Need Advice on Small Boat
 

Been lurking for a few days, and tried a search (so don't blast me) and I'd like some opinions.

I'm looking for an older 22 foot (give or take a couple) performance oriented boat. Not a full on head turning Fountain, but darn sure not an express cruiser either.

Looking in the $15K neighborhood. Ride is more important than speed. Build quality is more important than either speed or ride. Bravo drive is a must, but would be okay with a small block in front of it, 'cause I've always wanted to build a stroker for something like this anyway. Cuddy and swim platform are a must.

The 22 foot SR Pachanga really has me interested. So does the Stingray 698 SVX, 230 SX, Chaparral Villain III, etc.

Pros and cons of these and suggestions of others with their pros and cons would be greatly appreciated.

This one fits your criteria perfectly.
http://detroit.craigslist.org/boa/364993656.html

For $15K don't sell yourself short on a 22ft boat. If a cuddy that you are going to use is a must then I wouldn't look at anything under 24 ft. Yes there are some 22ft boats with a cuddy, but they are way too small and most are just used for storage.

If your limited to 22 ft - Donzi classic 22, Cig 20,
If I had to pick one of the ones you mentioned - 22 Pachanga.
If I had $15K to spend - 24 pantera or something similar.

Thanks. The cuddy will be mostly be used for storage of water toys, and a place to put a frige, but I can go 24 ft if need be.

Have checked out Panteras and like them, but not many come up in my price range and I didn't know anything about them. Thanks for the heads up. That's why I'm here.

What other options are out there? What else is similar to Pantera?

22 Scarab like mine. There are a couple on eBay right now in the 15K range.

Think I have decided against selling my Pachanga but might...have to querry the wife now that she's becoming more interested. Could be she also notted I don't really wanna sell especially after all the time and money I invested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-...QQcmdZViewItem

Something similar to a 24 pantera, but cheaper.................24 python was a good first performance boat for me, excalibur, monza, corsa, martini, avanti, carrera, superboat.


Others: magnum 27, formula 242, 26 scarab, lots of others.

Try to find a boat that isn't all over the classifieds. If it really is a good boat there will not be many for sale. Do your research here on OSO; use the search function and you can find out most everything you ever wanted to know about most powerboats.

Best bang and ride for the buck would be a Regal Velocity 230. Built on Velocity's "Step" bottom, great looking, and many were built with 454/bravo combos. Better and faster than the Pachanga with more cabin room.

Formula 223 or 242

You should be able to find a decent Formula 242 around that price range. It has a decent cuddy, we overnighted in it before. I really miss that boat.:(

Here you go. Not a Bravo drive, but twin 350/Alphas. I think they have the year wrong because I'm almost positive they didn't have the stand up bolsters as an option that year. Mine had twin 350/Alphas, and it was a great boat.

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/7/6/89400276.htm

I love my Baja Hammer, The cuddy is real small but you can sleep in it I have many times. For a small boat it moves out very well and is fun to drive. just my .02

251 Checkmate convincor, awesome boats and one can more around that money. Checkmates are all hand laid glass not sprayed with a chopper gun! They handle the rough stuff execellent and have a great cabin for a 25' boat!

21 Challenger/Superboat
24 Pantera

All good suggestons.

Wife and I have a Wellcraft Nova 23 Spyder. Big cuddy for a 23 foot boat. Good size cockpit (+8 foot beam) and good quality interior. I've run it long and hard several times over 4 seasons with a ZZ502/502 under the hatch. Several times in some pretty snotty water (2s & 3s) and it has held up very well.

Only down side I can think of is the 20 degree dead rise. Can be a rough ride'n little critter in 3 or + footers. But overall a great lake boat.

There's a 24' P&D in the OSO classifieds under Misc V, I think. Same hull as a 24' Superboat/Monza/etc. Looks pretty clean, TRS drive though (personally I think might be a plus). The dry exhaust would have to go, however, I'm too old for that sort of thing.

Thanks Cuda. Saw this one, and love it, but I don't think I want to feed twins @ 3.50 a gallon!

Me too!

Thanks to all of you. I'm going to be busy on the web checking all of these out. Keep 'em coming!

Yes My 251 was a tank through the crappy stuff. Another great boat I should have kept :(

It wasn't bad on gas at all. Like I always say, gas is the cheapest thing I ever put in a boat.

"Not bad on gas" is relative, but I also don't want to maintain twins. :D

If ride is an isue look at this for an option. Super clean ready for bigger power if more speed is needed.... Will not find a boat with as many goddies.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/boa/368422507.html

It's not bad on gas relative to a BBC in the same hull. I'd buy this boat myself if I didn't already own too many boats.

Mines for sale boat/motor/trailer plus history of the boat.

If you have myspace, all the details are there at http://www.myspace.com/miamiviceboat.

If not here's a pic. I can send more info if you'd like. Moviing up to a bigger boat.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...etouchedup.jpg

My brother will be listing his 28 Checkmate in about a week. When he bought it his criteria where the same as yours. Will be in the 16-20k range I bet.

I just listed my 22 Scarab in the classifieds. Might be an option for you.

Take a look here:


www.bananaboatco.com


New 24 foot boats available after the Ft Lauderdale boat show.

You should also look into a Baja Hammer or an H2X, newer boats that you may be able to find under $20k come fall /winter.
Good luck in your search!

Try these sites:
bajaboatsforsale

boattraderonline

iboats

OSOclassifieds


boats.com

For your price range, I would highly suggest that you look at Baja.

Good luck! :cool:

Looks really good. What are the specs - beam/length/deadrise

How much are you going to be asking for the 24's?

This one might be slightly above your price range but it's a clean piece. 1993 232 Mirage. 502 Magnum MPI with Bravo One and trailer. Here's the best part(s) It has 90 original freshwater hours and always stored inside. I sold it new and have serviced it since. Pictures and spec's at www.iboats.com/sites/bentlypowerboats