In the market for a 24-32, prefer near MI

[mgh]

Hello,

Still in the market for a nice 24-32' offshore.

Prefer full hydraulic steering, nice HP package, and well cared for. If anyone has any leads, shoot me a PM.

Already have financing secured.

[fund razor]

That narrows it down. Still a lot of boats. Any other specs? Speed, budget, full head?

[Pete B]

Maybe the classified's could help, Not 100% sure why they have them, I would assume it is to sell items, but again why look at classified's when it's easier to ask all the jokers on a website!

[fund razor]

Dam Pete. Everything for sale.

[C35]

Not to be funny, but that's like saying "I want to buy a sports car". That could be an MGB or 3 year old Corvette or a new Porsche turbo.

There's a giant difference between the average 24 and the average 32. If you forget cats altogether, the 24 could be a single outboard where the 32 is most likely twin IO's. The 24 is going to trailer behind an f150 and a 32 is three times the weight and at least a 2man job to launch. The maintenance costs could be 5 to 1 or more. Budget is important but probably not as much as what you plan to do with it. If you boat on a smaller lake or a river, the 32 may be too much. if you boat on the great lakes, many days the 24 isn't going to work. The worst thing you can do is buy the wrong boat.

[Ratickle]

Well, more info would certainly help. You are halfway between Lake St Claire and Huron? North of Detroit?

Where do you do most of your boating? Couple things Dick said.


Cat or Vee?
Outboard or IO?
Single or Twins?
Full Cabin or barely overnightable. (Or none)

Let us know those and you should start getting ideas.

[Ratickle]

Maybe the classified's could help, Not 100% sure why they have them, I would assume it is to sell items, but again why look at classified's when it's easier to ask all the jokers on a website!

Hey, who you calling Joker

[Buoy]

There is a HUGE difference between my 24/7 and say a 32 Skater, or a 31 Cig Bullet.. - all within your size range.

Sounds like you are in the market for an entry level performance boat - get your feet wet, and then see how you really want to use the boat.

[fund razor]

Well, more info would certainly help. You are halfway between Lake St Claire and Huron? North of Detroit?

Where do you do most of your boating? Couple things Dick said.


Cat or Vee?
Outboard or IO?
Single or Twins?
Full Cabin or barely overnightable. (Or none)

Let us know those and you should start getting ideas.

I saw in another thread that he was looking for I/Os. Besides, everybody knows that outboards are for queers.

[Buoy]

At the risk of sounding like a sack...
I recommend something like a Baja, Formula, old Chris-Craft Stinger, Checkmate...
All good boats, but more "utilitarian", and multi-functional boats.
Get into some of the other names, and you start getting into "purpose" built boats.
It all depends on what you are looking to do.
We're all here to help, and we have a pretty good ear to the ground.

[Pete B]

That was my point, Not trying to bag on anyone, but a vague statement as such, almost warrants and endless amount of sarcastic replies.

[Buoy]

That was my point, Not trying to bag on anyone, but a vague statement as such, almost warrants and endless amount of sarcastic replies.

I knew exactly where you were goin' Pete

My first boat was a Baja, I know several guys that started with Formula's or Chris-Craft Stingers.
All good boats, but built to be utilitarian, ie, cover a large audience, ie serve a lot of needs adequately, but not anything in particular extremely well.
I'm not saying any of them are bad, but they all are built multi purpose.
My Baja couldn't take how hard I beat it, and admittedly, I beat it pretty hard.
I've had this discussion before, and I dare say this (I know I'll get chit for it) my Baja "looked" like an offshore boat, but it wasn't built like one.
I tried to run it like one and it let me down several times.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the boat, but I abuse toys.
Stringer/Structural failure... But, that may have been this particular hull, and the life it led prior to me.
I managed to weld the clutch plates on the BW72 after about 10 hrs after rebuild
If you buy, say a Skater, it's built for one thing.
If you buy , say an Apache, it's built for one thing.
If you buy, say an Azimut, it's built for one thing.
It's as much of finding what boat suits your needs, as what boat you like or can afford.

[poncho]

It's as much of finding what boat suits your needs, as what boat you like or can afford.

I bought a Donzi 22 Classic because always wanted one. Few times on the water had me wishing for more cockpit room. The Classic is really small in that regard. I like floating and drinking beer. The donzi is toooooooo small for that. So this spring think I'll go center console. Good advice and you can avoid getting something that doesn't suit your needs. I made this mistake on a boat that is still a favorite of mine for looks. Actual using found it doesn't suit my needs.

[mgh]

sorry for the generic first post, looking for 454mag, 502, 496ho, i/o, full hyd steering

to be more specific..looking for something along the lines of:

Pantera, Active Thunder, Apache

Pantera 24/28, AT 25, Apache Brave 28.., possibly 33 Powerplay. I check the classifieds, but am actually looking for something that a seller may be entertaining the idea of selling but has not put it on the market yet, thats why i posted here

[Buoy]

sorry for the generic first post, looking for 454mag, 502, 496ho, i/o, full hyd steering

to be more specific..looking for something along the lines of:

Pantera, Active Thunder, Apache

Pantera 24/28, AT 25, Apache Brave 28.., possibly 33 Powerplay. I check the classifieds, but am actually looking for something that a seller may be entertaining the idea of selling but has not put it on the market yet, thats why i posted here

I know of a 28 Pantera for sale less power, and negotiable on the drive for reasonable money, but it is race heritage, race bolster stand-up no cabin. I know of a 28 Apache that could be had for the right dollar.

Just because I'm curious, I'll ask...

There are a lot of old cool boats that were built on 188th.
Maybe you can find an old Mirage or Magnum. In my opinion, the Magnum is the ultimate in class and style, rivalled only by a Mistress. You have a fair shot with a Scarab KV, or Kaama.
But, how are you going to use the boat?

[Buoy]

BTW - if you're considering a Pantera 24/28 - you are talking two different Kitty's (animals)
There is a big difference there.

[fund razor]

I know of a 28 Apache that could be had for the right dollar.

Yeah, me too.

I love my 28 Apache, (currently located in MI) but... everything is for sale. I thought about yanking the new power and dropping it in a bigger boat, but then I think that if I really need a bigger boat I probably need a cruiser. A cruiser and a 28 apache would be a perfect set, in my opinion. Kind of a poor man's version of the go-fast and the Azimut.

Actually... if I wasn't so dam busy this fall with work and the two houses, I would have been seriously entertaining a fat, porky Egg Harbor that popped up as a good deal.

[Bobcat]

I saw in another thread that he was looking for I/Os. Besides, everybody knows that outboards are for queers.

[fund razor]

Uh, um... unless they live in Key West.
Wait... isn't Fantasy Fest this week?

[Ratickle]

I saw in another thread that he was looking for I/Os. Besides, everybody knows that outboards are for queers.

....