Hello, I was wondering if anyone had any history of the 1999 38 avenger for sale on here from texas? I believe 1999 is the first year of the twin step... Are there any design flaws I need to look at? Owner says boat has 470 hours on hull with 70 hours on full rebuilds and the boat only runs 66???? Doesnt sound right to me. Any info would help. Also is this a good price of 50000? Thanks

That sounds like a great price on the stepped Avenger (especially with low hour rebuilds). I assume a trailer is included? Overall condition?
66 mph sounds low. What HP motors?

Thought they had some bottom issues where as PQ would tweak the bottom if the customer complained...search this forum, I remember reading about it.

We were the first owners on that boat. Fresh water up until 02 then went to Michigan for some time. Let me know if I can help.

Raf

It's got 502s

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/p...t-listing.html

I looked at that boat last fall. Was in Beaumont, TX on business. Pretty clean boat. Carpet a bit faded, upholstry good. Needed buffed. Has A/C and stainless headers as well as Hydraulic Steering.

That particular boat the hull issues fixed. It had also spend some time in salt/brackish water. We are freshwater boaters and the saltwater exposure scared me. There was some corrosion evident, but not bad. The trailer needed some attention as well.

I held out for a non-stepped and freshwater boat. Bought a very nice 1997 freshwater with stock 502's for $39,000. Took a couple months of negotiating, but worth the wait. The non-stepped 1997 ran 69mph GPS on Lake Michigan in 4'+ waves and a headwind with a bit of trim left. It is a great boat. We love it and will add A/C this winter, as the hatch air is a bit cumbersome to set and remove.

66 mph does seem a little slow. I have a 97 Avenger ( no steps) with stock 502 mags with 700 hours, and will see 70 mph gps once in awhile in best case scenario conditions and 68 mph pretty much all the time.

What props you running. I am running 25p Mirage Plus at 4800 to 5000 RPM, depending on load and amount of fuel.

Yes Cory, the same as you, 25p Mirage plus, spinning in and labed. The labbing process maybe at best gained me 1 mph gps and 50-75 rpm. Top end rpm is very close to yours depending on load, water conditions, temperature, etc.

Cory, I have a good friend I boat with all the time and he also has a 1997 Avenger but with factory stock HP500 carb engines. He runs 4 blade Hydromotive stock props spinning out, and does have add on A/C installed under the v-berth. Every time we run top end we are neck and neck with each other provided fuel and passengers are roughly the same. I am 415hp at the props and he is 465hp at the props so he should have about a 2 mph theoretical advantage over me but the props and other variables must cancel it out.