Buying advice
 

Ready to get back into boating, we bought a place on the Elk River in Maryalnd last year, need something that's going to be able to handle the Chesapeake on occasion as we like to go to the Naughty Goose in North East and hang out at Lloyds Creek and once in a while run down to JellyFish Joels. Wife fell inlove with a 202 Baja Islander which I quote from the add"2003 Baja 202 Islander bow rider sport boat in good condition and runs well. It will get up to 70mph with the 260hp MerCruiser 5.0 MPI. " I need to be able to at least run mid 50's with my buddies boats. Also looking at Baja 236's and Wellcraft Excalibur 23(my compromise) as they have cockpit room that I can convince my wife to accept. Last boat was a Baja Force 22 and had no room to move if we had a few friends on and it beat you in rough water on the bay.

Forgot to add, price is an issue as $12K to $13K is my limit.

My 24 outlaw fits your criteria

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o48852-en.html

I do not have any of those boats mentioned, but I do have a 2006 20 ft larson with a 5.0 MPI, and I can tell you that we run a best of 55. So unless the Baja is that much lighter I would doubt seeing 70 in that thing ever. I really like the Wellcraft excalibur, they are a deep, large boat for their size. I have been out in big water in my boat, but there are always going to be those days when a 20ft boat is not big enough to be out. Good luck on the search, there is a lot of equipment out there and it is a buyers market.

Maybe a 24 Formula SS or LS from the late 80s? Those boats are nice, and can handle the water, I think you could probably find a 27 if you looked hard enough even at that price range.

Not sure I could tow a 27, using a Jeep Cherokee at the ramp, wil probably have in brought in or if I can find something within 100 miles or so borrow my brother in laws F250.

Take a look at that 24' Pantera in the classifieds. (I think it's in MD too)

Not a ton of cockpit space, but comfortable for 4 people, and will give you about the best ride you can find in a 24' boat. Will also run the speeds you're looking for.

And by not a lot you mean none :D

I'm sorry, those 24x7 boats have to be the worst for day time pleasure boating.

They are however great performance boats.

Ran the snot out of my 24x7. Loved it! Five people- no problem. Get out in some rough stuff and people aren't bouncing around the cockpit like some other boats.

Tough enough trying to switch her from a bow rider to an enclosed cabin, no way she would go for a Pantera.

Panteras are the ****, if you could get her game for one I would go for that.

That's an easy problem to solve...take her out in the 202 Islander and then the Pantera on a snotty day on the Chesapeake and she'll never let you buy the Baja... :evilb: :evilb: :daz:

Take a look at the early 2000 Crownline boats in the 22ft - 26ft range. They may be right up your ally for your price range. I had a 2002 230CCR Crownline awhile back and it was a great cuddy cabin boat. Rather large cockpit area for a 23' boat, high sides and a decent size cabin. It's not a fast boat like you are wanting, but a great family boat and not bad in the Chesapeake Bay. I've made many runs across the bay and in some nasty stuff and never once was nervous. I would not recommend going across the bay a lot in a boat that small as even though I was never nervous, my kidneys hated me for it. lol It's a great boat if you only plan to hit the bay a few times a year though. Good luck in your search.

I wouldn't go any smaller than a 23. Having grown up in Anne arundel county and on boats my whole life. We got a 23 nova when I was 13 and it was perfect for most of what the bay threw at us. Uncle had a 19 and couldn't keep it in the water on some choppier days on the bay. Prior o the 23 nova we had a 21 ft boat and it was ok but horrible when it picked up. I'd look in the 23-25 range.

I just bought a bigger boat and selling my 89 Baja 235 force. Built a new 468 bbc last spring. Boat runs 63 with 4 adults. It's under your price limit as well.

Pm if interested.

I had a 242LS Formula a few years back and it would handle water pretty well but towing it with something less than a half ton truck might be tough.

The Chesapeake Bay can get pretty rough on occasion and bad weather can come up quick, especially in the summer months.

The first time your wife experiences a wave (or wake) crash down into your open bow boat she'll be wishing she had an unclosed cabin boat. :whistle:

There is a Baja 236 about 40 min from me on Craigslist, will probably try and set up an app for next Friday to look at it and also a Wellcraft Excalibur on YachtWorld in Joppa Md but it has a Volvo Penta 7.4 without thru hull, not sure about Volvo, prefer Mercruiser and thruhull exhaust
.

I have a hard time believing the ad on the speed of the islander. I have a islander 180, 5.7 alpha 1, 23p stainless prop, and by myself with very little extra weight it still tops at upper 50's on gps.

Not to hi jack but were you coming down i65 in Alabama towing the velocity on thursday? If so I saw you at mm 310. It was a good looking boat.

LC.

202 islander is a fast little boat. bottom is very flat-that's where the speed comes from. will beat you to death in anything bigger than a 6 inch chop. just about everybody makes a 23 cuddy that is a cross between a family cruiser and a perf boat. i would check out a few of these.

