Cheap, stable, reliable, BIG Cat?
 

I am on motorcycle forums and I know I get tired of the constant - "what should I get" threads... So I apologize for posting one of my own on a boating forum. I just thought I would see if what I am looking for above is even possible.

I have owned sport boats and also a 32 Chaparral Laser which was basically a cruiser with semi go-fast looks .. Wasn't very fast - but I do have some larger boat experience.

I really like the way cats look - but I am not looking to race one, want something bigger than just 5 people - possibly with cuddy's in the sponsons.. Don't want to wrench it anymore than I would a boat with a single 5.7 unmodded merc in it, and don't want to go over $20k for sure in purchasing.

Yes, I know I could find something beat up and needing a new transom, power, etc to likely meet my guidelines but I would prefer to get something that I could at least use while I rebuild.

To top it all off something like the Aronow 39, or maybe that elusive Wellcraft Cougar Cat (not the excalibur) are a couple that I have found that LOOK like they might meet my needs - but of course both are rare and at least the Aronow, is WAY over $20k...

This may be an unattainable goal - and if so, I can stick to V hull's.. Just thought I would throw it out there...

Thanks!

Doc

I think the closest thing you might find that fit your guidelines is a 24htm. With that said you will still be a little over 20k.

you might find a 24 Thunder in that range but big cats, anything bigger then thirty, will be non existent in anything other then stripped out burning barrels. Sorry but that may be a tall order to say the least. Probably the best bang for the buck in a performance cat with any room or cabin is gonna be one of the Conquest Cat dirivitaves, Chris-cat/Awesome/Excalibur/etc. its was splashed by many but it will be tough to find one in that range. Great running hull though and I believe the original Conquests ran well with small blocks but one would be tough to locate.

Isn't the cost of the cat, although tough to find in your price range. The cost of insurance will be a quarter of the buying price a year. Just a thought

exactly what i was thinking

Even at $30k I cant see you getting anything decent in the cat world. Even a clean 24 skater with outboards is going to run you north of $35k. With 20k you would be hard pressed to find a clean low hour motor v hull around 30ft.

one-o-these :D

I always liked the way the look, I think a guy on here built this one.
Also what do you consider a big cat?
http://www.xplodepowerboats.com/clas...me-thundercat/

Understand completely on the insurance aspect.. This will be a cash deal - which is why I am keeping the amount fairly low..

I appreciate the replies thus far - and yea, I know I'm asking for something likely impossible - just thought I would throw it out there for suggestions...

Darr I ask?

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/boa/4226219737.html 35g's

This is kinda of off topic but I'm new to this site and I have no way to prove to everyone I'm legit. But, I'm getting ready to buy a Skater 388ss. My plan is to power it with some 6s. I no you have to pay to play but how often do you have to fill up. I have had other boat I could go out with a few times before I fill up. The 388ss has a 280 gallon tank so at close to 10 bucks a gallon for fuel that would be like 2800 bucks a weekend. I also plan to run in poker runs also so about how many times do you all usually full up on those weekends. Money isn't a huge deal for me it won't affect me either way but I gotta admit I'm a cheapskate. But that's also how I got money by not blowing money and being crazy. I could financially fill the boat up every time I go out and go out like every weekend no problem but I just don't want to lol. I don't who you are a few grand is still a few grand

Nah, he's up in canada looking at a 55mti, or maybe upgrading 1075s, or dreaming up new screen names. Lol

your looking at a 388 Skater and you are concerned about fuel prices?

we spend about 1500 in fuel in 3 days at loto in a 635hp single 27 fountain

that motion cat is pretty neat.. looks like maybe i just need to keep my eyes peeled.. really wish i had of had the funds to pick up that 1981 wellcraft cougar cat 900 that was for sale a year or two back... i think it probably ended up being a pretty healthy project - but what a rare and unique boat .. plus it had good cabin space..

thanks again for all the replies..

I'm not worried about fuel prices lol. Yes I have money and it's not an object I can afford the fuel. But it's not like I am so billionaire tycoon or anything. I have said for about 3 years and now I have to cash to buy the boat out right. So I mean it took me 3 years to get the money for a boat of this magnitude out right. Granted most people couldn't that in 3 years but that is also proof I'm not just Mr. Moneybags. I have have wanted a skater for a very long time. And I now have the ability to buy but I'm also a very reasonable person. I don't drive a Ferrari or anything crazy I just have a bmw m5 and my wife has a bmw x5 (paid for) and our house is paid for and our business is going strong. I just want what I want and idc how rich you are a few grand is a hell of a lot of money some people don't even make that in a week. Basically I wanna more stay humble I guess and just not roll up to the dock making hundred dollar bills rain or whatever.

If you run it hard your gonna need to fuel it everyday... Where are you gonna run it?

Completely ridiculous statement. Totally the opposite. You probably won't find a cat in that price range, but insurance will not be a problem. My insurance ran from $100 - $120 a month during the seven years I owned my cat with ANPAC and later State Farm.

