posted 02-07-2008 02:23 PM ET (US)        

I'm sure he would not be looking for anything above $10,000, as his wife is tighter that a frogs **s when it comes to spending and she thinks a boat is not practical.
Yay, I know, I would also take the whaler if I had to make the choice.

Anyway, I live hear in Baltimore, so we can really check anything out from Virginia to Conn.

Please let me know if you see anything. Also, he doesn't have the time for a project. Again, I would take the project over the... too.

Thanks much and PLEASE, nobody use this post for their own petty pissing matches.

Spring is just around the corner!

posted 02-07-2008 03:05 PM ET (US)            

There have been a few listings in NJ's craiglist.com that have been older hulls that have been recently repowered...one listed for about $5K while the other was about the max of your budget...there should be more of them on the market now that its getting closer to spring...

Have you considered the 17' Outrage? There have been a few of them listed this winter and they are a nice compromise between the Montauk's and 18' Outrage...wider and deeper v, more storage and rated for 120hp...great all around boat...I was going to upgrade to the classic 18' Outrage but once I saw one I realized it was too close in size to my 17'er...

There were also 2 boats listed recently online...one was for feedback (not sure what happened to that) and the other was a really nice 18' Outrage without power...for their price, you still might be able to pick up a used 135hp engine, yea, it'll be older, but those classic 2 strokes are great engines...and you'll be under budget...

Good luck...

posted 02-08-2008 10:53 AM ET (US)         

There is a 18' 1987 Outrage on ebay now. It is located in Island Heights NJ which is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Brooklyn (off Exit 82 on the Garden State Parkay). It has a "Buy it Now" price of $8,500, but you can probably buy if for less if you contact the seller.

Personally, I like the 18' Outrage better than the 17' Montauk because of its smoother ride and configuration. They also tend to hold their value more and are easier to sell since many people want them and they are not manufactured any more.

posted 02-09-2008 03:59 PM ET (US)            

Look in the states close to and around Maryland and you will see lots out their....for under 10,000, craiglist etc... Dave, the 5k hull and repower is a painted boat, not just bottom paint, Ive talked to the owner..some might say okay to that, I tend to stay away from repainted and not gelcoated...but its your flavor. Point is there lots out their all the time and you dont need anyone to tell you what you like or want....in the 6-8500 range....

see craigslist, Texas, Nyc and surrounding area....conn., delaware, Va.lots out their...

Don't take the advice of a Cretin...

posted 02-09-2008 04:27 PM ET (US)            

Right now I tow my 13 whaler behind our big old slow boat trawler all over the Chesapeake. I bought a nice old Albin 36 a few years agoa and brought her back to life. I bet a 15 would be no more drag than the 13. As it is, it feels like I am towing a gigantic bag of cement blocks. Couldn't image a 15SS would be much drag. Thoughts? Top speed is 7 knotts.

The up side to the 13 is that I take it EVERYWHERE. This winter, we towed it down to the Keys and fished Islamorada. Last summer, we towed it up to Maine, ran around Bah Haba, then Connecticut, etc. Everwhere we stopped, we dropped her in and enjoyed the area from the water. Nothing better.

Anyhow... keep the info coming. We'll have him a boat in no time! Or maybe I'll have a new 15 as well and we'll be peddling my 13 (with 2yr old yami 40, of course) to someone else.

It's over 60 degrees today in Baltimore. I just went out and rubbed the engine and told her "soon enough, soon enough!".

Best,
Bob

posted 02-09-2008 04:52 PM ET (US)         

A 15' will tow very easily as well. I like the 15' Dauntless better than the 15 Sport because you stay dryer and the v-hull gives a much better ride. On the downside the 15' Dauntless costs more than the 15' Sport or 15' Super Sport, but if you look hard you can find a good deal. Either 15' boat will tow very easily. I towed a 15' Dauntless 800 miles from the South last month with no problem. Forgot it was towing it. If you are keeping the 13' SS beacuse it is easy to tow, then you are making a mistake because a 15' will tow easy too.

Good luck and I will e-mail you with additional information and boats. Thanks for providing your wish list.

posted 02-09-2008 05:10 PM ET (US)            

The SS, however, has such nice lines. And other than the Ltd. A little wood is nice as well, which the dauntless has none.

Also, I haven't seen as many 15 Dauntlesses around for sale as I have 15SS.

posted 03-24-2008 09:22 AM ET (US)            

Dispite my pushing for a whaler, my brother put a deposit on a new 2006 American Skiff with a 50hp Suzuki 4 stroke.
The boat is new, a left-over that has not sold.

In the end, this might be the best thing for him. I would want 70hp or more on a 16, but the bottom line is that he will have a new engine with 3yr warranty.

I wouldn't have gone that route, but I have been know to buy boats that are headed for the grave and turn em into something to be proud of. I also can do my own engine work, etc. He can't. He lives in a brownstone in Brooklyn and has a place up on the Hudson.

In the end, I am glad he got a boat! It is his first one (at age 43, that is criminal).

As I have not even heard of American Skiff until this time, I am interested in seeing how this boat performs.