Best old 23ft offshore boat for $10-12k?
12-04-2016 | 06:46 PM
#1
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Best old 23ft offshore boat for $10-12k?
Hi all, new to the forum. Looking to find the best 23ft offshore boat I can for $10-12k. First things first, I know I want a stock 454 bravo. I know I want at least 70 gallon fuel capacity.
By best, let me clarify I'm not concerned which is faster. I'm interested in rough water handling, build quality and fuel efficiency for cruising in the 25-30mph range. I'm looking for a long range boat for the Great Lakes. I know many will probably say if I want fuel efficiency get a 5.7 but they usually come with the alpha outdrive and I prefer the bravo. Also, I prefer the approach of light workload for the big block vs a harder working small block.
With my budget and the research I've done, I believe I am looking for a late 80s to early or mid 90s Power Play / Powerquest Conquest 230. There are pictures of a yellow one on the photobucket page of "buckie7510" that I would die for.
I've also considered the Wellcraft Nova 23 XL with 454 bravo of the same late 80s to early 90s era. The Conquest has half a foot more beam and I've been told doesn't have a balsa wood core hull which the Nova does (again as I'm told). So I've been hearing the Conquest to be better constructed. Confirm, deny? That sounds legit since Wellcraft is definitely a quantity builder. By all the user reports of the PP boats, the Conquest sounds like it's all about quality.
Sue being narrower, logic says the Nova would do better on fuel but maybe a little more tippy and less controlable? If you have experience with these two boats, please chime in.
Maybe there are other boats I am not aware of? Cobalt seams a no. Maxum is a no. Never been fond of the Sea Ray marketing machine and heard Pachanga is a rough rider anyway. Regal Velocity?... Looks like a Pachanga but other than that I no nothing of them. I have one bad report on old Formula boats but not really enough to go on.
I'll appreciate whatever input you can provide but please spare me the newbie lessons on "any boat is good if taken care of". I can tell if an old boat was stored inside, if it was taken care of and there will be a professional survey done. I'm really looking for people with first hand experience with particular models, either having owned them or been friends with owners of the models they speak of. Thank you!
By best, let me clarify I'm not concerned which is faster. I'm interested in rough water handling, build quality and fuel efficiency for cruising in the 25-30mph range. I'm looking for a long range boat for the Great Lakes. I know many will probably say if I want fuel efficiency get a 5.7 but they usually come with the alpha outdrive and I prefer the bravo. Also, I prefer the approach of light workload for the big block vs a harder working small block.
With my budget and the research I've done, I believe I am looking for a late 80s to early or mid 90s Power Play / Powerquest Conquest 230. There are pictures of a yellow one on the photobucket page of "buckie7510" that I would die for.
I've also considered the Wellcraft Nova 23 XL with 454 bravo of the same late 80s to early 90s era. The Conquest has half a foot more beam and I've been told doesn't have a balsa wood core hull which the Nova does (again as I'm told). So I've been hearing the Conquest to be better constructed. Confirm, deny? That sounds legit since Wellcraft is definitely a quantity builder. By all the user reports of the PP boats, the Conquest sounds like it's all about quality.
Sue being narrower, logic says the Nova would do better on fuel but maybe a little more tippy and less controlable? If you have experience with these two boats, please chime in.
Maybe there are other boats I am not aware of? Cobalt seams a no. Maxum is a no. Never been fond of the Sea Ray marketing machine and heard Pachanga is a rough rider anyway. Regal Velocity?... Looks like a Pachanga but other than that I no nothing of them. I have one bad report on old Formula boats but not really enough to go on.
I'll appreciate whatever input you can provide but please spare me the newbie lessons on "any boat is good if taken care of". I can tell if an old boat was stored inside, if it was taken care of and there will be a professional survey done. I'm really looking for people with first hand experience with particular models, either having owned them or been friends with owners of the models they speak of. Thank you!
Last edited by 72ndPoolShark; 12-04-2016 at 06:49 PM. Reason: Change
12-04-2016 | 07:01 PM
#3
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 88
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From: Georgian Bay, ontario
I had a 88 baja 240 sport that I bought new with a 330 hp merc big block , used it in Georgian Bay. Great rough water boat, sold it to a friend of mine in 92 and he kept it untill 2014 worked great .
