1996 Grady Marlin 30

mikehobson

New Member
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I have an opportunity to buy a 1996 GW Marlin 30 with twin 250's Yamahas, same year. Both show very low hours and run great. Fuel tanks have been cleaned. Carbs just rebuilt and one new power head. Full electronics including radar and auto pilot. No Gen or A/C. Hull is perfect and boat is clean except for musty cabin. Windlass and outriggers also. Took a sea trial and everything works and boat ran great. Without trimming consumed 28 gal per hour at 30 knots. I have a 24 ft center console so this is stepping up a bit but going from a 2002 to a 1996 seems going back.
the price on the GW is $18K. Any opinions?
 

fishbust

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
214
Reaction score
3
Points
16
Location
Long Island
18 is in interesting price. If it is what you say, it probably will not last long on the market.
 

Tuna Man

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Mar 11, 2005
Messages
536
Reaction score
7
Points
18
Location
Rahway/Waretown NJ
It sounds like a great price. Eighteen thousand is still a lot of money, I would suggest a survey as it could save you a ton of headaches (and money). Old outboard technology is obviously less efficient than current designs, however at almost one nautical mile per gallon,your not doing that bad.
 

qdiver

Active Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Age
63
Location
Hudson, FL.
Hey Mike, that's a great price on a Marlin 30.. as you described it sounds clean and a 96 is still a SV2 hull I believe (others can chime in on that being an SV2 hull as I am not 100% sure on the Marlin my 93 Seafarer is). Those older Yam. smokers are great motors, as mentioned above try to get a survey or at the very least do a compression check on the motors, even though you did a sea trial with twins you never know...you have any pics on it you can post ?
 

rsgandy

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
15
Reaction score
1
Points
3
mike,
you are going to spend a lot of money on this boat , but when you repower, new pumps, new frig, new batteries, possible new steering, add auto pilot, rebuild head, macerator, in the end you will have a great boat. If you have the ability to do some repairs you can save a little, but everything on that boat except the hull is old.
 

lapazbajasur

Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2012
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Two years ago I bought a 97 Marlin- with the same power package, and paid a lot more than the price you quote. We had the compression checked, removed the non-operational generator, had bottom units serviced, had our mechanic go through the boat, looked for water damage , checked bilges, tanks, and he gave it a good to go. The Yamaha fuel flow did not work and to repair it was too much cost, the gages worked for fuel and we uploaded the owner's manual from the Grady White website for our specific boat. The windlass and all other equipment was good to go. We replaced fuel filters and oil pumps, and all impellers.

Original parts are hard to come by and we had to replace the pump for the head, it was an easy process with the Jayco instructions- but expensive part. The boat is a gas burner with full tanks, and we had to replace the fuel lines which had become clogged, we repainted the bottom as it's in a slip year round here in MX. We had the boat hauled from Long Beach to BAja Sur and it's gets lots of use. The oil alarm works, and I complain about the fillers and the only way to see use is to put your head in the rear hatch and look at the tanks. My boat had low hours on both engines but somehow there was a water leak into the starboard motor head and had to have it replaced- lots cheaper here in MX than in the states.

The boat is a smooth ride and has brought a lot of fish up, as that's it's principle use as overnighting would be fun but usually too hot around the sea of cortez, but nice for island hoping ,picnicking on the beach and day trips to several close by islands that hold a lot of fish. for the price- if it checks out I would say go, but prepare yourself to fix all the things that have needed fixing by the previous owner.
 

mikehobson

New Member
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Thanks to all for the advice. There will be repairs I'm sure but the owner has
Kept all up but hasn't been used much over the past 3 years. I've put a couple of pics up but don't want to
Give up location just yet. :)
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    1.7 MB · Views: 1,929
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    1.7 MB · Views: 1,929