another boat question

Whalure · January 5, 2010, 1:50pm

I agree with JTM, the classic mako 241 or 261 are great boats. I fish on friends 241 a good bit, and it is a fantastic ride for a 24 to 25 center console. It will spray, but it is soft. I would put that ride up to a lot of boats, and it would win.

coates2122 · January 5, 2010, 4:06pm

Gave up on both boats… Wellcaft was a all around bad idea. The new power, electronics, and how everything above the deck was just killing me.

The Mako was in great shape, but the owner was an idiot. He had no idea you could run the boat on a water hose. I am assuming no MX or flushing has been done in 2 years. Had the numbers down to an absolute steal, but unless i pull a head i have no idea how much salt build up is in there.

I am in no rush to buy something now. A buddy of mine said he will buy my boat when ever i am ready, so i still have a boat to use.

I prefer a W/A, but will still look at a CC. Hard to find what i want in my price range… Sure one will pop up.

Best boat i looked at wasa 2950 Proline…Great boat, but a 10.5’ beam. i got nothing that l pull it… and illegal.

Thanks for the input.

2502 trophy twin 175 mercs
“The Rum Runner”

Loosewire · January 5, 2010, 7:15pm

You can tow a 10.5’ beam boat, you just need a permit which only costs $100/year…at least that’s what it was three years ago.

ECU1984 · January 5, 2010, 11:37pm

That was some pretty good advice from JTM. Thanks as I am thinking about selling my 23ft Sea Ray Laguna CC and getting a Mako 26. Now I know what years to look at. Good Luck and if you have the funding and time …you can steal a boat and get what you want right now, if you take your time.

Rick

jtm · January 6, 2010, 9:34am

quote:
Originally posted by ECU1984
That was some pretty good advice from JTM. Thanks as I am thinking about selling my 23ft Sea Ray Laguna CC and getting a Mako 26. Now I know what years to look at. Good Luck and if you have the funding and time …you can steal a boat and get what you want right now, if you take your time.

Rick

I am glad I could help out. When I decide to get back into offshore fishing I will give the 261 a serious look. I loved my 26 Reg and I feel it is prob. the best ride on the water, but it is definitely nice to have a boat like the 261 that rides almost as good and is a 10th of the price.

I really can’t say enough good things about the 241. All in all a solid boat. Definitely go to classicmako.com and dig around there. People on that website are very very passionate about the classic makos and can tell you a thousand times more than I can. Also, the older SeaCrafts are sharp too. There is a (don’t know the year) 27ish older SeaCraft at Tolers that I eye every time I see that boat. Sharp lines and I hear they ride very very well.

The older Makos are going to have a heavier aka, Regulator ride if you will v. the SeaCraft’s (as I am told) will have a lighter aka, Contender style ride. Both great rides but definitely a preference.

coates2122 · January 6, 2010, 2:03pm

Well… i just got back from looking at a 2002 25’ CC May-craft with twin 250 yammy’s. Think we might have a winner!

To cold to sea trial today… Seller is an antique that may have died in this weather. I am curious how that boat sits with those monsters on the back. Should run upper 50’s.
Boat ran great on a hose, and looks great under the deck. Some of the seats look a little weathered, but cleanable.

2502 trophy twin 175 mercs
“The Rum Runner”

coates2122 · January 6, 2010, 2:21pm

quote:
Originally posted by ECU1984
That was some pretty good advice from JTM. Thanks as I am thinking about selling my 23ft Sea Ray Laguna CC and getting a Mako 26. Now I know what years to look at. Good Luck and if you have the funding and time …you can steal a boat and get what you want right now, if you take your time.

Rick

I sold a 1996 23’ Laguna w/ 200 merc about 4 years ago to a guy in C-town… that you? You buy it it Murrells inlet?

2502 trophy twin 175 mercs
“The Rum Runner”

ECU1984 · January 6, 2010, 8:48pm

No I live in Columbia, but i did buy the boat at Murrells Inlet. When I bought mine it had twin Merc 135s. I just sold them and put Suzuki 140s on it, radar and some other nice upgrades. Mine is an older 1989, but solid hull, stringers and transom.
Big wide boat and I like it alot, I just want to go to 26-27ft now.

Rick

ilgba · January 7, 2010, 2:31pm

Just as another thought, Fountain made a 31 with a cabin and intrepid did as well in approximately that size. I looked at both in the past and they were nice boats. The older intrepids are not as nice as the new ones but still well made. An 80s hull of either with new power should be findable and in your price range. I also would echo what jtm and ecu said and avoid a cabin. Been there, done that and I think you give up too much on the ride and the weight. Get an enclosure/phone booth for bad weather and bean bags for everything else.

ilgba · January 7, 2010, 4:10pm

Sorry I don’t know how to do clickable links but there is a lot out there, and it is a buyer’s market. Don’t be too hasty and look in Florida, some down there are desperate. Good luck.

Blue_Runner1 · January 7, 2010, 4:30pm

Speaking of Seacraft, I know you are looking for something a little bigger but the old Sceptre is a FINE boat and I think would be a good fit. I forget the degree of deadrise but I believe its around 24 degrees at the tranny and I’ve heard many folks brag on the ride.

Rear deck is wide open on the outboard models. Get one with a bracket - even better - but I’m not sure about twins which would probably be a deal breaker for you. If I could upgrade my Wellcraft V21 I’d probably look at a sceptre because 1) I really like the layout and 2) as far as I tow I would not want anything bigger than 23’.

Here’s an example I plucked out of cyberspace:
http://www.thehulltruth.com/boats-sale/96724-1982-23ft-seacraft-sceptre-sale.html

Good luck and I like the fact that you are asking for opinions before you pull the trigger.

Blue_Runner1 · January 7, 2010, 4:53pm

I also like the look of the late 80’s early 90’s North Coast 24 Express w/ twin outboards. I’ve never ridden one so there are probably a lot of negatives to them - one being they look heavy and perhaps prone to guzzle fuel?

Here’s one (w/ inboards):
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/North-Coast-Express-Fisherman-1555968/Islamorada/FL/United-States

Excavator · January 18, 2010, 7:53am

http://columbia.craigslist.org/boa/1552951515.html

Bring on the 2-3 chop!