Anyone know a thing or two about boats?

[Mike029]

Took a look at a Sea Ray 330 Sundancer (http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1997-Sea-Ray-330-Sundancer-100490679) today. Any boat experts want to tell me what you think? I know you have not looked at it and you'd be going off of the listing. Just wondering if it's overpriced for a 1997.

[Fire$torm]

I know unholy boats float and holy ones sink..... :P

[Duke of Buckingham]

http://www.seair.com/images/OriginalFlyingBoat.jpg

This boat is the devil. :D

[kaptainkarl1]

I don't know off hand the value of that particular boat but I know this. If you are buying a boat right now there are tons of deals out there so take your time.

Just a couple things to think about. A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into. Seriously research the costs involved in owning a boat. Fuel for one is a huge deal. That boat will burn 30-70 gallons an hour and it adds up quickly at $5 dollars a gallon on the water.
If you are not handy the cost of service is ridiculous. A moron with a screwdriver is 60-90 an hour and a trained tech is 90-120 an hour.
Most boats sit around not being used very much at all. My old boss owned an 800 slip marina in Michigan and was able to have a 160 foot Mega Yacht built in the early 90s with the income from people who rented slips to keep there boat in for the summer and then needed dry storage for the winter.
I can go on and on and if you need more help with this I will be glad to share my more than 15 years of maritime experience with you.

Boats are cheap right now but operating budgets are the same or higher if you include fuel. You can buy a 100' vessel for around a million dollars in order to maintain it properly you will need bare bones 350k and in reality 500k a year to maintain the beast. This is taken from a 10 year average.

I will try to find out what a reasonable price for a 33 sea ray express is from a broker friend of mine in MI so you can at least know if what you are looking at is in the ballpark.

[Mike029]

@Duke & F$, LOLOLOLOL

Thanks KK. I'll await your response. I'm real green and have a few friends looking out for me. That said, I appreciate your input. Don't want to make a 50k mistake.

[Justgeo1]

The titanic sank... that's about all I know about boats... I prefer small lakes I can swim in... :)

[Crazybob]

I paid cheap for my bass boat and it rarely gets out of my drive way.:( Wish I lived closer to the water.

[Slicker]

A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into.
I can't image a 33' cruiser give how my 20' boat has emptied my pockets:
Puchased price of boat: $3500 (Wilson Boats, Howell, MI - very nice guys, no pressure to buy)
All new upholestry: $1400 (Cody's Upholestry @ Wilson Boats did a great job)
bow mount trolling motor: $550
deep cycle battery: $90
depth/fish finder: $300
custom winter boat storage cover: $600
new propeller: $150 (and need yet another one since the pitch is still too high)
kenwood stereo & speakers: $250
new horn: $20
fire extinguisher: $20
life jackets: $120
used Shorestation boat lift: $2850
two new tires the trailer: $220
spare tire and rim for the trailer: 150
mooring lines: $50
boat bumpers: $100
new dock cleats: $50
anchor and anchor rope: $60
bimini top repair: $85 (Ed's Auto Interiors & Marine Canvas, Villa Park, IL does a good job)
new fuel line, primer bulb, gas filter, connectors, hose clamps: $75

So far: $7K in extras and that doesn't include gasoline, 2 cycle oil, etc...

To Do's: The boat is underpowered with the 90 hp motor and a new 150 hp outboard will run $13K (Maybe I'll buy a second boat, swap motors, and re-sell the second boat)

Grand total: $20K on maintenance and upgrades spent on a $3.5K boat


I paid cheap for my bass boat and it rarely gets out of my drive way.:( Wish I lived closer to the water.

Apple Canyon Lake, a private lake about 30 miles East of Galena, has some of the best bass fishing in Illinois. We decided "it can't hut to put in a really low offer" and ended up with our own lakefront property where we now store the boat. That mean all new furniture and appliances. So, in addition to the boat, we have an extra mortgage.

It's strange how none of that was included in our dreams of spending time on the water fishing and skiing, etc.

[Crazybob]

I picked up a 16 0r 17ft Skeeter down south from a friend. $2,500. To clean the bugs and animals out of the boat and motor and put new steering lines on, another $2,800. Came with a trailer, but still need to work on the electrical a bit. Turn on lights and bilge pump starts up.:) Has a Merc 150 on the back, so when you gun it, it gets up and goes. Maybe we can come and visit you on the lake, but with your new bills, we will probably need to bring the meat for the grill!:)

[Mike029]

Well, still looking. I'm not jumping into this. Waiting for a good deal. I found this boat and wondered what you guys thought?
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2004-Regal-2860-Commodore-101645616

If I don't get a boat this year not biggie. Like I said I'm not in a rush.

[Duke of Buckingham]

:p I have one nice boat for you Mike. :rolleyes:

http://rookery.s3.amazonaws.com/727000/727137_2ff2_625x1000.jpg

[Mike029]

lol

[Duke of Buckingham]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jCinsji7Ggo/TBWsvlTmzCI/AAAAAAAADmg/J-NOwn1vhl8/s1600/Boat+Trip+(with+2+girls).jpg

Boat? What boat?

Always sailing Duke

[Crazybob]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jCinsji7Ggo/TBWsvlTmzCI/AAAAAAAADmg/J-NOwn1vhl8/s1600/Boat+Trip+(with+2+girls).jpg

Boat? What boat?

Always sailing Duke

Comes equiped with floatation devices. That I know a little about.;)

[Duke of Buckingham]

:D AHA, floating devices, they saved me often... :rolleyes:

Boats are dangerous.
http://www.partyvibe.com/forums/attachments/chatter/4354d1269293572-lol-cats-lol-cat-boat-jumping.jpg

http://www.weareca.org/images/period07/b-vietnamese/vietnemese-refugees-boat.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z6AOT3ukOFw/S-kGvgtozQI/AAAAAAAABM0/JQSHGFoDiA0/s1600/boat.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bCNqMq47fM/TmkI6OCOqRI/AAAAAAAABeA/HYoQT8zsGhg/s1600/crowded+boat.jpg

Let us go people those boats have space for us.
http://www.travelblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/India-Train.jpg

[John P. Myers]

http://www.bucvalu.com/ hopefully this helps

[Duke of Buckingham]

I have to sell this boat fast.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/__zoKJ77EvEc/S7R6MO514TI/AAAAAAAADSc/02RWeX2ySxc/sinking-boat%20(2)%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800

[Slicker]

I'm beginning to think that Duke has a picture for everything....

[Crazybob]

Maybe need to change his user name to Duke of Graphics?:)

[Duke of Buckingham]

http://officespam.chattablogs.com/archives/Boat-Launch-Gone-Bad-2.jpg

:o Nice that Duke of Graphics. And slicker I have a picture for (almost) everything. :D