Just beginning a boat search for fishing bays and gulf off coast of AL and FL panhandle. Think I have decided on a GW Gulfstream 232 with twin OB 150's or 200's. Looking at 2010 or earlier, can't afford more. Appreciate some thoughts on any of these plans and specifically where to draw the line on age of boat. Thanks for your help
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Mustang65fbk
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I just did a cross country road trip for a 2004 GW 228 Seafarer that I bought back in Maryland, I'll attach the link to the thread below, and think it's more the condition of the boat that you should worry about as opposed to the year. Lots of guys neglect their boats, don't clean them, keep up on the maintenance and so forth. So... you could have a 2010 that's in worse shape than say a boat that's 10 years older and is a 2000 simply because of the previous owner. I believe that in 1998 is when GW switched over to using Greenwood as opposed to using marine grade plywood? Someone I'm sure can/will correct me on that later, but I guess the Greenwood is more resistant to rotting and is the better choice over the two. I also personally don't like any wood paneling or trim on my boats, and believe up until 2000 or so that the 232 still used wood in the cockpit areas? All just personal preference really. Other than that I can't really help out much with the 232 as I prefer the 228 over it since it has a transom bracket and no stair/step going into the cockpit, and I like the cabin design better on the 228 as opposed to the bunk bed style design of the 232. I do always recommend that any potential buyer call up a surveyor to have any boat that they're looking at inspected as well as do a sea trial run. I don't know about you but I don't know a ton about boats, so it's always nice to have another set of eyes look over the boat for you and especially a surveyor where it's their job and likely inspect boats on a daily basis.
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Finally a Grady White owner and finally got her back home safely...
For those of you that "know" me, I've been looking for a GW 228 Seafarer now for just over the past year. I live in the Seattle area and have a beach cabin on Whidbey Island here in the Puget Sound. For about 4 years, I'd owned a 21' Arima, that I also ironically bought in Maryland, and that...
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You are correct on 1998 and the use of Greenwood. I have been told by GW customer service that some of the 97 transoms had Greenwood, but everything else was plywood.
Thanks for your good information. The information about the Greenwood and paneling is what I was looking for. Any changes in boat construction, etc. that might make one more preferable over another. Good information to know.I just did a cross country road trip for a 2004 GW 228 Seafarer that I bought back in Maryland, I'll attach the link to the thread below, and think it's more the condition of the boat that you should worry about as opposed to the year. Lots of guys neglect their boats, don't clean them, keep up on the maintenance and so forth. So... you could have a 2010 that's in worse shape than say a boat that's 10 years older and is a 2000 simply because of the previous owner. I believe that in 1998 is when GW switched over to using Greenwood as opposed to using marine grade plywood? Someone I'm sure can/will correct me on that later, but I guess the Greenwood is more resistant to rotting and is the better choice over the two. I also personally don't like any wood paneling or trim on my boats, and believe up until 2000 or so that the 232 still used wood in the cockpit areas? All just personal preference really. Other than that I can't really help out much with the 232 as I prefer the 228 over it since it has a transom bracket and no stair/step going into the cockpit, and I like the cabin design better on the 228 as opposed to the bunk bed style design of the 232. I do always recommend that any potential buyer call up a surveyor to have any boat that they're looking at inspected as well as do a sea trial run. I don't know about you but I don't know a ton about boats, so it's always nice to have another set of eyes look over the boat for you and especially a surveyor where it's their job and likely inspect boats on a daily basis.
Finally a Grady White owner and finally got her back home safely...
For those of you that "know" me, I've been looking for a GW 228 Seafarer now for just over the past year. I live in the Seattle area and have a beach cabin on Whidbey Island here in the Puget Sound. For about 4 years, I'd owned a 21' Arima, that I also ironically bought in Maryland, and that...
Engine options for those years is another thing to watch out for. 2 strokes get bashed, but a well maintained set of ox66's or HPDI's could be less of a gamble than the 4 strokes. Most of the Yamaha 4 strokes up to 2007 (roughly) could have corrosion issues even if hours are low and are well maintained - 4 cylinder and V6 models. Counterbalances in the 4 cylinder 4-strokes is an other potential weak-spot. If you don't know how to check for these issues, find someone that can. If these issues have been addressed or are not present, you will be a happy owner.
Thanks for your input. I co-owned a Tiara 36 convertible once but still very much a boat novice
Mustang65fbk
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Sure thing. They also changed up the looks on a few of the models, or at least the 228's in 1998 as well. The previous 228's had a pair of cabin windows up closer to the bow as opposed to only on the sides of the boat. I'm not sure if the 232's are the same in that they had a change of style at the same time but I definitely like the newer style 228's as opposed to the older ones.
Summertop511
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2006+ has the better cabin layout and better cockpit layout. Also I think rounded windshield and cleaner look of one cabin window per side.