Looking for opinions on this boat

El Capitan

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2014
3,828
Chicago IL./Vero Beach, Fl
Boat Info
1970 SRV 180 w 2.5L Mercruiser.
2000 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer
Engines
120HP Mercruiser
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1979 225 Weekender w 898(305) mercruiser.

Use will be in salt water intracoastal and near shore. Occasional trip to Bimini.
Mostly sandbars, family cruising wife and I, sometimes family members w 2 granddaughters tubing etc.
 
is it yours? Seems nice, but I would have to replace the fabric on the v-bunk. How far is Bimini? You're braver than me to take a 22' across open ocean.
 
What a piece of junk. As your friend, it's my job to stop you from making bad choices. I have failed you. I must take this garbage from you so your safe. :p:D

Great looking boat. Looks like a lot of fun waiting to be had.
 
is it yours? Seems nice, but I would have to replace the fabric on the v-bunk. How far is Bimini? You're braver than me to take a 22' across open ocean.

Im thinking of buying it. I’m scheduling a surveyor now.

Bimini is (can be) a safe run. I’d be lying if I said it was truly open ocean. More like crossing the Gulf Stream. Your only out sight of land for about 1 hr. Just have to go w other boats and have all your saftey stuff. I used to do it as a kid in my dads 17ft Mako.

I wouldn’t cross Lake Michigan for sure.

Uh, what’s wrong w that hippie fabric ma’an? It’s groovy.
 
From Ft Lauderdale (Haulover inlet) 110deg east. 44 nautical miles.

Most you guys go way further.
 
I say sold if she's sound.

I don't mind the berth pattern, but do not like that cockpit scheme.

Like the color, but I think it's safe to say you do as well. I'd be asking myself about canvas costs, because than brown makes me think of bruised bananas.
 
Im thinking of buying it. I’m scheduling a surveyor now.

Bimini is (can be) a safe run. I’d be lying if I said it was truly open ocean. More like crossing the Gulf Stream. Your only out sight of land for about 1 hr.
Ya, thats what the captain of El Faro said. I do like it, especially the price.
 
I say sold if she's sound.

I don't mind the berth pattern, but do not like that cockpit scheme.

Like the color, but I think it's safe to say you do as well. I'd be asking myself about canvas costs, because than brown makes me think of bruised bananas.

Yup. Thinking….yellow Bimini top
 
We owned a brand new 1979 260 Express that was a bigger version of this boat. The color is called Citrus. It has a very deep Vee, 26 degrees is memory serves. For its size, it handled Lake Michigan’s rough water very well. It was adequately powered but not a speed demon. When cruised at 3050 rpms, the engine is very durable. We put 4000 hours on the boat and the motor was sound when we sold it. It never burned oil. The build quality was OK and typical of boats from that era. The stringers separated from the hull in various locations because the tabs were too small. This did not seem to cause any problems but is not good. The color will fade if left outside uncovered. The plastic laminate fades as well. The hatch leaked and we got wet many times when thunderstorms moved in over night. Its hatch was a poor design. We enjoyed the boat for seven years and cruised it all over Lake Michigan. Also took it to the beach about every weekend. Should be good for what you want to do with it assuming it is mechanically sound and well cared for.
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Last edited:
We owned a brand new 1979 260 Express that was a bigger version of this boat. The color is called Citrus. It has a very deep Vee, 26 degrees is memory serves. For its size, it handled Lake Michigan’s rough water very well. It was adequately powered but not a speed demon. When cruised at 3050 rpms, the engine is very durable. We put 4000 hours on the boat and the motor was sound when we sold it. It never burned oil. The build quality was OK and typical of boats from that era. The stringers separated from the hull in various locations because the tabs were too small. This did not seem to cause any problems but is not good. The color will fade if left outside uncovered. The plastic laminate fades as well. The hatch leaked as well and we got wet many times when thunderstorms moved in over night. Its hatch was a poor design. We enjoyed the boat for seven years and cruised it all over Lake Michigan. Also took it to the beach about every weekend. Should be good for what you want to do with it assuming it is mechanically sound and well cared for.View attachment 111521

You ran 571 hours per year?
 
We owned a brand new 1979 260 Express that was a bigger version of this boat. The color is called Citrus. It has a very deep Vee, 26 degrees is memory serves. For its size, it handled Lake Michigan’s rough water very well. It was adequately powered but not a speed demon. When cruised at 3050 rpms, the engine is very durable. We put 4000 hours on the boat and the motor was sound when we sold it. It never burned oil. The build quality was OK and typical of boats from that era. The stringers separated from the hull in various locations because the tabs were too small. This did not seem to cause any problems but is not good. The color will fade if left outside uncovered. The plastic laminate fades as well. The hatch leaked as well and we got wet many times when thunderstorms moved in over night. Its hatch was a poor design. We enjoyed the boat for seven years and cruised it all over Lake Michigan. Also took it to the beach about every weekend. Should be good for what you want to do with it assuming it is mechanically sound and well cared for.View attachment 111521

Thank you!
 
You ran 571 hours per year?
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It was our first brand new boat and we lived on a lake. We used it almost every evening for an hour or two. On week ends we would boat several hours per day. Boat went in the water in early April and was pulled in November. So yes, we put lots of hours on it. Even did a little fishing with it.
 
Im thinking of buying it. I’m scheduling a surveyor now.

Bimini is (can be) a safe run. I’d be lying if I said it was truly open ocean. More like crossing the Gulf Stream. Your only out sight of land for about 1 hr. Just have to go w other boats and have all your saftey stuff. I used to do it as a kid in my dads 17ft Mako.

I wouldn’t cross Lake Michigan for sure.

Uh, what’s wrong w that hippie fabric ma’an? It’s groovy.
58BEE5EB-628D-47AB-90ED-DC7E4912CDA8.jpeg

We crossed Lake Michigan in our 1979 260. We boated both sides of the Lake from Chicago to Mackinaw Island, and South Haven to Harbor Springs. Never had a mechanical issue of any kind and saw some heavy weather over the years we owned it. It was a decent sea boat, just small.
 

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