calamassi86

Hello guys,

I'm Marco, i'm italian living in Miami

I've been looking for a boat to enjoy the Miami weather.

My family always had a boat in Italy.




I like powerboats, offshore style and after several research through listings, photos, videos I found the model I'd be looking for.




the Wellcraft SCARAB EXCEL 28 feet





opinions about that ?




the question is:
whats the best way to be able to find a boat in Florida ?
keep looking at listings on craiglist and similar ?
contact a broker ?
a dealer ?


My budget is 15.000 about.


Im pretty good at DIY so cosmetic issues are not a problem.


Engine and functioning have to be optimal instead.

I found an amazing one few days ago, already sold for 10k






What you think ? do i have chances to find a boat like that, in Florida, with that budget ?




THANKS

Crowney

I wish I had some insight for you.

Look at boat trader, Classifieds on here (offshoreonly), Craigslist, ebay. To name a few

If your willing to travel the deals are out there. I would make sure you have a mechanic go through the motors with compression and leak down test.

Good Luck

calamassi86

THANKS

im in love with this boat

i see they made the Excel in 26, 28 and 31 ft

so i should have some options...



i found one in Tampa but seller isnt answering

78CIG24

iTrader: (2)

I know of 2 28 Excels in Tampa area, send me a PM or email 78cig24 at Gmail and I can fill you in on them.

Cheers,

Dave

scarabman

iTrader: (1)

Fixed it for you

78CIG24

iTrader: (2)

Wasn't there a 34 and a 43 also?

tommymonza

Hey Marco.

Here some links to the structural issues you have to be careful about with these older boats you are looking at

50 Percent of the structural rebuild projects that are being shown on this site is because someone just recently purchased a older performance boat and now they discovered the boat has rotten wood.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...ats%3Drot.html

calamassi86

thanks so much, very informative

calamassi86

i take the opportunity to ask:

what is advisable to do, rent a dock slip in a marina ? keep it in water and dry storage only few months a year ? or keep it on a trailer and every time you wanna use the boat, go to the marina or whatever and drop the boat in water, use it, and then back on the trailer and park it in a private area ?

tommymonza

Hi Marco

If you can afford it keeping it at a marina where they store it out of the water and in a building out of the weather is best.

You than call the marina an hour before you go boating and they use a Forklift to put the boat in the water and when you return from your day of boating they will remove the boat and place it back in the building.

The cost for that service is about 350 to 500 per a month.

If you choose to leave the boat docked in the water it will need bottom paint and the bottom will have to be cleaned of growth monthly also. And the boat will still be out in the rain and sun which is very hard on a boat down here.

You really do not want to leave a boat in the water here unless you have to with a large cruiser like Pershing

If you choose to trailer the boat to a marina or ramp to launch you have to have a truck large enough to pull it and also a trailer down here in saltwater requires a lot of maintenance as much as 400 to 500 a year.

Than you have to pay for outside storage which is 100 to 150 a month/

The most practical way is to store the boat at the marina as in my 1st suggestion .

Trailering a boat is only practical if you have a truck already and a yard at your house to store it [referably out of the weather.

And having some mechanical experience to maintain the trailer .

Personally I think you should inquire into the boat clubs that you can buy into here or even look into renting a few times to see if it is what you really want to do with your money

The problem with most boats down here in Florida with sterndrives like are on the Excell you are looking at is the boat may look nice even though it is 5 or 10 years old because it sat in a dry storage building and was rarely used.

But because of the saltwater corrosion that happens down here a motor or outdrive that appeared mechanically sound yet it is corroded through on the inside and needs total replacement.

With purchasing an outboard motor boat instead you most likely will not run into these problems unless the motor is older than 10 years.

If you have 15000 to spend you need to purchase a boat for no more than 12000 to 13000 because almost every used boat out there will need 2000 in repairs right away.

If it was me i would purchase a smaller newer and more economical outboard boat and use that for a year to see what it is like. You will recover your money from the outboard a sterndrive boat is much harder to resell down here.