Boatless

Well I sold the fleet and am boatless. Now I'm on the hunt for the next forensic crappie extraction vessel. Wish me luck!

boats are like jobs.....don't get rid of the old one til you get a new one! :Rofl

Hahaha good tip!

Will be putting mine up for sale in about month.
18 1/2 ft procraft - 115 mtr - Crappie tournament ready

Presently working on getting "big O" ready to take over

What are ya going to harold?

Purchased a "Big O" - almost complete "do it yourself kit"Attachment 197796Attachment 197799Attachment 197800Attachment 197801Attachment 197797Attachment 197798

Presently having motor completely check out and put in good order,
Seats are being rebuilt
Will change out 36 volt trolling system to 24 volt i-pilot set up
Electrical system being reworked
Gauges put into working order
Livewells and aeration system rebuilt
Recarpet entire boat - Now that will be a real dandie job.
Repair left rear rub-rail and fibreglass damage
Put new tires and replace bearing in/out on trailer
(will replace later with alum tandem when funds becomre avail)
Will pull old Wrap off and replace and/or leave to original color

It is definetly going to be a work in progress

Congrats! That will be a sweet ride! ! I'm just waiting on my dealer to find me something. Been looking at the ranger 185 series. Wanting to go 150+ hp

Not first time have done this - Procraft was completely reworked in 2010, but this
will be my last boat - Age has and is catching up with me - starting to slow down
at 74 plus.

Look at several types and styles of boat before you purchase - go through the used
run of boats till you come to one that will fit what you want it to do and have the
comfort you want.
I over the years have ridden in probably 100 different kinds before comming up with
what i wanted - both in front - rear - sides - widths working motor size to my needs
length weight - being able to fit it in garage / storage area - alum - fibreglass -
flats - bass etc.
Sometimes the "big name" boys are not the answer to you needs.

Enjoy your hunting trip............keep me posted here or on my e-mail

I hear ya but for this next one I can't be too picky. Completely limited by garage size and I only expect to keep it 4-5 years until we move. On top of that I am beyond unqualified to vet a used boat, so I have to rely on one dealer I have complete trust in. Gonna be a tough wait, but exciting nonetheless!

Go for it my friend......enjoy your hunt

I've had new boats, I've had used boats. Have had flawless performance on both sides and have had catastrophic failures on both sides. Most memorable was my last new boat, dealer was taking me out for a shakedown cruise about 1/4 mile out, heard an odd sound almost a buzzing, then a big crack and motor is running and boat is slowing down.

Dealer stopped motor went to the back and fiddled around a bit, stands up, calls his shop for a tow, lost the lower unit. New motor next day and good for 3 years w/o a problem.

Currently fish with a buddy in a yard sale yacht that cost around 600 dollars, going on six years and other than routine maintenance, rebuilt the tilt trim, it always starts, gets us where we want to go, and is paid for. Sure we get some dirty looks, it is not a pretty boat. We have towed in several boats (that salvage rights alone would buy our boat, the truck we tow it with, our accumulated tackle and maybe even our annual tax bill and still be able to take wife out to dinner) that got stranded for various issues but we get to fish in comfort and thus far know that the yacht is gonna take us there and back.

Get what makes you happy and dont worry about anyone else.

Well said my friend. well said.

Sometimes i long to be back on river bank, ring of baloney, 6-pack of beer, cane pole
and bobber with worm on hook.

yea ha those were the "good ole days"

I'm also looking for another boat...Well...Kinda looking... I love my 17 ft Crappie Master but going into a smaller boat after having a larger one is hard to adjust to, harder for "Her" than it is for me to adjust. I'm still hoping she will get used to it but I am reminded every time we go out how nice the big boat was, especially the windshield in the winter time!!! Maybe I can buy my old boat back:Rofl

She likes a bigger boat and fishing with ya...now shouldn't we all have
that problem LOL

I'm excited to make the jump to glass. At least I'll be a little bit better off in fighting the wind.

This is true............Glass is a little more workable than alum.
Seems to ride water a little better. Bow are constructed slightly different
for wave action down here vs deep v set ups for northern lakes, bigger waves.

Weight i believe also has lot to do with it.............

How you find what you want - looking forward to updates on trip to find

I went from a 16' aluminum to a 17 1/2 bass boat and what a difference. Low back issues were the biggest reason and I find the slower reaction to wave action and a deeper V give me more comfort when the trip is over. Good luck with the rework, sent a PM.

Put Procraft up for sale - expecting it to take about 2 - 3 wks maybe to sell -
Sold it last night.... Now i am boatless for awhile....new owner says can have it
for another week to run tournament.
3 days on market. Going to good home.... One of the guys in FCC wanted it,
so will see at all future tournaments....
Happy & sad feeling to see it go.

That's about the same thing that happened to me. Congrats though, good times ahead!

Don't know for sure on that thought -Nate, still thinking positive -
Know to some extent whats ahead to looking my way ..
Depends on amount and how many bags i still have left in back yard,
used to dig them with a spade - now looks like i will need a "bobcat"
End result should be one heck of a boat...............will take pictures on
progress. Lots of behind scene things going on thats not cosmetically seen.
Wiring-gauges-equipment-connections.....
All takes time - once retired they say we have time - everyday is Saturday ! ! ! ! !
Since retiring in 2006 have less time avail than b-4 - UKN not enough time in day now

Continued progress on your new adventure in boating likes - dislikes - needs -
what you feel you can live with and without.

