be insurable at any price. If you lie to the insurer about experience on your app, you might as well save the $$ and run uninsured. They're looking at mishaps with a fine-toothed comb these days

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Who's Trick? Can you send me a pic or let me know which one to look at?
Thanks. I'm interested in what the differences are between the outlaw cig's fountains, formulas, a/t seems like this is very opionated sport/hobby.
I didn't think it was going to be this hard wish I could have one of everything!

Re: Help with new purchase
 

www.trickmarine.net

http://www.trickmarine.net/productde...?productid=828

He has a 36 Baja listed that sounds right up your alley.

Where are you planning to do most of your boating? River? Ocean? Lake? This will affect which boat will be right for you. Some boats ae better handing on smooth water and give you a faster smooth ride. Other boats are better and faster in rough water, and are built tougher for a more pounding body of water.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Baja 38 Special is the WORST performance boat I have ever driven. The 36 Outlaw is alot more fun.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Thank you for all the posts. And thanks for the link to Tricks outlaw, that's a nice boat that fits my range. There is a 93 38 Top Gun in the classified section for 78K that looks nice, original owner. Probably two very different boats, just a guess! Most of the use will be on Lake Mead in Nevada so I don't think I'm going to hit any 8 footers but that sounds like a good time. Knowing me I'm sure someone will talk me into some crazy trip off the coast.
I have not looked into Ins. yet but if you sell it you can shoot me an e-mail. I have one of those F350 Power Strokes. It does OK for towing. I was driving my close friends Hallet 30t with some kind of race motors and after I ran it up to 96 on his speedo he said he thought that was the fastest his boat was ran. Why build it if your not going to use it?

Re: Help with new purchase
 

There is a 90+ mph 34 foot superboat for sale. Good price, great lines will run with a 38 foot boat in the rough. :cool: Has 525's and will be listed for 150k i belive. :cool:

Re: Help with new purchase
 

If I were you, I'd be looking at a Cafe Racer. Still a Cig, less cost, easier on gas and a bit quicker with equal power. You aren't going to be crushing big swells so for the same money you could get a newer boat with Bravos.

I rarely do this but you also might want to look at a Fountain. Their 38 is the equivalent of a regular 35' boat and their 42 is the real length of a 38. Good choice for not-so-heavy water. They hold their value well but that hurts a bit on the front end. Another good performance boat that will give you big bang for your buck is Velocity. It's not an ultra-premium boat but will go faster than just about anything else with equal horsepower. Their 38 is a very nice boat.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

The 38 Special does not ride well in rough water. I would look at a 38 Donzi, 40 Hustler, Sonic...if you want headroom and a bit more space.

Good luck.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-11828.html


better hurry... someone is flyin in on thurs to look!!

Re: Help with new purchase
 

You're on the west coast. If I were you, I'd be looking at 'Pool Whore's 1991 Carbon Fiber Cig.
It has been extremely well taken care of, and is already on the WC.
Its light weight so it should be better on fuel than other TGs.

Just My Opinion.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Thats a sick boat. Someone will buy it thursday.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Who's Pool Whore and where can I see his boat?

Thanks for looking out for the Newbee.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

We're looking out for ourselves- who doesn't want a new friend in Vegas with a boat on Mead?

We'll be by to apply our vast technical expertise in person during our on-water evaluations of your new purchase.

No need to thank us- is all part of the service.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Pool Whore is a member on this site.
To see his boat, its in OSO classifieds 1991 Cig TG Carbon Fiber.
Listed for 70K, located in cali.
If you really like it, the previous owner is on the board too, 'LuckyStrike'.
He will tell you about it too.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Any time you see a name mentioned, you can go to "search", click "advanced search" and look up that member.

This is the boat being discussed.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...hmentid=199211

Re: Help with new purchase
 

that boat is awsome. from what I have read on it the pics don't do it justice :cool:

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Whatever you purchase 2 things to remember; 1- a boat that has been repowered right before offered for sale....2- maintained with open checkbook.....that all folks..........

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Unfortunately, most don't fit that bill. Many are for sale somewhere after they've crested the top of the lifespan curve and are headed down. They still look good and they still run OK, you're just a season (or less) from having to do all the major mechanical work.

Let's take a hypothetical early-90's Top Gun. How much to replace the tired motors and TRS's with a pair of 500 horse motors/Bravos- with exhaust? 40 grand? More?

That's alot to dump into a 15 year old boat.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Hey mark, i thought you said its best to buy a boat w/o power, then put your own 'known' engines in.

The pink Flamingo would be sick... 70k for boat... 40k for engines 30k for konrads. And you could do it for less if you just rebuild the engines that are in there.
I don't know if LS owned this boat w/ an open check book, but it had to be close.

But then again, you could just keep the boat as is, until something goes.

Lakeluvr's kevlar TG is a bit older, but w/ bigger power and 3s.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

The Boat Fred has at Trick is a great value for the $$!!!!!
I dont have anything in that size in that range the closest would be an 03 35 Fountain at 105K.
I would bet shipping is not a problem from Trick. There are several haulers on OSO that are very fair/reliable and actually know the boats.

Re: Help with new purchase
 

Hey dudes i was speaking in jest............

Re: Help with new purchase
 

take a hard look at a 37 active thunder

Re: Help with new purchase
 

I believe people sell when the power is tired and they find out what it cost to repower.........could be wrong....