I searched the forum and couldnt find much info on buying an older cigarette, more likely than not I will be looking at a cafe racer so late 80s early 90s boat.

Is there a list or resources to help me in going through the boat and potentially a list of things to avoid or seek out?


Thanks in advance!

Normal stuff to look for is wet transom, stringer and fuel tank leaking. I’d look for a bravo drive boat . TRS boats are out there and are going for an affordability price but they stopped making them in 1993 and parts are becoming very scarce. Also speedmaster boats are out there but #3 speedmaster drives with small shafts are limited on prop selection and parts are becoming hard to come by also. When you get into the speedmaster drive boats your limited on who can repair them.

BT 77, did you see the 91 Carbon 70 edition in the classifieds ? if its in your budget, EFI engines B Max drives 300 hrs on the hull......

how hard would it be in the future to upgrade from TRS drives to a bravo or equivalent?
Thats a sweet boat but is currently a bit out of my price range currently. Maybe they would take my vette in a trade lol.

I provided a comprehensive write-up in this thread

87 Cigarette Cafe 35

massive job. New transom, motors moved, exhaust reconfigured, etc. never would it be worth it….

Thats exactly what I"m looking for, thank you!


I'm reading that the konrad 540 is a solid unit thats plug and play for if/when I kaboom a TRS assuming they are still made that seems like a viable option.

Honestly, Unless you put 650HP+ to the TRS Drives and abuse them, they will last a long time. I have also seen spare TRS's Cheap for backups. If I were buying a Cafe or Older Gun my order of drive selection would be SSM5, SSM3A, SSM3, TRS, BRAVO. The boats were designed to have transmission drives which helps the CG of the boat.

10-71 transmission is stronger then the merctrans. Also the 10-71 can be built to 925 Huber Specs.

PS I did the KONRAD conversion on my Mistress Years ago when they first came out. They were as advertised, but I got a pretty good deal at the time. I think You would save quite a bit by just tracking down some spare TRS's in the offseason. Lower Pinion Gear Fails when the case flexes. I believe the RH drive fails most if memory serves me because of the pinion gear placement.

Just my 2 cents

Gotcha, thankyou for the info!

pretty sure the velvet drive number is 1018 for the green tag 72c trans.