Boat for under $10k?

[BurnMac42]

So I have a buddy that is starting to shop for boats....he found one on our local AF base in the lemon lot...dude was asking $3700 bucks but it was in pretty rough shape....I told him there are better boats out there for the money....

With that being said, I have only really paid attention to tow boats lately...he just wants a boat to get his family out on the water to tube, ski, wakeboard, etc....wakesurfing is NOT a must so if it has an outdrive, so be it....

I trust dudes opinions on this forum so what say you guys? Any specific companies/eras of boats I should point him to that would get him out on the water semi-reliably for $10k or under?

[rhoadsdj]

I think there are plenty of boats out there that could do what he's looking for at that price - however he should not be deluded into thinking the low price tag is indicative of low ownership costs over time. He should plan on having another $5k - $10k in reserve if and when isht happens.

At that price I think you're looking at early 90's tow boats - there are a bunch of old Ski Nautique's around that price. Just need to stay away from wood stringers and make sure it is given a thorough marine survey prior to purchase.

[boardman74]

If he goes into a regular runabout with an outboard or inboard/outboard set up you can buy quite a bit of boat for that money. I'd stick away from Bayliners and the like that are cheaply made and don't hold up over time. Better brands are: Formula, cobalt, sea ray, four winns, regal, and the like. Looking quickly in my area he should be able to get into a late 90's early 2000's 17-20 foot runabout for that range.

If he wants an inboard the price goes up drastically or you look 10 years older for the same money.

[Thegerman618]

Ahhhh, the lemon lot finds lol....what AFB? I looked for a while and almost bought and I/O as my first boat. The only thing I really remember was almost everyone I talked to said to stay away from the Volvo Pentas either mercruiser or nothing. Not much help tell your buddy good luck and always test drive before you buy.

[boardman74]

The New Volvo's are not a bad set up but parts and service is much more expensive. You can't go wrong with a mercruiser. Cheap parts and always a local dealer.

The ones to really shy away from are the OMC cobra set ups. They stopped production in the early 90's and most parts are no longer produced. Service parts are available but if something major happens parts are getting tougher and tougher to come by. But for 10K he should be able to get past those year ranges.

[IDBoating]

We started out with a Seadoo jetboat. Yamaha is another brand I would seriously consider. If he doesn't care about wakesurfing and truly "just wants a boat to get his family out on the water to tube, ski, wakeboard", a jetboat is a great family boat. We skied, tubed, and learned to wakeboard behind ours. Even jumped the wake a bit. And nothing is better for tubing than a jetboat! My wife is still angry we got rid of ours. Jetboats should be available in that price range including the trailer.

[Captainkurk72]

tow boats under 10K are out there. I see them more frequently in our area. I often see nautique and mastercraft in this category but here is one I just found that looks real good for the money. The second one not bad either with reconditioned interior and 454.

http://springfieldil.craigslist.org/boa/5418053669.html

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/boa/5401832049.html

[NICKYPOO]

^^^That '91 looks really nice.

They are out there. You might need to do a little polishing and some minor repairs but you can get a decent boat for 10k. He doesn't need to be scared of wood stringers either. If it's been properly maintained, it'll last forever.