12-04-2016 | 07:06 PM
#4
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12-04-2016 | 07:24 PM
#7
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,066
Likes: 8
From: Ocala, Fl
Hi all, new to the forum. Looking to find the best 23ft offshore boat I can for $10-12k. First things first, I know I want a stock 454 bravo. I know I want at least 70 gallon fuel capacity.
By best, let me clarify I'm not concerned which is faster. I'm interested in rough water handling, build quality and fuel efficiency for cruising in the 25-30mph range. I'm looking for a long range boat for the Great Lakes. I know many will probably say if I want fuel efficiency get a 5.7 but they usually come with the alpha outdrive and I prefer the bravo. Also, I prefer the approach of light workload for the big block vs a harder working small block.
With my budget and the research I've done, I believe I am looking for a late 80s to early or mid 90s Power Play / Powerquest Conquest 230. There are pictures of a yellow one on the photobucket page of "buckie7510" that I would die for.
I've also considered the Wellcraft Nova 23 XL with 454 bravo of the same late 80s to early 90s era. The Conquest has half a foot more beam and I've been told doesn't have a balsa wood core hull which the Nova does (again as I'm told). So I've been hearing the Conquest to be better constructed. Confirm, deny? That sounds legit since Wellcraft is definitely a quantity builder. By all the user reports of the PP boats, the Conquest sounds like it's all about quality.
Sue being narrower, logic says the Nova would do better on fuel but maybe a little more tippy and less controlable? If you have experience with these two boats, please chime in.
Maybe there are other boats I am not aware of? Cobalt seams a no. Maxum is a no. Never been fond of the Sea Ray marketing machine and heard Pachanga is a rough rider anyway. Regal Velocity?... Looks like a Pachanga but other than that I no nothing of them. I have one bad report on old Formula boats but not really enough to go on.
I'll appreciate whatever input you can provide but please spare me the newbie lessons on "any boat is good if taken care of". I can tell if an old boat was stored inside, if it was taken care of and there will be a professional survey done. I'm really looking for people with first hand experience with particular models, either having owned them or been friends with owners of the models they speak of. Thank you!
By best, let me clarify I'm not concerned which is faster. I'm interested in rough water handling, build quality and fuel efficiency for cruising in the 25-30mph range. I'm looking for a long range boat for the Great Lakes. I know many will probably say if I want fuel efficiency get a 5.7 but they usually come with the alpha outdrive and I prefer the bravo. Also, I prefer the approach of light workload for the big block vs a harder working small block.
With my budget and the research I've done, I believe I am looking for a late 80s to early or mid 90s Power Play / Powerquest Conquest 230. There are pictures of a yellow one on the photobucket page of "buckie7510" that I would die for.
I've also considered the Wellcraft Nova 23 XL with 454 bravo of the same late 80s to early 90s era. The Conquest has half a foot more beam and I've been told doesn't have a balsa wood core hull which the Nova does (again as I'm told). So I've been hearing the Conquest to be better constructed. Confirm, deny? That sounds legit since Wellcraft is definitely a quantity builder. By all the user reports of the PP boats, the Conquest sounds like it's all about quality.
Sue being narrower, logic says the Nova would do better on fuel but maybe a little more tippy and less controlable? If you have experience with these two boats, please chime in.
Maybe there are other boats I am not aware of? Cobalt seams a no. Maxum is a no. Never been fond of the Sea Ray marketing machine and heard Pachanga is a rough rider anyway. Regal Velocity?... Looks like a Pachanga but other than that I no nothing of them. I have one bad report on old Formula boats but not really enough to go on.
I'll appreciate whatever input you can provide but please spare me the newbie lessons on "any boat is good if taken care of". I can tell if an old boat was stored inside, if it was taken care of and there will be a professional survey done. I'm really looking for people with first hand experience with particular models, either having owned them or been friends with owners of the models they speak of. Thank you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkk6MR29hmw
If you can find one of these you will love it.
12-04-2016 | 07:38 PM
#8
Neno the mind boggler
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,080
Likes: 320
From: toledo oh
+1 . . . lotta bang for the buck in that hull. I dont think you'll find a better handling 23 footer, its a true deep V 24 degree hull where as most getting down in that size range start to approach 22 degrees or flatter . . .
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Throttles- Cleveland Construction 377 Talon
08 OPA Class 1 National Champion
08 Class 1 Geico Triple Crown Champion
08 OPA High Points Champion
10 OPA Class 1 National Champion ( happy now Ed! )
12-04-2016 | 08:32 PM
#9
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 8
From: Southeast Michigan
