formula271

I'd like to stay 80-90 if this is possible.

Rippem

you're right there on a FW boat. Plenty to choose from. Beat the bushes a little harder.

it's gotta be a clean deal though (do you have to sell your boat first?) and you have to be ready to move quickly when the right boat appears for sale!

You can buy a nice, nice 312 and a trailer for well under your limit. Would you consider that? Plenty of those out there.

t500hps

Yeah, maybe mine!

formula271

The 312 is nice but it's not that much bigger than my 271. My wife wants more room in the cabin and an enclosed head. I might as well just make the jump to a 35 footer instead of going 4 ft. bigger then looking to upgrade next year.

formula271

I got an email back saying this boat sat at a dock from June -Sept. and had a fresh water flush at the dock. It was owned by an elderly couple who traded it in for a fishing boat, so it shouldn't be abused. I was told you can remove the bottom paint, has anybody ever done this or had it done?

Croozin2

I found my 89 311 in Gulf Shores, Alabama (salt water) and the damage wasn't readily apparent. This boat was rack stored and in excellent cosmetic shape. It was washed and flushed each time it was lifted but the salt still does it's damage. Some of the areas I had immediate problems with were circulating water pumps, exhaust manifolds, water transfer tube in transom assy. Any aluminum part typically takes a beating.

I'm in full agreement with everyone else on the bottom paint. If someone painted the bottom, it's usually because they left it in the water for extended periods. I would shy away from it. Like Rippem said, there are plenty of clean reasonable fresh water boats out there - be patient.

t500hps

Tell them you'll pay 75K with a fresh gelcoated bottom. They are a Formula dealer, they should be able to get it re-done.

Rippem

not worth that kind of $, and it doesn't have to be regelled anyway, depending on the bottom paint, just stripped off.

formula271

Rippem,
What do you think this boat is worth?

Rippem

I just meant it's not worth 5-6K to have them strip the bottom. It's an ugly job for sure, but if $ are an issue you move closer to the FW boat to spend the money on that salty one.

Hard to say what the boat's worth without seeing it. Consider that salt air/water also takes it's toll on everything from stitching to wiring in the boat.

Personally, regardless of the money, I don't want to be constantly chasing problems related to intense salt exposure.

I would feel better if it was a racked boat with a crazy meticulous younger owner. Problem is the older owners in terms of care is suspect, mooring in salt, and the fact that FW flushing DOES NOT get rid of all salt deposits in the drivetrains without "salt away" or another like product.

have you checked with Robert Nelems? He has deals cooking constantly. There was something cooking on a nice lift kept FW '00 353 trade not long ago. At the top of your price range, but if at all possible...he will hook you up with something!

Be patient, PM or e-mail Robert in the meantime.