Buying a used boat

[AKPirate]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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Would make a good WFF hunt boat

[Eric Haynes]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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It's too small man. You need at least a 52' for what you want.

[AKPirate]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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It's too small man. You need at least a 52' for what you want.

Too small for Devil's Lake?

[Eric Haynes]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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It's too small man. You need at least a 52' for what you want.

Too small for Devil's Lake?

Yeah, Devil's lake has like 2' rollers. Death trap I tell ya.

[Tiler_J]

Well, im positive my uncles boat is bigger than 18ft, it's wide, and has a big motor off the back and he still has some sketchy stories about skating the boat up and down waves sideways just to run back to the ramp

Is your uncle a pussy?

Wouldn't that make him his Aunt?

[Woody]

Found a 17' deep v crestliner for $6800. Gonna go take a look at it in about an hour.

Did you buy it?

[Woody]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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That looks pretty sweet.

[3legged_lab]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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That looks pretty sweet.

X2. Nice boat

[waterfowlman]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

[sws002]

Well, im positive my uncles boat is bigger than 18ft, it's wide, and has a big motor off the back and he still has some sketchy stories about skating the boat up and down waves sideways just to run back to the ramp

Is your uncle a pussy?

No shit. We had our 17' Sylvan in plenty of nasty shit without fear of getting REAALY wet. Hell, we had the rentals at Devil's Lake out in 4 footers, granted we never left our bay, but thinking a 17 footer can't get it done is crazy talk.

[Tiler_J]

Well, im positive my uncles boat is bigger than 18ft, it's wide, and has a big motor off the back and he still has some sketchy stories about skating the boat up and down waves sideways just to run back to the ramp

Is your uncle a pussy?

No shit. We had our 17' Sylvan in plenty of nasty shit without fear of getting REAALY wet. Hell, we had the rentals at Devil's Lake out in 4 footers, granted we never left our bay, but thinking a 17 footer can't get it done is crazy talk.

I went fishing up near Alaska in the ocean, we were supplied with 17 foot aluminum boats with twin 15 hp motors. We went out fishing one day in 7 foot swells. It was awesome!

[sws002]

Well, im positive my uncles boat is bigger than 18ft, it's wide, and has a big motor off the back and he still has some sketchy stories about skating the boat up and down waves sideways just to run back to the ramp

Is your uncle a pussy?

No shit. We had our 17' Sylvan in plenty of nasty shit without fear of getting REAALY wet. Hell, we had the rentals at Devil's Lake out in 4 footers, granted we never left our bay, but thinking a 17 footer can't get it done is crazy talk.

I went fishing up near Alaska in the ocean, we were supplied with 17 foot aluminum boats with twin 15 hp motors. We went out fishing one day in 7 foot swells. It was awesome!

Okay, fuck that noise, that's just crazy talk. Any time you are in waves approaching half your boat's length, I'm fucking out!

[3legged_lab]

Depends on the frequency of the rollers.

[Tiler_J]

Well, im positive my uncles boat is bigger than 18ft, it's wide, and has a big motor off the back and he still has some sketchy stories about skating the boat up and down waves sideways just to run back to the ramp

Is your uncle a pussy?

No shit. We had our 17' Sylvan in plenty of nasty shit without fear of getting REAALY wet. Hell, we had the rentals at Devil's Lake out in 4 footers, granted we never left our bay, but thinking a 17 footer can't get it done is crazy talk.

I went fishing up near Alaska in the ocean, we were supplied with 17 foot aluminum boats with twin 15 hp motors. We went out fishing one day in 7 foot swells. It was awesome!

Okay, fuck that noise, that's just crazy talk. Any time you are in waves approaching half your boat's length, I'm fucking out!

Haha! My Dad had to stand in the front of the boat holding on to the bow rope to keep some weight in the front otherwise we would launch off the top of the waves. I stood in the back driving, it was a little scary/thrilling pulling up on a wave and seeing it over the top of my Dad's head. Thank god for rain gear!

[sws002]

Haha! My Dad had to stand in the front of the boat holding on to the bow rope to keep some weight in the front otherwise we would launch off the top of the waves. I stood in the back driving, it was a little scary/thrilling pulling up on a wave and seeing it over the top of my Dad's head. Thank god for rain gear!

Fuck. That. Shit.

[Bulldog0156]

Bunch of big ole swinging dicks in this thread.

[Tiler_J]

Haha! My Dad had to stand in the front of the boat holding on to the bow rope to keep some weight in the front otherwise we would launch off the top of the waves. I stood in the back driving, it was a little scary/thrilling pulling up on a wave and seeing it over the top of my Dad's head. Thank god for rain gear!

Fuck. That. Shit.

Haha! Back then I knew almost nothing about boats and thought it was fun. My dad knew even less about boats. Ignorance is bliss! Not sure I would try it again now. Maybe.

[RonE]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

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Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.

[RonE]

Depends on the frequency of the rollers.

