TOPIC: What boat should I search for?

We have a 17' MFG chevron. Its a good size for our family of 4.

the other day we took my parents out for a spin. lets just say the chevron was riding low...

So if I were looking fir a glassic boat (or woody) that would:

1. hold 8 people comfortabley
2. have room for 2 outboards about 100 hp each
3. have a bow you can ride on
4. still be small enough to not rent a slip somewhere

what would be my options?

and don't say pontoon boat! I want something with some style.

OK, so i started looking through the library. Started with MFG and found the Carousel.

Looked on CraigsList and found this:

erie.craigslist.org/boa/3893779779.html

Does this fall under the "if it's too good to be true" category?

Now it's an I/O so #2 is out, but i could make an exception.

Hmmm, very interesting boat. Haven't seen that one before. i think it would fit your needs. I have to admit I don 't know very much about the I/O drives.

Bob

Unfortunately I was a day late!

It would have matched my Chevron perfectly. Same color, same manufacturer and same hull style. Just 4 ft longer!

If anyone thinks of another let me know.

If the boat in Erie looks interesting to you, take a look at Glastron Vagabonds from the mid to late 1970's. Approx 21' tri-hull with a walk-thru cabin & bow seats for 2. Plenty of cockpit room, with a cabin for 2/3 & a portapotty. Kind of a unique design. I've seen a few that look like they've held up very well. Check the glassic library, as well as Classicglastrons.com
DaveM.

That boat is just fugly.......I want one!!!!

That vagabond might be the ticket. Searched cl in my area but didn't find one. I like the walk through cabin. I don't see us sleeping on it but a portapotty would be nice.

The MFG Carousel you were looking at is much like a Thunderbird.
www.fiberglassics.com/library/File:Thunderbirdb60001.jpg
www.fiberglassics.com/library/File:Thunderbirdb60002.jpg
miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/3953283449.html

dlatshaw,

IF I was looking for a glassic GLASTRON, I would look carefully for any of the GULFSTREAM V-204, GULFCRUISER, V-195, CARIBBEAN V-234 or a V-214 VAGABOND.
(My personal favorite being the V-234 of 1965, with a 210HP V8 & V-P Sterndrive.)

Right now, all of them are TOO CHEAP (I recently saw a V-214 for sale in Dallas for 500.oo in "running condition") but I predict NOT for long. - Already, prices are climbing swiftly in the Carolinas & Florida.

just my opinion, satx

You could look at a 1971 Chris Craft Gull Wing Dolphin 19'. They were also made by OMC in previous years.

How about a customcraft catamaran...mantaray, devilray, deltaray or aquaray. Ron

Ron's suggestion of a catamaran is right on..
For a given length they will be stable with more
weight than any conventional boat. Twin 100 motors
no problem there.. 8 passengers, the Power Cat 18c
had standard seating for 8 people.. If you plan to
use it in larger lakes or open ocean, something above
18ft is going to be your best choice. The bow rider
style with the walk thru windshield was available in
Power Cat in the later years, but the outboard models
are pretty rare as boats of that size were most likely
I/O's.
Just some suggestions you might consider,
Danny

vuyosevich wrote:

How about a customcraft catamaran...mantaray, devilray, deltaray or aquaray. Ron

Well looks like I have a lot of looking to do. thanks everyone!


So the catamarans are more stable in all kinds of conditions?


do they have a more shallow draft than a V or CV hull? or trial hull?

I know its not a glassic, but how about this?


www.carolinacatboats.com/23dc-dualconsole-powercatamaran/


5 feet longer and only 11 Inc draft!

That would be good but it won't be cheap.

Bob

dlatshaw,

While we are considering "relatively new" CLASSICS & as you are on "the right coast", you might well consider one of the COMPLETELY LOVELY handmade 18-24 foot boats by the late NELSON SILVIA of NC.
(ImVho, NO FINER QUALITY boats were ever made than his "modern versions" of the 1920-1940 runabouts, "updated" SIMMONS SKIFFS and some hulls of his own designs.= Nelson, who I was priviledged to know before his untimely passing, was a genuine GENIUS/ARTIST, whether doing creations in wood, wood/glass combinations, fiberglass or in "Nelsonite". He also did several complete restorations of customer's boats.)

yours, satx

You may have seen this, also in Erie, PA Craigslist...1962 19' MFG deep V hull w/100hp $1000. I don't know what the seating is, but I've never seen this 19' model...

