My boat burnt up this weekend
 

Well like the title states I had a accident this weekend and my 24' Python that I had done so much work to was destroyed in a fire. Luckily the motor, exhaust, outdrive, tabs, and platform are all salvagable and other than the motor you can't tell they were in a fire. I need some help from OSO in finding a good hull. This boat ran 74.7 but I had the prop labbed this winter and it should have gone 78 this year with the additional rpm's. I'm looking for a 23-30 single engine boat that I can drop a 500 hp motor in and run mid 70's or better. I saw the Cobra 27 listed but it doesn't really have a cabin and is missing some of the pleasure items the wife wants. I'm kinda looking at Velocity's or some sort of a cat boat. I don't want a Baja as they are all around where I run at. I'm not in a hurry for a boat since I have 2 others to ride but I just really want some recommendations on what boats I should be looking at to get that speed with my hp. I haven't decided on a price range since it will depend on what happens with my Python. My brands I was thinking about were 23 or 26 Velocity, 27 or 29 Fountain, 24 or 30 Superboat, 24 Pantera, 26 Eliminator, 24 HTM, Active Thunder, or another 24' Python.

Since you don't sound too sentimental about it... I have never seen anything burn up, but watched a lot burn down. Lots of fireman in my family.

How old will you go? 24 Excalibur or 27 Excalibur with Bravo conversion seems to run well with that HP.

python is a generic 24x7 splash so any of the 24x7 boats should run just as well..

here is a nice looking 24 pantera with smallblock+alhpa
swap in your stuff, sell off everything you dont need (extra trailer,engine,drive,etc)should come out cheap.
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/2986933972.html
http://images.craigslist.org/5L65E25...c368341668.jpg

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/boa/2929512725.html

guy is high by about 4 grand but looks like a clean boat.

Can you help the rest of us out and give how the disaster happened?

no motor or drive Id say he is high by ten grand..
:D

Yeah that boat complete is probably worth 20-24. 15 grand would be tops but I think around 12 would be fair if he at least had the transom assembly there and everything was complete minus engine and drive

The fuel tank had a hole in it, I drained all the fuel and cut the floor to remove the tank. I removed the tank and there was still some fuel/vapor in the bottom and I went to drill a hole with a cordless drill and sparked it. My stupidity in what happened. I don't really want to go much past the mid 80's on year model. The Pantera is just to ugly for me with those colors. That Fountain would be nice but way to high for no motor and drive on a 18yr old boat. I liked my 24x7 boat but I'm open to all options.

do a search on the Velocity's seems like every other ad offers it w/o power

Velocity
 

Had a 280 Velocity with HP500 ran 77+ MPH with 250 B&M Blower 87+ MPH.
Was a fun boat. Highly recommend!

24 Monza on Boston Craigs

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/3004312266.html

84' project boat 23' Stinger 230XL for 2k with trailer???

Jesus Christ man - glad you're alright.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...b241_0-en.html

Clean 24 Python close by me that has been well cared for.

Im selling my 24 python. Its in great condition and 100% turn key. I would consider selling it without motor and drive make an offer. My price for everything is negotiable.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/boa/2931529788.html

nothing there. era 404

Sorry fixed the link.

Wow, sounds like a close call. Glad you are OK.
This always spooks me after arking/welding (damn near) a starter on a car when I was a teen.

Yea, I got lucky in that I was hurt to bad. I only had some 2nd degree burns on my right arm and hand. Unfortunately, all the time and money I put in boat went up in smoke but like I said earlier it was my fault by making stupid mistake. New rule for me is any work done on the boat is to keep a fire extinquisher close by where it can reached easily. If I had a ext. close by I could have saved the boat. As far as the boats listed, I'm trying to stay with a Bravo type drive, no transmissions. Bromaquire I had seen your boat for sale right after I got mine and it looks really good but those are the same pics I saw 2 yrs ago, has anything changed on it? Whats your price without the motor and without the drive? Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

You still coming by this weekend sometime to look at the Cobra?

I tried calling you Benny but went to voicemail and mailbox full. I'll try calling you later.

my dad was restoring a cigarette one time and one of his workers forgot to hook up the fuel line so we pumped about 100 gallons into the boat thankfully my dad hooked up a switch so you can turn the bilge off or on and it was in the off position at the time we had to get a hose water down the fuel and inside of the boat and take the drain plug out

Back in the 90s i really liked the Checkmates and owned several Convincors, always thought the 25' had the best layout. I didn't do any hunting around, but thought you might add this to your list:

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/15671

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/pow...15671/main.jpg

I have an awsome Checkmate 253 convincer with lots of goodies, it will do almost 80 and it is the best bang for your buck as far as the cuddy for that size. We have been told so many tiome how much room we have for a 25 footer. Call me or email me if your interested in seegin it, I have tons of pics. 613 227 8912 or [email protected]

I have a scarab excel 21 ready to go no power. Wife says it has to before new boat is purchased. 1991 hull in good shape all original. Red yellow and black paint. Shoot me a pm if interested.

Fire extinguishers are a good thing.
Just the other day I was getting a boat started after a new gas tank and fuel system was installed. Everything was dry and my smart a$$ decided to feed the carb with a jar of gas until the fuel pump brought gas through the system. Backfire through the carb caught the jar on fire just as I was in the process of jerking it away. Gas splashed on my hand and it was now on fire. Was going to throw the jar in the yard. It hit the hatch spring and fell back in the boat. I jump out (burning hand print left on the gunnel) put my hand out with the water coming from the hose that was feeding the motor and run for the big fire extinguisher (15 feet away). As I was coming back I noticed the whole motor box looked like someone just started a BBQ grill. Flames and smoke was a rollin. Dumped the whole thing in it (man they don't last long after you pull the trigger). Lucky enough most of it was just the fuel burning off and there was very little real damage. Lots of soot. Also luck enough that I waxed the boat the day before and the hand print just burned off the wax. I bet it wasn't 20 second from start to finish but it felt like a lifetime.
My hand has looked better but should be fine in a couple weeks. Nothing like when I set off a hundred sparklers at one time. That one started off with a "hold my beer" and finished with lots of pain for weeks.

You were lucky. I understand about how quick it goes in such a short period of time. Thanks for the all the suggestions and boats. Luckily, I found a 22' Velocity that needed a little love but I got it for next to nothing. I should have the floor removed this week, tank pulled and inspected and then new floor will go down. My old motor will replace the stock 454 inj motor and I should be good to go and probably faster than I went with my Python.

22 velocity is the best small beastie out there. big surprise that you are going right to the fuel tank before doing anything else. i was cranking one engine in my old hatteras by jumping solenoid with a screwdriver. fuel line wasn't hooked up. squirted nice shot of gas on my arm-hand just as sol sparked. man is it an uncomfortable feeling holding up your hand and seeing it on fire!! fortunately i only burned my hand up. it heals. boats don't. drove from wildwood back to philly with my hand hanging out the sunroof.

Well the floor had a soft spot in it and I decided to remove the floor and since I had the floor out I figured I might as well check the tank to make sure I don't have to go through a leaking tank in a few years. I pulled the tank tonight and it appears ok. I am going to clean it and paint it and change the floor so it has a removable section to get to the tank so if there are ever any issues it can be easily gotten to.