I figure with the economic downturn a lot of people will be getting out of these for losses as they try to raise capital. I realize boats are money pits and gas is expensive, but I'll be taking a job at the coast and we are factoring in a neighborhood dock in our neighborhood search. My in-laws have a ~20ft'r now but I doubt they'll leave it year round (or even for extended periods) with us. The prospect of having our own boat seems interesting.

Something like this, for example:

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2000/Crownline-180-2112905/Sarasota/FL/United-States

9/17/2009 5:27:09 PM

yes and no.

a lot of older/need repair boats are getting sold for really cheap (people just want money).
if you can find someone with a nice boat and they are going in the hole you can get a good deal.
other people that are at least afloat financially are still trying to sell at pre-economyshitfest prices.

in conclusion, yes, if you find an affordable deal.

[Edited on September 17, 2009 at 5:31 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2009 5:30:44 PM

You'll find a lot of people who know they're going to get a new boat next year (or getting out of boating for a while) and want to get rid of the old one now too. A lot of these guys are still making payments, so selling it now might mean they hang onto $1000+ over the next few months and they don't have to worry about winterizing/storing it. There are usually some motivated sellers to be found this time of year, but it'll probably get better in a month or so. The water is still warm.

[Edited on September 17, 2009 at 5:52 PM. Reason : l]

9/17/2009 5:45:35 PM

if you are going to be at the coast and the boat will be in saltwater you need to be looking at boats with outboards.....saltwater + I/O = disaster

9/17/2009 9:59:58 PM

only if it is a Fail Boat

9/18/2009 7:00:37 AM

its always a good time to buy a boat

10/15/2009 4:40:23 PM

^^^ yeah, most of the coastal boats I see are outboard, but what about, for example, offshore speedboats? They're I/O about 99% of the time (to include ALL of the really powerful, fast ones). There just aren't outboards available to deliver that kind of power.

I always figured that if you flush it out well after every use, it should be OK.

10/15/2009 4:45:12 PM

Or get a boat with a closed cooling system. I have a friend who has an I/O that he leaves in the intracoastal waterway for several months every year. He does have to keep everything greased and clean and some oxidation is unavoidable, but it seems to be holding up pretty well.

10/15/2009 6:43:25 PM

closed system with a heat exchanger is key for salt water

10/16/2009 2:03:48 PM

If the boat is going to be kept in the water at a neighborhood dock the outboard will last a lot longer...It can be completely tilted out of the water vs an I/O...

10/16/2009 2:27:34 PM

nah, I wouldn't keep the boat in the water. That's why I had a parking pad paved when I bought my house.

10/16/2009 2:38:05 PM

the orig poster said he was...

10/16/2009 3:25:09 PM

You will really have to do some research to get a good deal. Most people have a lot of money still invested in a boat they are trying to sell and want to recoup that lose and will ask insane prices. Best bet is to find someone trying to unload it quick.

Also, from everything I hear, Florida is not the place to buy a boat from. I think they have some crazy laws regarding boats like no lemon law.

10/16/2009 4:22:35 PM

dont buy an inboard. i bought a crownline 210 when i moved to charleston. nice boat. sucked in the harbor, in the rivers, and at any sandbar. i hated how wet you got going through the harbor with any chop. i hated how much draft it had because of the in board motor. and i hated how it took over an hour to clean when you got done. i sold it any bought a bay boat with an outboard and can run in 1' of water or 30 miles off shore. it is dry and takes 15 minutes to hose down. take it from the guy who made the ski boat mistake at the beach.

10/16/2009 7:19:08 PM

I want something fast, though. Like upper 70s/lower 80s fast.

10/16/2009 8:48:07 PM

Then keep your jet ski.

10/16/2009 11:25:45 PM

but i want a boat...i want to be able to actually GO places (I mean, I've ridden my ski out to Lookout, even around the hook to the ocean side, but it isn't really the right tool for the job...and forget taking it out to Hatteras or anything). Plus, I like the idea of a speedboat with a cuddy, so I could take it somewhere, then just sleep on the boat.

Plus, while my daughter likes riding the jet ski, I think a boat would really be better suited for her.


Plan is to buy a nasty speedboat, then spend like $1000 to get an older stand-up jet ski for playing around in Brice's Creek (and maybe occasionally Atlantic Beach)

[Edited on October 17, 2009 at 4:31 PM. Reason : ]

10/17/2009 4:30:33 PM

buy an offshore jet turbine boat, then let me hold it for you

10/19/2009 11:30:20 AM

^^look for a mid 90s 21ft paramount...usually have 225 or 250 outboards on em...should come close to 70 with a 250 and no t-top...

http://www.boatsville.com/used_boats_detail.cfm?boatid=31553

10/19/2009 2:57:50 PM

hell, find you a 10 year old grady-white and dog the shit out of it

10/21/2009 7:44:28 AM