I'm about to retire somewhat lol. So I plan on running about everywhere since ill have a lot of free time. But I live right between lake cumberland and dale hollow. So prob cumberland the most

I`d start by finding a new gas station :readinghelp:

Well I prob should but I would be putting in race fuel and it's like 8.10 or something so I rounded to 10

The Motion DOES look like a good deal, but you can't compare it to an '81 wellcraft. Might as well compare it to a Baja. Light years ahead. The new guy above is talking about running $2500 worth of gas through a boat in a weekend. You CAN'T run $2500 worth of gas out of that Motion in a weekend. My suggestion would be to take a trip and go test drive a couple of these boats to learn the differences.

Your statement of, "...want something bigger than just 5 people - possibly with cuddy's in the sponsons.. Don't want to wrench it anymore than I would a boat with a single 5.7 unmodded merc in it, and don't want to go over $20k for sure in purchasing..." makes me think you want 24+ foot vee performance, amenities and price, but in a cat, because you like the looks. That isn't going to leave you a lot of choices. I might suggest a 28 Profile cat, or maybe an older Eliminator or 26' American Offshore or the HTM in the classifieds, but all of those boats are going to be 5 seaters.

What you are describing simply doesn't exist. Don't kill the messenger.

Why?... :confused::confused::confused:

I honestly don't no lol. That's just what I had always been told. I guess I was wrong. But I would gladly be wrong if it saves me money? So it would be perfectly ok to run regular gas you get at any station

:rolleyes:I'm thinking you may wanna research that 388 purchase a little more. Just my .02.

There is a guy in Canada that is looking to rebuild and update a big cat for a customer. I know he is itching to get into a project. He will prob give you a real good deal. He uses new cutting edged technology that nobody else has to do fiberglass work. Look him up on here his name is DMAX315 I think.

XRated30 - Nah - no shooting the messenger at all... I wouldn't have posted the message publicly if I wasn't okay with getting responses that might be less than ideal compared to what I wanted to hear....

I will be dead honest - I really just think the "cat" form factor is gorgeous... I think it would be a very neat platform to party on... I could care less if the thing is fast, and as long as its safe I could care less about the handling to a point as well.. 50mph would be great... What I care more about is that there is enough space to party on it and that I could overnight on it..

It is very likely that a cat just won't make sense for what I am wanting and what I am wanting to spend.. If so thats totally fine.. I just wanted to get some feedback and see if those that obviously know more than me could give me any pointers on which way to look.. Its likely that going with the Chaparral Villain IV (30ft) or something like an Arriva 2450 or a Larson Senza Spectre 25 might be the way I need to go and just forget about cats..

I saw a guy in a Aronow 39 at Lake Texoma - my lake - a few years ago... The thing just seemed HUGE and he had like 10 people partying on it... I guess after seeing that I sort of got interested in them...

As always - thanks for all of the responses!

What you want does not exist for the budget you set.

I think you've got it all figured out - I'd jump right in

I thought DMAX315 was in the North East USA ( Jersey maybe??) but the boat is def. at Double R here in Canada.

Everyone wants a big cat and they usually have no idea what is required to afford the beast. Fuel is the cheapest part of ownership. A 388 Skater is a dream for many, myself included, probably out of my purchase power however so we settle for the best cat that we can afford. A 50 m.p.h. Cat would be a turd to drive so maybe a pontoon boat would be more your style. Lots of room to party and maybe even a barbecue grill. Doug

You could be right... Maybe he was looking at a skater in Canada .... I thought he said he lived on the same lake My Way called home.

I have your boat........ I will supply 1 each GM V8 5.7, boat and trailer for 20K.... I can even come up with a title (took 3 years to get 1 but I did).

and this is how forums go to die

Was it something I said ?

I am serious as a heart attack. For 20K he can have the boat in the pic (1996 39 Ocean Express), 5.7 GM V8 and a trailer for the 1996 39 OE. Thats everything and then some that the OP asked for. Seats 8 in the cockpit, 10 in the cabin with a large bed and 3 vanities for the girls to get ready for the party. PARTY BOAT

Just thinking out loud here, your offer is good but maybe he will need another 5.7 GM V8 to get the boat to run??? :) some drives might be helpful also

This is y'alls guy:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/m...15duramax.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...earchid=575520

https://www.facebook.com/phil.hess.71?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

He's got some grandiose ideas about putting some badass cats together. I think a teaming agreement is in order.

I have 2 Arneson 1600's and 2 big blocks for additional $ available but only 1 of the 5.7's he was looking for. Sorry I sold the transmissions last Friday.

You're a funny guy....I have read all your post in this thread.... Learn how to speak/ type first.... Some of you crack me up

You should invest in this first:lolhit:
http://www.abebooks.com/English-Gram...mc-_-PLA-_-v01

Please don't come to Cumberland.