There was a 99 290 set up identical to Fishs but with only250hrs that just sold on ebay for 30k. As far as upgrades you will get pennies on the dollar spent..just like upgrading anything (trucks, cars) hard to justify a$5000 paint job when you will only see $1000 more at selling time.

You know why people sell boats/cars on eBay? Because they need it gone now, or bc its junk. As far as options go... if what you're saying was true then people pay the same money for cars with leather, power everything, and NAV as they do cars with cloth, manual windows, and a cassette player.
30k Derek? That's laughable.

We aren't trying to hinder your search its just going to be very difficult with your criteria and price. Check out this listing seems like a nice boat...
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/2289835656.html

trust me,you get what you pay for!

Good Luck and let us know what you buy

The cracks are on the hull sides. Id say half way up boat and in middle between bow and stern. They are about the size of half dollar. I would get the boat surveyed if i pulled the trigger. there are maybe 3 of these little pockets of cracks.

no...im talking about alot of the extras. if you put a lift and tires on a truck and spend 5k you will never get that 5k back out of it. same as with upgrades on boats(graphics, stereo, gauges, etc.) you will get pennies on the dollar to what you put in it usually. as far as factory options go, yes they hold the value alot better id think

heres a few good deals in your price range worth looking at

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/boa/2294736350.html

http://omaha.craigslist.org/boa/2266806769.html smoking deal!

http://louisville.craigslist.org/boa/2269153992.html

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...258900802.html

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/boa/2252688337.html

http://louisville.craigslist.org/boa/2215028235.html

Yep,that sounds fair a mid 90s 290 with average hours in the 30s...

maybe I misread the original post but I thought he said he was looking for a newer one in the 20s

no offense but your dreaming or gonna buy a piece of chit if you find a 2000 or newer 290 for 20s. unless you need it for the extra foot of room go with the single 502 280. only a couple mph slower

The second listing sounds like a great deal IF the boat checks out... the second 280 looks sweet but if he's only getting 60 out of it he has one of two issues... 1. Wrong prop 2. Motor problem
That lazer is Sharp

Spend 30K on a base engine 280 and by the middle of summer you're going to be looking at heads,cams,headers,yada,yada because when you put 5 people in it it's not going to want to come out of the water easily.Plus it might hit 63 mph. I've seen it time and again. You get what you pay for. My 280 is in the classifieds but,unfortunately,it is out of your $$$ range. Take a look,it's in New Orleans and I have many references from local boating professionals. Bob 504-813-6853