Searay Pachanga 22
 

Will this be a waste of time or a worth while boat to start?

They are fairly solid boats. Average performers but better than average build quality.

As with any used boat, check for soft wood in the transom, stringers (especially near the engine mounts) and floor supports.

As far as a waste of time - all boats are a waste of time. But the time you waste boating is lots of fun.

If the boat is in excellent structural and mechanical condition and you can get it for less than market value, then decide how well you like it. It it's a thumbs up, then go for it.

You'll love it. We did.

I too had one. Bought a new '89 w/330 Bravo...great little boat for 20 1/2 feet. Try running a slolom course with one...that bottom is G L U E D in turns with the power on! I still remember that boat fondly 5 boats later. There's a young kid in our club w/one, he literally beats the snot out of it in rough water...the boat's not mint by any means...but still in one piece! :D

Great looking boat and they really hold their value!!! And a 22' is a great length to start with. As stated above, biggest mistake people make is letting the boat get weathered over the years. If that's the case with the one your looking at, you could be in for a lot of headaches. Have someone that knows boats look at it or get it surveyed. Don't let one neglected boat ruin your image of boating. Good luck and be safe!!! Lastly, take a boating coarse, most of us here have, it's really worth the time.

We have a 1986 22 Pachanga with a 350 Mag. I am constantly amazed at how well it runs and handles, how solid it is etc.

They perform incredibly well and there must have been quite a bit of R&D done on them. I have tried MANY prop combos and had an Alpha SS on it earlier this season. Mine works best with a 13 3/4 x 23 Lazer II, it spins it 48-4900 with just me and light fuel, 63 on GPS, not bad for a 16 year old boat that has never even had a valve cover off!

I thought I was going to pick up some speed with the shorter SS drive but it actually went 2 mph slower. Seems like the X dimension is very high from the factory.

I think they are a fantastic boat and a great value for the money.

Have fun,
Kurt.

I dont own one personally, but I looked at one before I bought my current boat, the only thing that kept me from buying it was the fact that it had a big block with an Alpha drive:( bad combination. Other than their use of Alpha's with motors that are too big, I think they are good boats. I have talked to several guys who have owned them and they all love em.

I have been a few friends and they are great boats, do a search on them on traderonline.com and see what they are going for and in what condition. ;)

Was going to buy one this spring and decided too opt for a 23ft stingray. The pachanga cabin is very small and hard to get in, it is impossible to get on the bow without almost breaking the window and the big block is almost always in front of an alpha. I paid a 1K more for a 92 stingray with 7.4/bravo and 250hr. They both drive great, just giving you my 2 cents.

I also have a 86 Pachanga 22 and it's a great boat. With the cutty cabin, swim platform and sun pad it's just right for me.
I'm running a 350 thats worked over, Dart heads, Performer intake, Different cam, etc
I've got about 4 hours on engine after rebuild and have been taking it easy.
Before rebuild I could spin a 21 cleaver 5000 RPM
You should check the stringers by the engine mounts
mine has problems that I need to address.
Scott

the 454/Alpha was not a Sea Ray thing. It was offered by Merc in 1987,(one year only) the Bravo wasn`t released until 1988 and in 1986 the only way to get a big block was with a TRS drive.

Back in '87 when the 454 Mag was introduced, it was mated to an Alpha and many boat builders now had the option of running a Big Block because now it could be installed into an engine compartment designed for a small block (no transmission to account for) . Merc stopped using the Alpha/454 because of drive failures and then the Bravo was born in '88.

...one misleading bit of info is that the 1987 454 Magnum was just a lowly 330...the real 454 Mag (forged pistons,crank rectangle port heads) was released in 1988 and mated to a Bravo. It was the same motor labled as a 370 if matched with a TRS.

So,..If you find an '88 or up 22 Pachanga with a 454, it will have have a Bravo drive.

good sleeper
 

A guy had one on my lake that ran close to 100.
The ultimate sleeper, you could'nt even see the bulge
in the hatch until you got close. It held together for
years, Its still out there with stock power.
Many an unsuspecting victim was taught a lesson
by that boat. John

I had a 87 Pachanga with the 350/Alpha package. It was a solid, comfortable boat, the handling was awesome! I used to slalom around the crab traps at WOT! I thought the cabin was small but very comfortable.

On the downside, the cockpit was small, and getting to/from the deck was scary.

Be sure to remove the front seat insert and check for rot. Mine fell off the pedestal while on plane and scared the crap out of my passenger!

Dan

Anyone know of any web links to stringer repairs on Pachanga II's? I'm curious as to the sub floor layouts on them. I've googled for days and other than warnings of rot under the engine mounts, can't seem to find any rebuild threads out there.

I would like to know on stringer replacements, I just picked up a 19' pachanga That I will be restoring No motor but everything else is there. 500 bucks with a galvinized trailer is not bad but I new i Would be doing the stringers and moving the motor mounts for a SBC.

great boats and good build and lay-up.had one for 10 yrs,loved it.hated to see it go.

:eek::D