There is a lot in your range, maybe a 22 Pachanga or if you can find it, even a 27 pachanga. if you do not mind an older boat. If you really wanted a boat that is the family cruiser/performance boat crossed, that is a HUGE market, Sea Ray is king in and cruiser market, but you have Wellcraft, Four Winns, Sun Runner (If you want to look at an older boat).

The first rule in buying a boat is do not ever let her be involved in the process..... The second rule is refer to rule #1

One of the crew we run with has a 22 Pachanga, cockpit too small for 6 adults, plus it's a little small, really a 20ft boat, would like to stay in the 90's for a boat as I had prev a 1987 Baja 22 Force and a 1989 Regal Velocity 23, looking to move up in room but with decent performance, at least 55mph minimum top speed. My first pick would be a Baja Outlaw 24 but hard to find at my price range.

IMO a 20' boat out on the bay is looking for an ass kicking except for maybe a few pristine days out of the year. it gets fairly rough on that water just by the wind alone. 20' is a lake boat not for open water. i would be looking for something in the 27-30' range. Dream for the perfect days but plan for the worst. IMO

Found a couple on Craigslist to look at this weekend in nearby MD , 1994 Baja 236, 1994 Wellcraft 23 Nova and a 1996 Baja Islander 27 ft, figure a 27 bowrider could handle wherre we need to go. All 3 have the base 7.4 Merc with Bravo 1.

We have a 2001 Wellcraft 20 Excalibur SC Cuddy we just listed. Volvo 5.0GI/ Duoprop. It has bottom paint but has been kept in our hi and dri since 2003. Asking $13,900 but open to offers. The Excalibur is much deeper then the 202 Baja so you would get a better ride.

We have a 2001 Wellcraft 20 Excalibur SC Cuddy we just listed. Volvo 5.0GI/ Duoprop. It has bottom paint but has been kept in our hi and dri since 2003. Asking $13,900 but open to offers. The Excalibur is much deeper then the 202 Baja so you would get a better ride.

Thanks Anchor, not sure if it's going to be big enough but you aren't that far, might swing by Friday as I'm off work for a look.

Sounds Good............

Do yourself a favor and get a deep vee, had a 24 ft checkmate on the the northern Chesapeake, beat my brains out in that, have a 41' Chris, was coming from Baltimore to NE one time, a strom came up so fast, my pop was on the radio, getting the lifejackets out thought we were going down, there was at at least 10 to 12' swells, the water was so rough it picked the 41 footer up and turned me 180 degress, my dad come flying up on the bridge yelling why did you turn the boat back, i said i didn't it was the wind and waves, morel to my story is it can get pretty snotty out on the bay and it can come up real real fast....i think a 20 foot boat is to small, even a 24' boat unless its a real deep vee.....

I would prefer a 27 as I took a few beatings in the 22 Baja Force I had coming back from the Sassasfras towards Turkey point when the wind was blowing. But a decent 27 is out of my price range unless I go way old. Taking my time but I want the boat in the driveway by April at the latest. I also want something relaible in case we run to Watermans in Rock Hall or all the way to Red Eye dock bar in Kent Island.

Wait for the funds to buy the boat you NEED for the water conditions you'll be boating in. Why take the chance of bad things happening? bigger water needs bigger boat. You'll ned the length more than the deep hull for rough water which as explained can come up on you FAST. Better chance of getting swamped because you can't maintain enough speed to stay ahead of rough trailing seas and don't have the length to span some of the chop. It only takes seconds for that 20' to fall between a couple waves and go under. Safety first. She'll never go boating again if you splash her in the drink, providing you all survive. Dramatic I know but it happens all the time. besides what good is that 20'er sitting in the drive because it's too small to take out in a little wind?

Since you are on a fixed budget, you might want to check out some boat auctions. You may be able to pick up a repo boat for a steal. I've never purchased one from a auction, but I've looked into them. Others on here may chime in on this with recommendations and different auction sites. Just a thought.

95 Sunsation Aggressor in IL asking 13k. It will run pretty good in ****ty water. Good first performance boat.

13K sounds awfully cheap for a Sunsation, I wish it was closer to look at, makes me nervous unless it's a dealer to send money that far away and have it shipped in, pic's can be deceiving, have had people I knew get burnt on cars.

I have a 24' AT w/ twins. I really love it! I would recommend searching around for twins! :)

They're not very easy to find. The closest one that comes to mind is a 24 Sonic, maybe a 27' Carrera.

That is the beauty of OSO. You could find a member or two that would be happy to take a look for you.

Really prefer a single engine, BBC andd Bravo drive although I have heard Volvo makes a tough outdrive. Two screws, twice screwed is the old saying and I have a budget to maintain, group I will be running with have 22 Pachanga, 252 Formula SS, (2)260 Chaparral's and a Baja 240 sport. Fastest one is the 240 Baja with 454 Mag, both Chaparral's have 496's but run mid to high 50's, same as the Formula which has a 454 Mag. Pachanga is a small block.

This seems like a great deal http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/3531242222.html and awesome boat. If you are interested let me know and i'll go look at it for you.

I'd take 13k for my 24 outlaw. There are plenty of members local to me, i'm sure that someone would check it out for you. You can see lots of detail, including it's imperfections in these pics though.

pics