Is this a good buy?
 

Came across this 38 ft top gun from 1991 for only 50k. Why would it be so cheap? Is it too good to be true? Never owned a boat but I want something as fast as possible that you can have people on and such. Says the engines are brand new but I'm unfamiliar with these boats in general.

Because it`s going to cost you 10 times as much to own.

Have you owned one of these?

Post the link

50k is just the price of admission to the party. It pales in comparison to how much it’s gonna cost you once you’re in the club.

and yes, it’s 50k for a reason. Probably time for a full restore, under powered old drives, old interior etc. etc.

If that question is aimed at skepticism or sarcasm directed towards him, then the JOKE IS ON YOU!!!

Think OP is just honestly looking for info. Everyone starts somewhere. ICEDPPL is a good source.
Seems like a big jump if he has never owned a boat though.

A Gun is not a good first powerboat.

Start below 25 ft and work your way up.

No Boat is a good buy! :lolhit:. Depends what your human nature is? If you have OCD like many on here it will cost you a fortune. I know a guy that has a boat and it's rough shape, runs it the way it is and has probably more fun than most on this site. (including myself)

For a a first real offshore powerboat, check out this……

https://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/79480

Not very fast but reliable 502’s and looks nice.

Remember the rule of thumb I’ve seen posted several times…..

Fast
Reliable
Cheap

You can pick any TWO of the above (not three)

RR

Thanks for all the information. From what it sounds like I'll definitely avoid a cheap top gun. Buddy of mine has a really small jet boat with a 460 he's trying to sell. Not good for a bunch of people but it's simple and fast and that's probably where I'll start. Something easier. Thanks again everyone.

Can't beat a jet boat for bang for buck fun factor, good choice!

Can't beat a jet boat for bang for buck fun factor, good choice!

as a first time boat owner. If you want performance/speed. As others have stated. Start smaller. 29 fountain, fastech 292, etc.

if you just want to get on the water and have fun…see where it goes. Get a jet boat or something simple. Even an outboard

I would not advise getting a 38 top gun as a starter boat. They aren’t starter boats.

good luck

remember: if it f**ks, floats or fly's, it's cheaper to rent it. that said, one of my favorite boats was my 18' Cee Bee Avenger jet boat with a junk built 454. had more fun with it than anything else and had less than 3k in the whole thing.

Yeah I've rented ski boats before and dinghys and I just think going out on the lake going fast and hanging out with your friends is the most fun activity you can do on a hot day. I live in Coeur d'Alene and if I had I boat I'd use it all the time.

That is funny I just looked at that yesterday and thought, pretty clean but I bet a slow pig!. Those motors are reliable though.

Had boats like that when I was young and a buddy has one now. They are not the fastest but simple and a ton of fun. Best thing is they are so basic, easy to work on and for the most part not much to break if the motor is mild.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...019ce56ab.jpeg


'

Going to throw the 4-letter word around here. Baja 25 Outlaw...dollar for dollar bang for the buck... Ride it hard, put it up wet or baby it and keep it clean. Either way mid upper 60's/70 mph boat, easy to trailer with a 1/2 ton, deep V, ton of fun and most all are turn key with stock power and can be picked up in the 30K range. Many rag on them still to this day but most of us cut our teeth on them before moving onto bigger and badder. Just my .02. Good luck in your search!

This right here! A late 90’s Baja with some 496’s will go this speeds for 100’s of trouble free fun hours!

Love it!!! good suggestion!!!

once upon a time long ago when I had hair and only disposable cameras existed.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2216760e14.png

My first boat was a 25' active Thunder.
Second one was a 33 Baja outlaw (this one was the least amount of issues)
Then I screwed up and bought a Cig with big power . That was a super expensive lesson I`d rather forget , but we did have great times on that boat .. my kids grew up on it . lots of family memories . Mostly of me in the bilge.

I’m sure this is the boat he’s referring to.

Look at this awesome Cigarette I found on BoatTrader! https://boattrader.app.link/xioRN71I1Pb?mt=8

That`s actually not a bad deal and them engines should be pretty reliable. TRS on the other hand not so sure. My buddy was going thru those often on a 35 Moistress.

The stated HP in that ad is a bit of a stretch, I made 625 through that intake with my Smith 540's with custom pistons, cams and AFR heads in full dress...boat looks pretty clean

That's why I was asking. Appears to be pretty damn good for the price. But I don't know.

Engines built by Orlandi Performance as in Brian ?? I think he used to be on here but was banned, dont remember his handle.

If you get serious have it surveyed by a reputable SAMS person, at least its in a part of the country for a sea trial, I had two 93 TG's one glass and the other was kevlar.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...da645cb2a6.jpg

I guess it all comes down to expectations…for 50k I guess it’s a good deal? But TRS is kind of a deal breaker. Atleast for me. I’m also not a fan of motors that aren’t factory mercury racing (I.e. most of the blue motors). I’m sure I’ll get hate over it. But I always joke that it’s resale blue. Instead of resale red.

I'm going to keep saving my money and get something newer with less unknowns. Sure it might be a good buy but I really don't want to risk it from what you guys are saying. Thanks.

brian41

Freebird,

These guys are good for two things, if nothing else....

1) Spending your money for you
2) Talking you off a ledge

All good advice, here, though.

Thanks. Brad.

My .02 would be to buy something modest and put as many hours as you can on it in the next couple of years. At LOTO I see way too many people that have more money than boating sense and the boat can get ahead of them (they are good people, they can just afford way more than what they can handle). Watching some of them around the docks in thier expensive boats can be a hoot! Spend $10,000-$20,000 and know that you are not going to be the cool kid on the block for awhile but you will be building experience in a boat that has good manners and will not cost a mint in you ding it up on a dock. My start was in a 12' aluminum v bottom with a 3hp johnson where you spun the motor around to go in reverse! At that age, I probably had just as much fun as I do in our current boats.

I understood that. I just read it like he was doubting Dans estimate or experience.

He hasn`t been here long enough to know how dumb I am.:drink:

no arguments here!!!! :champs:

You can try this boat evaluation tool or also use Keen2Boat.com to scan all the listing prices of any boat.

https://www.keen2boat.com/boat_valuation

If you’re lucky, those engines are built right, the drives and transmissions are in good shape, the boat is dry and well maintained. Then you could just buy it and run it for a couple years of just maintenance.

Based on all of the old boat threads you see here, you could assume it’s got an issue. Could be rotten, engine block and head rusted due to salt use, rigging going bad due to salt use and lack of maintenance, oxidized gelcoat due to being in Florida (can almost see this in the pics), bad upholstery also due to being Florida.

I like the advice given here.

Only purchase that boat if you have another $50 to $80K cash sitting there to address the unknowns, and you WILL have them. You could easily dump $200 into that thing to make it what you want - and end up with a $60-80K boat when all said and done for your $250K "investment".

You will be years ahead and skip all the anxiety of waiting, building out a project, missed hours on the water if you start with something like a 28ft BAJA - and just go enjoy boating! THEN, work your way up to a twin 31ft, 33ft or 35ft. After that, get into the 38ft boat.

Chances of buying that boat and actually running it without major stuff needed during your first and second seasons, I would put at 10%.