Newbie looking for trawler

The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

dave73

Newbie
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
4
Location
usa
Looking for a trawler in the 34-40 ft range looking to liveaboard mostly at a marina as a homebase could I find a good mechanically/good hull boat in the 25K range??
 
Welcome aboard. "Fairly good mechanical in the 25K range" might be hard to find. Look at Yachtworld.com for boats in your range. I would suggest a Gulfstar as a possible candidate. I feel they are the most undervalued boat on the market. Some for sale in Florida that might be near you. Your mechanical skills will have a lot to do with finding a boat in your price range. Good luck on your search.
 
Looking for a trawler in the 34-40 ft range looking to liveaboard mostly at a marina as a homebase could I find a good mechanically/good hull boat in the 25K range??

I would suggest that perhaps, (been there) spending more upfront if you can find a way to do so. Most boats you seek based on your description are going to need a lot of work. Boat parts, from paint, mechanical, comfort or about any category you choose are extremely high. For any labor that you choose to pay for is either at boat yard rates, ($75-$100+per hour) or perhaps luckily you have connections or never ending skills and time. Either way it is almost always better to buy a boat some fool like me has already done it all rather than joining the/my club.
Everything new, renewed, rebuilt, refinished or replaced on this one...yeah it is mine. I started in 2009, went in hi gear on refit mid 2012, completed 2013.

1982 Mainship I Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

It is in FL...Treasure Coast...
 
Last edited:
Looking for a trawler in the 34-40 ft range looking to liveaboard mostly at a marina as a homebase could I find a good mechanically/good hull boat in the 25K range??

Probably do better (with your budget) with a sailboat rather than a trawler. Also might look at houseboats.
 
The unspoken translation of "Restoration minded, hands on"= Open Checkbook and write, write and write some more..... Kindda like going into a speed shop for classic muscle cars and asking, "Uggg, what do ya think I need to make her faster, handle better and look better".
 
Kindda like going into a speed shop for classic muscle cars and asking, "Uggg, what do ya think I need to make her faster, handle better and look better".

My pat answer has always been "speed costs, how fast can ya afford to go?"
 
"an opportunity for the restoration minded, hands-on owner." Yeah, that fits the
" good mechanically/good hull boat " to a tee Bill!

I state by it George. IF the pictures are accurate it doesn't look to bad to me. Teak decks are gone, engine space doesn't look a mess, hull looks fine, interior not gutted, etc.

And if you could get it for less than $20,000 it could make a nice live aboard marina queen. Which is basically what the OP said he was looking for.

In his price range it would be worth a look over IMO.
 
Thanks for the advice ill be searching craigslist Florida area ....as well ass yachttrader/boattrader..
 
Thanks for the advice ill be searching craigslist Florida area ....as well ass yachttrader/boattrader..

Unless your planning to live online, don't waste your time looking online. Drive directly to where you plan to liveaboard and see what's already there, and buy from somebody praying for a guy like you to come along, so they can leave. If they've been allowed to stay there, then maybe they will allow you to be there too. If you think your just going to come rolling into a marina to liveaboard- on an old project boat your badly mistaken. They require proof of insurance and most of the boats you'll see on Craigs List couldn't pass a survey to get insurance. So.... The Counties and waterfront communities around the State have cracked down on derelict boats thinking about anchoring out once they've been booted or banned from marinas. Even in the Keys it's finished. Maybe down in Central America.. maybe.
 
I plan on having insurance on the boat or is that impossible on a 30 yr old boat??
 
I state by it George. IF the pictures are accurate it doesn't look to bad to me. Teak decks are gone, engine space doesn't look a mess, hull looks fine, interior not gutted, etc.

And if you could get it for less than $20,000 it could make a nice live aboard marina queen. Which is basically what the OP said he was looking for.

In his price range it would be worth a look over IMO.

Bill my friend, he said " good mechanically/good hull boat". when a broker in an ad says "an opportunity for the restoration minded, hands-on owner".....

C'mon man!
 
I plan on having insurance on the boat or is that impossible on a 30 yr old boat??


Insurance will entirely depend upon a insurance survey by an accredited marine surveyor ( recall the post about writing checks)??!!

Anything the surveyor finds will have to be addressed (or removed) to meet the insurers satisfaction. You MAY be able to get away with 'yessing' the insurance broker to death, pretending to complete the designated repairs. BUT if you have a claim and they come to do a post accident survey you're NOT going to be covered. This is why old boats are always cash deals, no financing, and usually uninsured.

Regarding then other comment about not looking online, I disagree. I looked for over 2.5 years for my boat, looked at over 2 dozen boats, really dug into 7 boats, settled on 4 boats, and successfully negotiated one. But I looked all over the east coast. From NC to Maine. Bought my boat in Ohio.
 
Are you still looking for a Prairie 29? We live on the West Coast of Florida and if we decided to purchase a larger boat, would you be interested. We have used this boat for months at a time and love her and will continue on her but if it is possible to buy a larger boat for full time live aboard then she would be for sale
 
Boat Insurance

I plan on having insurance on the boat or is that impossible on a 30 yr old boat??
We have our 1980 Prairie 29 insured through Progressive Ins. We have agreed value, liability, oil spill liability, medical payments, navigation limits within 75 miles of the coast of the US, no weather related or seasonal navigational limits. Although we had a survey when we bought the boat, the insurance company did not require it to be sent to them.
Hope this helps. Donna
 

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom