Cascade Crew

IROCDave · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:03 pm Post subject: Thinking about buying this...

I worked at a Carrera Boat dealer in Sacramento when I got out of HS and have always wanted to pick up a true SO Cal custom hot boat. These are not common in the PNW but pop up for sale every once in awhile. The gel coat work typically is superb and build quality is top notch. They usually have 7 colors and a tape shaded color blend in gel coat. The boats sell for nominal prices in SO Cal but usually raise when sold here.

I am seriously thinking about picking this up. http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/boa/2844767336.html

I talked to the owner tonight, has about 400hrs total on the boat, interior needs some TLC but no major scratches and power trane is solid. Trailer needs repainting, front seats need rebuilding and upholstry but the rest is good.
We had our income taxes done today it should get back almost enough to cover the asking price, atleast thats how I pitched it to my wife.

What do you guys think? Run or buy...

IROCDave · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject:

We camp in our travel trailer about 6 times a year and tend to stay local. This would be perfect for our camping spots, lake Chelan, the Gourge, Box Canyon and single day excursions on lake Washington.

It also has an old school BBC. Set of heads, raise the CR to 9.? / 1 and swap out the 21 degree prop to a 25 = 80MPH top end. Been in a similar boat with a stock 502 at that speed, evil handling but controlable with trim tabs and ballist in the nose...

QwkTrip · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:36 pm Post subject:

Do whatever floats your boat. Ha!

Okay, that was a bad pun. Laughing

iansane · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:59 pm Post subject:

Well if you do, I'll be happy to help test it out for you. Very Happy

Edit; he says he just brought it up here. Is it reg'd here yet? Sounds like most of the mechanical stuff has been gone through you'd just need to make it pretty.

And of course it matches your IROCs. Laughing

izcain · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:29 am Post subject:

There is a reason he is talking about replacing the gear sets in the ad. That Alpha I drive will never hold a healthy BBC they will blow out the gear sets all the time.
Pics also show a couple if things I would be leary about.

1. Missing the prop. Now this can be nothing but it could also be something...... Why is it missing did he strike something? Did he just "rebuild the drive" and thats why? I see all kinds come into the shop all the time saying it is rebuilt but if he did it himself unless he is a mercruiser tech he probably does not have all the special tools involved in setting up a alpha correctly.

2. That engine looks to be Raw water cooled and so I hope that he didn't run it in salt water. If so when it comes time for a rebuild then the engine is basically a throw away.

Just my .02

IROCDave · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:25 am Post subject:

The guy said he had a shop do all of the work and has receipts for every thing done to it since 1990. He has the prop, 3 blade SS 19 degree pitch. We used to run 21 - 23 degree props on boats with this combo.

I'm a little skeptical about the Alpha drive with the BBC also. We sold an almost identical line of boats, every one that had a BBC had a Bravo drive hanging off of it.

The guy claims it has bever been run in saltwater. You can usually tell if it has, the sacraficial zinc anodes along with the lower portion of the drive will show corrosion if it has. The boat and trailer have current WA tabs / registration.

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

I don't know enough about boats, but I know that one looks bad ass. If you get it can I be your friend??

IROCDave · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject:

I told the guy I would get back with when I had cash in hand. I figured not many people would be interested in buying it at this time of year and 10K is alot for a 23 YO boat. My plan included knocking the price down to 8K as long as nothing was seriously wrong with it. The guy emailed me yesterday and said he had some one give him a deposit and was holding it until 2/25/12. The other guy was waiting for his tax returns Rolling Eyes

The owner said he would let it go for a full price offer and refund the other guys money. The other guy must have got a deal on it. I'm not paying 10K for it.

So I found this one.
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/2813102221.html
I sold a couple of these back in the day. They were a great family boat, 24 degree deep vee, most had a HO BBC and Bravo drive, decent cuddy cabin with built in porta potty (usually have women on board and jumping in the water isnt a realistic option in their minds) and still small enough to to with a Tahoe. The base model started at 40K back in 1989. This is a great deal as long as there are no mechanical problems and the gel coat is decent.

It's in Nevada, which sucks but I have a 3 weeks of vacation saved up and a gas card just itching for a road trip.

izcain · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject:

I think that seems like a much better step. At least this way if something happens to the drive you can step to a bravo II or even a dual prop bravo III if you wanted.

IROCDave · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:00 pm Post subject:

I talked to the guys wife a couple days ago and she said she knew nothing about the boat and that her husband would not be around until next Wednesday. I called again tonight and guess who answered? Yep, the hubby. Boat was gone, sold it for 7K yesterday Evil or Very Mad

I'm so friggin pissed Evil or Very Mad

I was planning to drive the 1200 miles each way starting next Thursday Evil or Very Mad

Good thing they arent local, man I'm so pissed. That boat goes for 15 - 20 K all day.

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject:

That's too bad. Sorry.

izcain · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject:

that sucks man!

iansane · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:11 am Post subject:

Sorry dude. But I will say this, I loathe most all deep v captains. I'm not sure most people know what getting up on the plane is.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject:

Tunnel hull is best for rough water but you lose agilty at low speeds and valuable porta potty space for the wife Very Happy

The boat in the add gets on plane quickly for a 24 degree deep vee. It also pounds through waves well for it's length. Jumping big waves should be avioded though, to much weight on the back.

We sold them with a 23 degree prop, it would pull skiers out of the hole decently and still put it at 64 MPH at 5200 RPM. 21 degree would yank my anyone up, 25 degree would give you close to 70mph.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:36 pm Post subject:

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:46 pm Post subject:

Man I have the itch to get back into to boating. Just spent the last two hours searching Carrera and Eliminator on every craigslist on the west coast.

Found this, price is alittle high for my budget and my wife isnt a fan of open bows. I would prefer the open bow for my kids and their freinds.

http://www.performanceboats.com/boats-sale/95102-1994-24-carrera-viper-open-bow-family-performance.html

The gel coat looks decent but the interior was replaced and isnt up to snuff compared to the original coverings.

IROCDave · Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:25 am Post subject:

Man sometimes it sucks to be be OCPD Confused

Anyhow, I have my wife talked into buying a boat and the price limit has gone up. I found this one one in Arizona. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/boa/2830412842.html

Along with being obsessevice compulsive I am cheap. This boat should go for 28 - 32K in a decent market. The owner is going to send me more pictures and has offered to shrink wrap it and bring it to Utah if we purchase it.

25' should do well on Lake Washington, Sammamish, Chelan and the Columbia.

blue89 · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:01 am Post subject:

What is the class for open water boats versus fresh water? Is it yaght?

IROCDave · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:48 pm Post subject:

I think it starts with your tax bracket Very Happy

Lisa and I will be driving to Mesa on 3/8/12 to take it out for a spin and hopefully bring it back with us.

This wont go down as the smartest thing I have done, but I got it for a great price and have no doubt I can turn it for a decent profit up here if needed.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:25 pm Post subject:

Blue, I have no idea what classifies a boat as yacht. After reading my response above I didnt like the way it came across. I think a yacht has to displace a minimum of water, or tonage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displacement_(ship)

I have had way to many dad pops tonight to know for sure but that would be my guess.

Guess not, here is the definition of a yacht. 26' - ?'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht

I worked on a project down stream of the Ballard locks and watched Paul Allen's yacht cruise by once. I knew it was a yacht becuase it had a helicopter pad and the dingy was 40' long Very Happy