new to me used boat?
 

I have been around boats for several years because of my dad or friends boats. i have never owned one myself and well i keep getting cold feet. I have a budget of about 20k and i really like the style of a 24' pantera, or similar boat. i found a 22 checkmate herewhich i like but im scared it wont go through the waves good. i will boat on the upper chesapeake bay which gets rough on the weekends. Can anyone help please?

thanks,
Bill

That would be a great lake boat, but anything more than 2 footers and you are going to wish you were on the trailer.

thanks, i'll pass on it then. i want something that i can at least tolerate on the river.

28 cig for 25k if interested....

Get a 24 Pantera...nothing even close to it in rough water.

no thanks, a 28 is a little more boat then i want.



cant find one in my range. im also considering a baja outlaw.

I was in the same situation you were in, and I just found a 24 outlaw for that price range.

Maybe a nice Formula 242 or 272 you could find in that price range and do a little work my .02.

Yeah... I love those.... but the 24 has a higher transom and maybe better balance point. Also good if you can find it for wave crushing under 28 feet is a 26 Chris Craft Stinger/Scorpion.

To have a decent ride and stay under 28 you need a heavy straight V. Probably an older boat. Newer means lighter.
Stay away from 27 Fountains. (although they are fast)

Maybe an older Scarab.

as long as it has a good hull with no cracks or rotten areas and a good motor im ok with it. i also want to stay with one engine because of gas. and everyone around here with a formula 242 thinks they're made of gold. lol. but the are beautiful.

If you can hold out for a 24 Pantera I would. Its the end of the season and you have plenty of time to look.
I had a 24 Baja sport and a 25 Checkmate Convinsor. Also a 23 Warlock. All very cool boats for sure. But none of them compare to the Pantera in rough water. Its a soft ride and its solid returning to the water.
And on a sad note I might have to sell my Pantera this fall. I'm really trying to hold on to her. It would be in your price range.

thats a shame you may have to sell, i hope everything goes well and you dont have to. on a lighter note, thanks for the advice. I have been looking for a couple months, and since its already the end of august i really dont have to be in a hurry to get anything. Its bad to think this way, but im hoping with this bad economy people will start getting rid of them left and right after boating season

saw this, you could get the floor and transom dome for 3k -4k and have a rock solid ride with money in the bank
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/814453989.html
theres also this one ready to go..http://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...d.php?t=166277

Hey darkshadow, I have a 24 Outlaw up for sale that sounds like it may be what you are looking for. Fresh 454 mag built by Baja dealer, good condition with trailer and all accessories. Give me a call at 231-275-2336, or email me at [email protected] if you are interested.

i dont exactly know how i'd get it from michigan. :ernaehrung004: Just curious , what year?

my brother has a formula 242 with a 540...engine has 15 hrs or less with all doc for the work done on the boat....he will take 12k for it....he has more than that in the motor...LMK...

New York state thruway to PA tollway to Ohio Tunrpike to I-75 north.

If you can go a little more coin I have VERY clean '96 24 Superboat 100% freshwater for sale that will run to 80mph with all the right stuff for on trailer for 27k. Shoot me an email for more details [email protected]

$12,000 American? what year and what condition are the hull/ transom/ stringers in? sorry about that but no one wants to get rid of a good condition 242 for that. my email is
[email protected] or you can reply with it here and maybe other people can see it.

I saw a beautiful 242 earlier this year. One owner, always inside. Not even sun fading damage, and low hours. Went for like 11k with a small block.

Sent you an email with all the info. And if interested, I may be able to help with delivery.

Keep in mind that there are huge variations in actual size in boats of the range being discussed here. The Cig 28 is an example of a boat that's a few feet longer but not really that much bigger in feel than alot of 24's. It has a short freeboard (hull not very deep) and handles like a smaller boat. Not any harder to trailer or handle around the docks than a big 24. But it's going to be a twin. Another is the Magnum 27/28. You see 27's with single big blocks now and again. Wonderful rough-water performance and as in the case with the Cig, you'd really not be able to tell a difference around the docks or behind your truck. Fountain is another example- but more because they add the swim platform and an extended bow on them- so their 27 has the same bottom as many 24's- and often less.

I have a Formula 242 for sale for a bottom line price of what I put into new motor and prop. Turn key boat with a 600hp 540 for $11,500. Put a few grand into cosmetics (vinyl, steering wheel, spit shine, oil change, batteries and a few odds and ends) and you are in for cheap my friend. Boat is sound. Transom, stringers, outdrive (alpha)..........all in great shape. Gaffrig controls, shotgun tips and plenty of other top notch parts. If interested, give me a call anytime.
Scott
(912)659-8525

600hp and an alpha drive?

Not for long. Merc only offered the 330 horse 454/Alpha for a brief time.

But then again, there's trippledigits...
;)

little info on the cig 28...
total refit in 99-00... new modern cockpit and cabin,new lavorsi dash and throttles, 1500.00 swim platform, aluminium fairing(delete winshield)
in 05 added: 280 kplanes, 06 viper trailer, gps

brand new props, and stereo and 1500 in maint recipts in last 60 days
twin bravo 1 350 300 hp mpi

Yours? Got pics?

The one thing about a Cig- any of them- while Fountains & Bajas deprteciiate faster than grass grows in the spring, an old Cig will hold it's value. Keep it in good shape and you can usually sell it for what you paid for it a decade later. Not many boats you can say that about.

I thought that boat was a good deal at $35K $25K is a steal.

Hey Chris, can I borrow 25k until spring? :D

Will you take a check?

Sure.
I don't expect you to send cash.

No sweat. It's "in the mail".

Serously, that boat is all you. Easy to tow and small-block fuel consumption. Perfect size. And it's a Cigarette.

Years ago, my buddy had one- towed it with his '76 Eldorado convertible.

That's what I am thinking. I have gone back and forth all year about what I want in a boat... but my recent trip to northern Mich makes me want a trailerable package. Too much great water within a few hours any direction to be stuck in a slip with a sea cow.

Looking at the pics.

Anybody 6'6" ever sit in one?

I can't fly coach and my 260 stinger seat was so close to the helm that I couldn't sit. Stood mostly anyway.... but it would have been nice.

im 6-2 and parnell was 6-4.... dont sit its a staand up setup... bolster can be adjusted

I am a "stander upper."
Sitting would be nice when idling or a no-wake.

Man i like that boat but i really dont want the responsibility and hassle of twins. But jeez it that thing ever tempting.

anyone know anything about this 24 cig

I know it's not a cig.