I have a 2010 nitro x5 in the classifieds for sale, I'm looking to downsize since I don't fish as much as I'd like too

Thanks for offer. I'm going other way - Pro-Craft was 18 1/2 ft, going to "Big O",
21 1/2 ft. Just got to decide how much personal time (work) i will do on it vs havin
it farmed out. Just age wise time has and is taking toll
on body since last rework operation. (knees, back, legs, hands commin into play
big time)

Thats a good deal Turfgrass, but I'm looking for something different. GLWS!

Felt like I was going through boat detox today. While I didn't expect to find a boat quickly, I thought I'd at least have looked at one or two by now. Then I went out for lunch and what does the fortune cookie read....

Attachment 199559

rotfl

So for you folks that have bought a few boats over the years...is there a typical "season" or something when there's more in the market?

Nate,

Usually end or March - first couple weeks in April when Yankees back home to do
their taxes - spend spring - summer in their home lands.

Usually good boats that are on market will go within first 2 - 3 weeks at most.
Just keep watching Craigslist and have faith in your Marinia ....
Hoppy's has and gets in petty good stuff..........

John Hill has his "Big O" up for sale - but you will have same problem as me,
Where to put it - its 21 1/2 long -on trailer and mtr attached somewhere around
25 ft. "yikes"

Have you somewhat settled on Make - Length - Mtr hp - trailer and what or how
you would like to see it rigged out ?
(Developed your shopping list)

I'm open to most brands so long as the condition is good - right now I'm digging the ranger intracoastal models (no carpet). Pretty set on a bass boat, preferably single console. My engine experience has been between a 90 hp Mercury Optimax and a Yamaha 150 four stroke. I liked both. On most 18 foot models, they're usually rigged with a 150 or 175. So long as the computer can be checked and it wasn't abused, I'm pretty open minded. Single axle trailer, with swing tongue of course.

I'm hoping the next one comes with at least one power pole and then I plan on adding a second - preferably will have a jack plate to make easier rigging of poles and transducer. I really want good boat control and positioning on those windy days. I probably won't go as crazy on electronics as I did on the last one. One decent side imaging unit at the console and the bow will be used for 2D and mostly mapping. As for the trolling motor, I'm guessing one with come with a cable TM. I'll get a Terrova and use a quick release set up to switch back when bass fishing.

However the next one comes rigged will definitely steer my decisions. Still got my SpyderLoks to go all around and the rods are all clean n ready!

On a positive note, my wife is really enjoying how clean the garage is :)

I echo many of your thoughts Tundah, sold my boat in Oct. 2014, looked hard for 2 months at inter-coatal skiff types but could never find anything without some kind of corrosion or had this, but not that. Dec 2014 decided to have one built, got put on a list & God willing will pick-up this Saturday, PATIENCE, can not be over-stated. Missed the heavy hitting part of the speck season, but got a master bathroom remolded, patio poured, as well as a few small projects, so there is a silver-lining. Hope you hold out for exactly what your lookin for, good luck! P.S. I was told before Christmas was the best time too look, everyone wanting extra $$$ around that time, etc....all I can say is it will happen when the time is right.

That's good stuff, please post some pics when you get her!! Funny you mentioned the projects, I just finished bringing the back yard to life and putting in a small shed lol

Have you seen the Blackjack 224 on thr Florida Sportsman classifieds?

There is also a very clean Action Craft 1820 that has been listed for a while that is not stated sold.

Thanks for the info but I'm leaning towards a bass boat, and I don't think either of those would fit in my garage.

I don't wanna jinx it, but I looked at my first potential candidate today. A 2007 Ranger 2000 bay boat. Will know more during the week.

Good luck. They're awful nice.

Seems there was a miscommunication...that boat was never for sale...pretty frustrating.

May be time to expand my search. Any dealers in the greater Orlando area that you folks could recommend that are honest and fair? Thanks!

Got to be a heck of story from, looking - taking pictures of a boat - to suddnely not
for sale -BUMMER. Duh ??????
Glad you have the "cool hand Luke thinking & patience" My fuze would already blown
at beginning of discussion regarding not for sale.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tundah

Seems there was a miscommunication...that boat was never for sale...pretty frustrating.

May be time to expand my search. Any dealers in the greater Orlando area that you folks could recommend that are honest and fair? Thanks!

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Nobles Marine treated me very well, and have heard great things about Florida Family Marine in Deland. Other than that buyer beware, keep your eyes open and be smart.

Thank you sir, appreciate it!

Nate - i too am still boatless - just standing on corner thumb out and holding
fishing rod - going into 2nd tournament as a rider.
Have attached a tentative picture of what new wrap will look like
will be scaled down compared to this Queen Mary. but general color and
lines will be there - ruby red (matching trk) grey & pearl........Still proably 3-4 wks yet
before i can pick her up and start rigging out with trolling mtr/electronics / rod holders
charging system etc. (Still thinking heavy about outfitting with new tandem axle
alum trailer) vs old single axle gavl. unit that is not the original - needs tires, bearings,
extension of balance on bunks, general pessure wash possible repaint
sAttachment 202084

Will be worth it

Stopped by Sonny's Marine in Orlando yesterday. They got a super clean used Skeeter Bay Boat on the lot. Super nice rig.