You guys need to listen to tripod. The period and length of the waves has a lot to do with weather it is a fun ride, a rough ride or a "victory at sea" adventure.

[Feelin' Fowl]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

PICT0061.JPG

PICT0034.JPG

PICT0059.JPG

Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.

That would be a sweet ass trip!

[GadwallGetter530]

RonE has a used boat for sale. Maybe you're interested.

[Bootlipkiller]

[Woody]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

PICT0061.JPG

PICT0034.JPG

PICT0059.JPG

Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.

That sounds like a sweet trip, but if you leave the Great Lakes at the Ohio River, you are missing the best part of the lakes. You wouldn't regret going up into Huron and through the Mackinaw Straights.

[FlintRiverFowler]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

PICT0061.JPG

PICT0034.JPG

PICT0059.JPG

Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.

That sounds pretty cool.
How long would that trip take?

[waterfowlman]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

PICT0061.JPG

PICT0034.JPG

PICT0059.JPG

Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.

Yup. That's the correct way to do the loop. I've done it several times and with the Mississippi current running 5 knots, it's nice to have it on your stern when you're heading south down the Tombigbee waterway in the fall. Not only that but there is an enormous amount of trees and trash coming from the Missouri,Illinois, Ohio rivers and dumping into the Mississippi in the spring. If you would like some local knowledge on the subject, I could probably help you avoid a few common mistakes some folks make on that trip. Some beautiful heartland scenery and some dreary boredom involved but definitely a great trip.

[RonE]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

PICT0061.JPG

PICT0034.JPG

PICT0059.JPG

Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.

Yup. That's the correct way to do the loop. I've done it several times and with the Mississippi current running 5 knots, it's nice to have it on your stern when you're heading south down the Tombigbee waterway in the fall. Not only that but there is an enormous amount of trees and trash coming from the Missouri,Illinois, Ohio rivers and dumping into the Mississippi in the spring. If you would like some local knowledge on the subject, I could probably help you avoid a few common mistakes some folks make on that trip. Some beautiful heartland scenery and some dreary boredom involved but definitely a great trip.

Thanks for the kind offer. If we do buy the boat, we will surely become new best friends.

Flint....The trip can be done in around six months if you go from one bar to the next and only look at your self in the mirror behind the bar. I am thinking it would take us about 18 to 24 months (two or three years with time out during duck season) maybe longer. There is a lot to see and do along the way, lots of history, events, museums and wonderful places. We would take some kind of motor scooter (not a Harley) for close by transportation and a dinghy for fishing and shore trips.

Some people spend years getting the boat ready for the loop and never go, some go after a long preparation period. The time to get the boat ready, unless you are working is a very expensive time because boats basically cost the owner money if it is traveling or tied to the dock. We are looking for something that is pretty well kept and would leave very soon after we purchased it and do all of the fixing, modifying and planning on the way...seems like that never gets done even when the trip is over. As Captain Ron says: "What the hell, if something is going to happen, it will happen out there."

[3legged_lab]

I took a second look today with a marine engineer friend of mine at a boat that my wife and I are thinking about for making the "Loop". 42' Grand Banks Trawler, twin diesel. Two bedrooms, two baths and two salon doors. Don't know how, when or what, but this is pretty much what we want and it is in pretty good shape. Main cabin (stateroom) in aft trunk cabin and v-birth with separate head and shower.

PICT0061.JPG

PICT0034.JPG

PICT0059.JPG

Grand Banks are good sea keeping hulls and have lots of interior volume for their length. 42' is just about the perfect length for two people to handle and cruise long distances on.

"The Loop"....are you refering to the great lakes via the Mississippi?

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.

Yup. That's the correct way to do the loop. I've done it several times and with the Mississippi current running 5 knots, it's nice to have it on your stern when you're heading south down the Tombigbee waterway in the fall. Not only that but there is an enormous amount of trees and trash coming from the Missouri,Illinois, Ohio rivers and dumping into the Mississippi in the spring. If you would like some local knowledge on the subject, I could probably help you avoid a few common mistakes some folks make on that trip. Some beautiful heartland scenery and some dreary boredom involved but definitely a great trip.

Thanks for the kind offer. If we do buy the boat, we will surely become new best friends.

Flint....The trip can be done in around six months if you go from one bar to the next and only look at your self in the mirror behind the bar. I am thinking it would take us about 18 to 24 months (two or three years with time out during duck season) maybe longer. There is a lot to see and do along the way, lots of history, events, museums and wonderful places. We would take some kind of motor scooter (not a Harley) for close by transportation and a dinghy for fishing and shore trips.

Some people spend years getting the boat ready for the loop and never go, some go after a long preparation period. The time to get the boat ready, unless you are working is a very expensive time because boats basically cost the owner money if it is traveling or tied to the dock. We are looking for something that is pretty well kept and would leave very soon after we purchased it and do all of the fixing, modifying and planning on the way...seems like that never gets done even when the trip is over. As Captain Ron says: "What the hell, if something is going to happen, it will happen out there."