We have a 2000 22' ProKat catamaran and love it. It's great in rough water, rides as well as much larger boats in my opinion, it's versatile, has relatively shallow draft, is good for both diving and fishing, etc. However, as Waterwings pointed out, they're not cheap. I would imagine the one you posted would run about $70K+ new, and maybe $30-40K for a nice used one. On the other hand, for perhaps around $5K or less you could probably find a nice classic cat, that may do most of what you want. It all depends on your budget, what you want the boat to do and how you want it to look. I do agree that for carrying lots of people, dual motors and all around functionality, a cat is an excellent choice

Shannon

Waterwings wrote:

That would be good but it won't be cheap.

Bob

Just looking at new ones to get an idea of hulls, lengths etc...

A guy can dream!

55bigtwin wrote:

You may have seen this, also in Erie, PA Craigslist...1962 19' MFG deep V hull w/100hp $1000. I don't know what the seating is, but I've never seen this 19' model...

Never saw that one either.

Look what else I found in Erie



erie.craigslist.org/boa/3936742762.html

satx78247 wrote:

dlatshaw,

While we are considering "relatively new" CLASSICS & as you are on "the right coast", you might well consider one of the COMPLETELY LOVELY handmade 18-24 foot boats by the late NELSON SILVIA of NC.

satx,

I've done some googling but have not come up with much on NELSON SILVIA. Any pointers?

labloverdc wrote:

. On the other hand, for perhaps around $5K or less you could probably find a nice classic cat, that may do most of what you want.

Shannon

I'm definitely leaning towards a catamaran. That Carolina cat was $70K. Now if i can just find the right classic cat.

dlatshaw,

As I knew Nelson, I have never "googled" his name. (I will do that task soon.) -He was a TRUE ARTIST in wood/fiberglass/"tin"/composites & lived in WILMINGTON, NC.
(IF I were you, I would check out craigslist for eastern NC, SC & coastal VA regularly.- I would strongly suspect that people on craigslist would mention his name in "boats for sale" ads, IF they have one for sale.)

Among some of his more "budget-friendly" work was the "re-configuring" that he did for owners of Grady White boats and his "recreations" of Simmons' Sea Skiffs.= A 24' Simmons "cabin skiff" by Silvia would be a TREASURE.
(Nelson's own designs were/are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, as those HANDMADE boats probably cost more NOW than they did when Nelson was alive.)

BEST of LUCK in your search.

yours, satx

The Custom Craft Flying Ray has seating for 6, but could easily be converted to 8. It shares the same hull as a 65 MFG model, as MFG acquired the molds after CC went out of business in 64/65.



Happy hunting.

I thought about buying this one a few years ago:

www.nicklecityclassics.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8637620

It has since had a tree fall on it, and now has a new owner who will hopefully restore it.

Cats are great, finding a Glassic cat to match you list may not be easy. A Power Cat 18 or 20 would be the most common. Another option would be to make your own from vintage plans. This one I think has a very classic look www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=275 They have a number of cat plans from 14’ up to 28’ www.boatdesigns.com/Outboards/departments/10/

The large Glastrons mentioned are nice, we had a smaller V192 that could seat 8. A larger Boston Whaler may fit the bill. I looked a long time for an old cat for fishing, ended up getting a Whaler, almost as stable as a cat. You may also want to check out the larger late 60’s Chryslers. Just keep searching you never know what you may find. My problem is the ones I would want are always 1000’s of miles away.

cc1000 wrote:

The Custom Craft Flying Ray has seating for 6, but could easily be converted to 8. It shares the same hull as a 65 MFG model, as MFG acquired the molds after CC went out of business in 64/65.

Happy hunting.

Interesting boat! Even has head lights, and a head.

I'll need to keep an eye out.

cc1000 wrote:

I thought about buying this one a few years ago:

www.nicklecityclassics.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8637620

It has since had a tree fall on it, and now has a new owner who will hopefully restore it.

Thanks! It's good to see photos of the boat we are talking about.

Not sure it's exactly what i'm looking for. But, can't have to many boats, right?

CAT*FIN*k wrote:

Another option would be to make your own from vintage plans. This one I think has a very classic look www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=275 They have a number of cat plans from 14’ up to 28’ www.boatdesigns.com/Outboards/departments/10/

This is an interesting idea... Once my barn is built anyway.

I like this one:

www.boatdesigns.com/22-Wildcat-E-X-T-Sport-power-catamaran/products/901/

I'd modify it to have a split console with as much open bow as I could.

A model and the real thing are a bit different, but I did build an RC fiberglass/plywood scale replica of PT-109. It's water tight and has been on the ocean.