Gulfstream Hull Changes

[Mitragorz]

Hey all, first post here.

I've more or less settled on upgrading to a Gulfstream in the next year or two, from the 1978 MFG Caprice that I have now. It's a waterlogged old fishing boat, not too family-friendly for the wife and 2 young boys (4 and 2 right now), but perfect for me to cover with fish guts.

I think a Gulfstream will meet our needs pretty nicely, but I understand that there have been some hull layout changes over the years. I've read about the larger fishbox (came in 2006 I think?) but I'm curious about what other changes went on and when, of anyone has that info.

It would likely be used 65% fishing and 35% family, so a more fishing-friendly layout would be what I prefer (the wife doesn't have to know there were other configurations )

 

[Ted R]

I have a 2004 Gulfstream and in 2006 they replacement the rear seat about the bilge area with a fish box. I the cabin they moved the head and installed a small stove. Other than that I am not aware of any hull changes. Great boat, I would highly recommend it.

 

[magicalbill]

Agree with Ted; I had an '07 Gulfstream and it's the "biggest" 23-footer out there.

Digressing for a minute..

I had a 1974 17' Super Caprice during my late teens, early 20's. I haven't seen any MFG's in 25 or more years, and I'll wager you might have the last one. It was a fun little rig with a 135 Johnson, and was a perfect platform for a kid growing into boating. I recall vividly mixing 50-1 fuel in my red six gallon tanks. Ah..youth. I wish I still had that thing..I'd hang it in the rafters of our barn or something.

It goes without saying that the difference between your Caprice and a future Gulfstream is not describable. You will enter another Universe.

 

[Bird Blaster]

Tagged for interest.

 

[Mitragorz]

Thanks for the info, guys. Any particular things to watch out for on this boat? Common problems, years to watch out for (looking at 2006+ based on the fishbox, but really not necessarily excluding any years).

Agree with Ted; I had an '07 Gulfstream and it's the "biggest" 23-footer out there.

Digressing for a minute..

I had a 1974 17' Super Caprice during my late teens, early 20's. I haven't seen any MFG's in 25 or more years, and I'll wager you might have the last one. It was a fun little rig with a 135 Johnson, and was a perfect platform for a kid growing into boating. I recall vividly mixing 50-1 fuel in my red six gallon tanks. Ah..youth. I wish I still had that thing..I'd hang it in the rafters of our barn or something.

It goes without saying that the difference between your Caprice and a future Gulfstream is not describable. You will enter another Universe.

Yeah, the boat is a big one. I like to trailer, but I can get a year-long oversize permit for a pretty reasonable price.



To digress even more:

The MFG is a 1978 that my grandfather bought sometime in the 80s. I've been fishing on it since I was 5. Sometime around 2009-2010, He wound up selling it... He was getting old, and I was out of state pretty often and wasn't able to go out as often as we used to. He sold it to a local guy who used it as a water-skiing boat in Upstate NY. WInter 2018, I heard through the grapevine that he was looking to sell it. So I showed up to his house and told him I wanted it.

He told me he had it listed for $5,000, but he'd give it to me for $3k. That was a hard sell to the wife. The boat just wasn't worth that much, but the motor was a 2006 Johnson 90, an upgrade from the old 90hp Merc tower of power that my grandfather had on it.

I offered him 2500 and we settled on 2800. Basically got a good deal on a motor with a hull attached to it. I'm a sucker for the sentimental stuff. But we took it out for a spin, and it ran and floated so it was a step in the right direction.

Come springtime, I started sorting out the issues. It was kept outside, uncovered, for a long time, and the bilge was full of what was now compost and little saplings. The in-hull fuel tank was shot, he was using a portable 6 gallon.

Long story short, I got the old girl sorted out somewhat, good enough to cover in fish guts. It's not family-friendly, though, not with 2 little kiddos. That's the reason for wanting to upgrade.











And the day I brought it home, Spring 2019.

 

[magicalbill]

Great story!

I'm confused about one thing; Are you going to keep the MFG after you get your Gulfstream? I'm assuming so, although you said "upgrade," so I wasn't sure.

I relate; I would buy my old one back if it still even exists.

Good luck in your Gulfstream quest: You mention trailering- you'll come in around 8000-9000 lbs, depending on how much fuel you keep in your tank, whether it's twins or a single and how much gear you pack aboard. Mine was 10,100, but that was with twin 200's and full fuel. I have a Cummins Diesel Dually, so I didn't care.

By the way, "MFG" stands for Molded Fiber Glass. They were made in Union City PA, if I remember correctly. Thanks for the pics..I looked at that steering wheel and helm shot and it all came back to me.

 

[Mitragorz]

Funny, it was the steering wheel that brought me back in time also.

I’d keep the old MFG. Wouldn’t be worth selling anyway.

A truck is in the cards also. The boat is probably in the two year plan, a gently used pickup maybe next year. My 1500 just can’t do it. I admittedly tow a 10,000lb+ skid steer trailer (yeah, yeah, I know...) maybe twice a year but for how often I’d be towing the boat, I wouldn’t consistently push the envelope like that.

SRW one-ton is what I’d like, but I could also get away with a 3/4 ton. I just don’t have a need for a dually.

I’d like twins, 150s likely. But wouldn’t turn a boat down if it was a good price with 200s.

 

[magicalbill]

Your correct in your assessments & plans:

A 3/4 would pull it in fine form. Gas? Your 10 MPG or lower. Diesel? 11-13 most likely.

150's are a good combo, 200's are better. MIne got me a 30 MPH cruise at 2.0 MPG, revving approx 3700-3800 RPM.

Twins are a wise choice on that widebody hull. It'll make it much easier to horse around a dock on a windy day.

I'm curious now, keep me updated on what you find!

(It's a shame that old MFG's don't have the insane value of the muscle cars we used to drive in the late 60's, early 70's. We either wrecked them or got rid of them and moved on...Who would've ever thought?

Anyway, good luck in your search!