That sounds like an awesome trip Ron. Do you even figure out a budget for a trip like that, or is it a "if you have to ask, you cant afford it" scenario?

[RonE]

The Loop from my house would be to head north on the ICW and stay in the ditch until either crossing Florida through the swamp or via Key West and then continuing north in the ditch up to the Chesapeake Bay and from there to the Hudson River or the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway and the Canadian canals and locks to the Great Lakes and then south on the Tom Tom, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers until you get to the ICW where you turn right and stay in the ditch back to Rockport, Texas. Park the boat wherever you happen to be in late September and fly home for early teal season and return to the boat after duck and goose season is over and continue our trip.[/quote]

Yup. That's the correct way to do the loop. I've done it several times and with the Mississippi current running 5 knots, it's nice to have it on your stern when you're heading south down the Tombigbee waterway in the fall. Not only that but there is an enormous amount of trees and trash coming from the Missouri,Illinois, Ohio rivers and dumping into the Mississippi in the spring. If you would like some local knowledge on the subject, I could probably help you avoid a few common mistakes some folks make on that trip. Some beautiful heartland scenery and some dreary boredom involved but definitely a great trip.[/quote]

Thanks for the kind offer. If we do buy the boat, we will surely become new best friends.

Flint....The trip can be done in around six months if you go from one bar to the next and only look at your self in the mirror behind the bar. I am thinking it would take us about 18 to 24 months (two or three years with time out during duck season) maybe longer. There is a lot to see and do along the way, lots of history, events, museums and wonderful places. We would take some kind of motor scooter (not a Harley) for close by transportation and a dinghy for fishing and shore trips.

Some people spend years getting the boat ready for the loop and never go, some go after a long preparation period. The time to get the boat ready, unless you are working is a very expensive time because boats basically cost the owner money if it is traveling or tied to the dock. We are looking for something that is pretty well kept and would leave very soon after we purchased it and do all of the fixing, modifying and planning on the way...seems like that never gets done even when the trip is over. As Captain Ron says: "What the hell, if something is going to happen, it will happen out there.
"[/quote]
That sounds like an awesome trip Ron. Do you even figure out a budget for a trip like that, or is it a "if you have to ask, you cant afford it" scenario?[/quote]

Anyone can do this, it is a matter of what are you willing to give up. We are not willing to give up our home here in Rockport so we cannot afford to leave the boat at the dock for long periods of time eating dock fees, insurance and maintenance costs. We can reduce our current living expenses and rent a couple of rooms to offset some of the trip costs but we want something to come home to at the end of the trip so we are not willing to just sell everything and move on to a boat that is smaller than our kitchen.

I have figured fuel and oil at $7 per gallon, 600 gallons for about 900-1000 miles comes to about $4.5 per mile. I'm guessing that the trip is around 3,000 miles, maybe a little more but spread out over a couple of years it would probably be about $7-10,000 per year in fuel, oil, filters and minor maintenance. Dockage is variable from free to $2 per foot so, 0 to 84 per night but figuring $1/foot it comes about $10,000 a year (8 months and probably $400 per month for 4 months out of the water. Food and alcohol are about the same no matter if you stay home or go cruising. Transportation costs are less because we would not be driving mindlessly ever day as we do now and we could cancel or reduce the insurance on two cars while we are gone. Just imagine how much you could save if you didn't drive two cars a total of 15-18,000 miles a year. Mortgage and taxes on our home would stay the same but we could rent a couple of rooms to offset that somewhat and have someone here to cut the grass and keep up appearances. Insurance on the boat would take up the reduction on automobile insurance. We would probably finance the boat so that we don't have to take very much money out of savings.

We figure that we can afford the boat and the trip and to come home during duck season but my wife has some health issues that are not life threatening but I take her to Houston once a month for a drug infusion that keeps her feeling well most of the time. We are looking into doing the infusions ourselves, they only take an hour and I'm not afraid to stick a needle in my wife's arm (she is, I'm not).

The biggest issue from my viewpoint is the fact that there can be only one captain and the crew must sometimes act fast and or help out to avoid accidents in docking and entering and leaving locks. I think that I can single hand the boat but I worry about my wife's ability to help in an emergency. I also worry about her comfort. When she isn't comfortable it is a bitch but she at least isn't bitchy.

My head is about to explode trying to make this thing work from the physical stand point, not necessarily the financial stand point.

On the other hand, I still want an airboat, more shotguns, more hand guns, a hot rod and many other things that wouldn't fit on a boat so we will just have to let things work themselves out.

[3legged_lab]

No joke its a big step to pull the trigger on a trip like this, but it sounds like you've already got most of the details worked out. I'm excited for you guys, sounds like a blast.

[Feelin' Fowl]

Would you buy it, make the trip, then sell it to recoup some money?

Or keep it for short vacations?