Best all around boat for rivers and possible Bahamas

[denverd0n]

I would not even CONSIDER crossing the Gulf Stream in either of those boats!

[Miz Pea]

There is a 1970's Whitcraft 50 for sale on Craigslist Miami for $30k. Owner claims complete hull refit from 2010-12. If it was done properly, all of the stringers would have been scrutinized and replaced where necessary. If you talk to present owner, make sure he can email you copies of receipts for all the refit work done. Sometimes "complete refit" means only cabin refit.

The twin gasoline Chrysler 330's will be extremely expensive to run, though. I wonder what the cruising speed on this boat might be.

My family's marina in Florida had a Whitcraft 45 docked there in the 70's. I got to take a few rides. Beautiful boats, back then, and fast at full throttle. Narrow V-Hull vessel.

http://www.all-about-houseboats.com/...oat-manual.pdf

[NumberJohnny5]

Don't see the Whitcraft. Haven't read much about the brand tbh.

Looking at a mid 80s Uniflite and a late 70s Chris Craft Commander. The Chris Craft looks to be a bit higher quality (just from pictures, really hard to tell). Both are diesels, both have non-working generators (CC has a generator that needs a new rotor stater assembly, I'm told I should count on replacing the whole genset), the CC has an AC leak and the UNF has a few electrical gremlins (one of the engines can only be turned off from the flybridge). From what I've gleaned, both are ready to be lived in and can be...um...what's the verb for "driving" a motorboat?

Everything else being equal, both brands are fairly close in quality, no? I made a low offer on both, I expect they'll be within $4k-$7k in price.

Since I need a house first and a boat second, it "seems" like one of these would be a good deal. Live in it, let it pay for itself, use that "saved" money to fix it up for some cruising.

[slooper]

Try "Gibson's"

[rassabossa]

Honestly, I think you are better off getting a well taken care of houseboat on a lake. The salt air reeks havoc. I spent summers on my parent's houseboat when I was a kid and they are a bear to handle in the wind. On another note, you should take into account expenses such as the higher cost of boat gas, slip fees, 10-20% of purchase price for yearly maintenance (more with older boats), living expenses, etc for the amount of time you plan to be out and then figure out what you can afford based on that.