87 Sea Ray 250 Cuddy Fisherman

[Nate250]

Good Afternoon, I've been looking around at a few boats for the last couple years and most recently I went and looked at a 87 Sea Ray Cuddy Fisherman. I'm looking for any potential points of interest to be on the lookout for with this boat. It has a 350 with a Mercruiser outdrive and is in beautiful condition. Boat has 520 hours on the meter, and I have been told has never had any major work done on it. The engine compartment is immaculate and shows no indication of rot in any of the wood that is in view of the hatch. No weak areas in the floor that I could find. It is covered with a large custom made camper top so it safe to assume that most of the rain is kept out of the boat and therefore out of the bilge. Boat is normally put in the water and slipped until October when it is pulled by the marina, winterized, and stored indoors. The individual that owns it said that other than putting the boat in and out he probably only runs it 3-4 times a year, it is mostly used as a getaway at the slip. The interior is immaculate, the exterior is in great shape from what I can see (flashlight in a storage barn). The trailer looks like its new it a galvanized tandem axle trailer. The owner is only getting rid of the boat because he never uses it and is a lot of work for just him at 60 to take out. All the maintenance records for the boat are at the marina where it is stored only issue is they only go back two years since they switched over from paper to the computer so they didn't have record of any gambrel/engine alignment checks but the Marina was sure that they had checked it in the past but said that it could probably stand to be checked again.

Is there any notorious places for rot on these boats ?
Planning on setting up a survey, is there anyone in the Central Michigan Area that anyone would recommend ?

 

[Hollywoodman]

Good Afternoon, I've been looking around at a few boats for the last couple years and most recently I went and looked at a 87 Sea Ray Cuddy Fisherman. I'm looking for any potential points of interest to be on the lookout for with this boat. It has a 350 with a Mercruiser outdrive and is in beautiful condition. Boat has 520 hours on the meter, and I have been told has never had any major work done on it. The engine compartment is immaculate and shows no indication of rot in any of the wood that is in view of the hatch. No weak areas in the floor that I could find. It is covered with a large custom made camper top so it safe to assume that most of the rain is kept out of the boat and therefore out of the bilge. Boat is normally put in the water and slipped until October when it is pulled by the marina, winterized, and stored indoors. The individual that owns it said that other than putting the boat in and out he probably only runs it 3-4 times a year, it is mostly used as a getaway at the slip. The interior is immaculate, the exterior is in great shape from what I can see (flashlight in a storage barn). The trailer looks like its new it a galvanized tandem axle trailer. The owner is only getting rid of the boat because he never uses it and is a lot of work for just him at 60 to take out. All the maintenance records for the boat are at the marina where it is stored only issue is they only go back two years since they switched over from paper to the computer so they didn't have record of any gambrel/engine alignment checks but the Marina was sure that they had checked it in the past but said that it could probably stand to be checked again.

Is there any notorious places for rot on these boats ?
Planning on setting up a survey, is there anyone in the Central Michigan Area that anyone would recommend ?

Hi sir,my name is Jerry Hanlan and from Windsor,Ontario,Canada....As you see,my boat is a 1982 cuddy walkaround fisherman.It,s from Michigan,brought over many yrs ago,15yrs possibly. I have a new 4cyclinder in mine,and is great shape..Mine is too big for me,love to sell it,for a 19 or 20ft..Only had it in the water once,4 yrs ago. I,ve owned it approx. 6yr.Looking to trade down,excellent shape,and has extra motor,and electric downriggers.Please get back as soon as possible,thanks.Jerry Hanlan

 

[Roy C]

Well sir your on the right track 250 cc is a great all around boat I've owned 3
and am in the process of restoring an 88 cc now. being a fresh water boat
has you at a great advantage just by the lack of wear on the vessel caused by salt
if your concerned have a survey of the boat done all and all there a great all around
boat good luck post a few photo's when you get a chance regards roy c

 

[alanber]

CUDDY FISHERMAN , Fine boat , not common .
I wrestle with mine on what too do NEXT
Mine model is the SRV 21
1984
walk around , small cuddy cabin
Original engine was 488 mercruiser 4 cylinder
Alpha 1
21 ft perfect size boat , tows easily, fuel burn very little
RE -DO transom ?
BRIEF HISTORY
I am in central FL . Owing 20 years . Used often , Kept clean, covered at home
Great memories fishing with grandkids
Original 488 was like NELLY BELL Never trusting , Crossing fingers it would start off shore . SEA TOW too the rescue many times
Original engine was done . Covered boat until I made a decision on what I was going too do RE powering . Parts for these 4 cylinder engines scarce. expensive , manifold & risers if you could find insane. Rebuilding ?
Still need external parts
Boat not worth much . repair shop pricing on a old boat makes little sense which forces a weekend warrior too make own repairs. Learned a lot
In my fishing club a fellow member was selling his 3.7 Mercruiser .
Like new . My decision was easy . Drop in & go .
Engine had new Wagner bracket with alternator, electronic ignition, self contained cooling, 4 barrel Rochester, 17 hours on meter .
Little less HP then original
488 - 185 HP
3.7 -165 HP
Pulling old engine discovered soft area in transom plus in fuel tank cavity wood rotten
Pulled gimbal and wood in whole opening was soft .
Engine mount wood trash .
Always thought I kept boat in good condition, drain plug always out when at home, trailer tilted high so water flowed out.
A lot of work on a boat not worth more then 4 thousand ??
Right way is too cut floor , redo everything .

I am retired . Recent years I purchased a 31 ft twin gas guzzler 6 cylinder . My cheap water condo Owing a bigger boat I have a new appreciation on what a smaller boat offers which is why I consider at times re doing transom, KEEPING
Comments at boat ramp , NEVER KNEW SEA RAY MADE WALK AROUND ,
I refer too it as early Laguna cause first Lagunas had same body style, walk around, cabin bit larger, IO. Eventually going OB then center consoles .
While back saw 2 fisherman 4 sale on line
Both in excellent condition 8 cylinders fishing machines, towers. outriggers . Selling $ 12 & $ 14 thousand .

Few transom people I met were shady . Craigslist adds.
Boat refurbishing facility could be 5 thousand & up
I was considering tackling job myself cause I don't trust most in the marine repair industry , never did fiberglass work and don't want it too look like junk .

My fishing buddy is always saying you have virtually a new engine, spend the few thousand you will have a new boat .

Thanks for reading wanted too share my fisherman with others