Offshoreonly.com - 1988 261 liberator

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Padraig (Post 4932419)

Beautiful Boat!!!

Padraig

yes it is
yes he has counter rotating outdrives
iiirc they were repainted the belows and gimbal bearings are new
i just could not in good mind buy it and then maybe get a few hrs and engines need rebuilt, i am not that limber anymore
its on craiglist in new york near thousand islands

1988 is the first year for a balsa-cored hull in a 261 Liberator. This Bristol condition example might not have any water intrusion or rot, but if I was a

speculator I would be extremely careful and still have a pro spend lots of time with a moisture meter. These Cobra drives could one day be switched

to Volvo drives, just like King Cobra drives could, but that's a major investment. I definitely think You're doing the right thing to walk away. Pre-owned

boats are dropping big time in value right now and there are much better values available. I would turn this thread into what's available out there in

your neck of the woods. Which part of New York are You at, and is your budget sub $20k?

https://rochester.craigslist.org/boa...872543755.html

i had a survey all set up for next week
but friday night after going through all the videos, pictures etc then pricing new modern drives
we decided to pass

the guy has taken great care of it and was very straight forward about anything i asked.
he really does not want to sale it, but its not used as much as they would like i think

budget is 99k :D
found 3 bajas in the 2005 to 2009 vintage, i have to call about monday
we looked at 5 so far (boats) that were advertised as gems and they sucked
one was 8 out of 10 and close by.
i climbed all over thursday and was almost sold
then sitting in the rear i noticed some odd deck caulking around a fuel cell access hatch. it has a hatch...and the caulking looked like a 2 year old did it, smeared and goobed over
so i laid on ground staring at hull and noticed a qtr sized divit to the inner glass and it was oozing ...
we left pretty quick after that

people dont take care of stuff
but i am finding used formulas and bajas to be well taken care of for most part...
for some reason the few fountains i have seen near here are beat to hell and dirty down deep.. not normal weekend dirt, we are talking years of crud in the bilge and nooks
that liberator drew me in as to the cleanliness it is and cared for
who knows...the ones i call about next week may suck as well and i will be to the liberator and selling a kidney for 2 new or gently loved 496 and bravo ones :D

That Libby sure is clean. But I'm in agreement with everyone, the OMC drives would be a deal breaker for me

OP, if you're unaware read up on the liner boats if you get serious about a Baja

I had a smaller Liberator about that same year.
211 with 350 King Cobra.
It was good for what it was.
They are not fast at all compared to a lot of other hulls.
Checkmates and PowerPlays (Powerquest) were popular "competitors" back in the day.
Same power, most any of them were faster than the heavier wave bashing Liberator.
Looked and sounded the part, but wasn't exciting to drive/run around in.

That one does look incredible.
And I am sure that you could enjoy owning and using it A LOT !!!
But won't be setting any speed records.

Enjoy if you do end up with.
Sure is a time capsule from the pics :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by F-2 Speedy (Post 4932494)

OP, if you're unaware read up on the liner boats if you get serious about a Baja

F2, others,

Care to explain, in pics, hopefully, the difference between a "liner" boat and a "stringer" boat? I tried looking it up, but the interwebs ain't much help.

Thanks. Brad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Christy (Post 4932573)

F2, others,

Care to explain, in pics, hopefully, the difference between a "liner" boat and a "stringer" boat? I tried looking it up, but the interwebs ain't much help.

Thanks. Brad.

Liner boats are 3 pieces, hull, liner, deck. A lot of the Stringers are built into the liner before it is placed in the boat.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b16f53abd2.jpg

One of the best Cigarette deals below $100k is in New Jersey. A Cigarette 35 Cafe Racer with totally new 540s

, new Konrad outdrives, and an almost new Myco trailer. This should give many years of trouble free boating and

a good re-sale value one day. Used to ask $75k, then $70k, now $68k. On Craigslist and a few places on the net.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...27acf0e1d9.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...eac5bf0eb2.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5582549225.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...349ca3df8e.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5430f87cec.jpg