help deciding on which grady! (seafarer/overnighter)

[jc12]

Hey guys, i am upgrading my little bayliner CC and purchasing a walkaround. I fish in vancouver BC (similar to puget sound) and weather can pick up fast - that being said i tend to be more of a fairweather fisher. I will be using the boat primarily trolling for salmon and only have to travel between 2 - 10 miles to my spots. I don't go out often in more than 2-3' of chop. I have been searching for a long time in hopes to come across an older grady re powered and for about 20k. I have narrowed it down to these 2 local boats both being consigned by marina's. I will do the occasional overnighter but max 2-3 nights a year (5 foot ten in height) - what are your thoughts and opinions? I should note i will have a survey done etc etc and these conditions are assuming everything is A - OK on each boat.

1990 seafarer powered by twin model year 2000 yamaha F115's with under 500 hours on each (no kicker). It has electronics and a hard top, canvas, trim tabs and hydaulic steering, good condition tandem trailer. They reduced from 29k to 24k. Please please keep in mind this is a very fair price for where i live and i am not willing to purchase something from the east coast sight unseen for 15k though i wish i had the balls Grady's are few and far between here

1990 overnighter powered by a 2013 suzuki 150 4 stroke with 2.5 years left on warranty and then 3 more years on extended. Owner had it repowered by the marina selling it (spent 15k total on repower) and had to let it go right after for personal issues. Motor has 30 hrs on it, it has a yamaha 8hp high thrust kicker with electric start and remote throttle. NO hardtop but full canvas. Has electronics, newer tandem trailer, eletric downriggers (which i need). Asking 22k

Thanks guys!

 

[onoahimahi]

All things being equal, I would go with the Seafarer for the extra two feet, the twins, and the hardtop. Either that or take the boat with the best transom. Shoot for getting the boat at 20% or more less than asking price. The season is more than half over and those are almost 25-year-old hulls. There aren't a whole lot of people around ready to shell out over 20K for 25-year-old boats in that size range.

Good luck,
-Scott

 

[VeroWing]

Either boat will meet your needs of 2-10 miles out on relatively calm days. The Overnighter will be easier to launch and retrieve on your own, and will be more economical in all aspects. New engine with warranty is a real nice thing to have too. Plus, you'll keep a few thousand dollars in your pocket!

All that being said, and if both boats check out well with a thorough survey, I would go for the Seafarer. Having those twin 115s, which either of them alone should be able to run the Seafarer on plane if weather/water starts kicking up, or if one engine quits out in the blue, will be a priceless asset to have. I repowered a Seafarer with twin Tohatsu 115s, and could not have been happier with the performance. One important thing though, those twin 4 strokes on the rear of that boat may place the cockpit drains under surface of water, causing water to stay in cockpit area, and also lower notch in transom to be very near water surface. Not a good situation if stopping on a following sea. If you are looking at a Seafarer with engines on a bracket, with a closed transom, then you won't need to worry about notch, but cockpit drains could still be a problem. When I repowered my Seafarer, I rebuilt transom at same time and lifted top of notch area to accommodate added weight of twins.

Be extra sure to check transoms for water intrusion! Especially the notched transom models! You need to have a moisture reader, or temporarily remove screws holding transducer/trim tab. etc., and see if water comes out. You can also remove several screws attaching aluminum angle molding around transom notch area and push an ice pick like tool in hole to check for soft inner transom wood. If both boats/engines check out, you'll be happy with either, but probably happier with seafarer. I agree that prices on boat are at least 20% higher than around by me.

 

[Doc Stressor]

I've owned both of these pre-SV2 Gradys and also lived in Victoria for a year. So I'm familiar with both hulls and the fishing conditions in your area.

There is little difference in sea worthiness between 20' and 22' hulls. The Overnighter rides wetter but the Seafarer pounds a little more in a 2'-3' chop. The Seafarer obviously has more fishing space, but if you are typically running only 2 down riggers and carrying no more than 3 people, that is not an issue. The Overnighter with the 150 4-stroke and 8 hp high thrust kicker is the more typical Canadian trolling setup. Unless you are running offshore to Swiftsure Bank on the other side of the Island, there is no advantage to twin engines.

Assuming that both hulls are in good condition with dry transoms, I think the 20' Overnighter would be your best choice. The new engine with the warranty is a big factor. Plus, the 20' is more maneuverable for precision trolling and easier to launch if you ever want to put it on a trailer and chase the fish.

 

[jc12]

thanks for the well thought out answers guys, i had decided on the overnighter though just found out the warranty on the motor is not transferable to canada (boat is just an hour south of the border for me). Now i am deciding whether or not to purchase with no warranty.. to me the boat is worth much less now.

My other option is a 2001 gulfstream with an 01 yami 250 saltwater. Unfortunately there is no record of hours on the motor, it was just tuned up this spring, has a hard top nice kicker and all electronics and the price is 30k... Now to decide between the overnighter with new but no warranty motor, the 1990 seafarer or the 01 gulfstream.. any more opinions - i am looking for the best size/economy match, i'd hate to buy a boat a cant afford to take out Thanks again!

 

[Doc Stressor]

I had the same warranty issue in reverse when I bought a Silverstreak with a 90 Honda up in Sooke. The warranty was not transferable to the States.

I just figured that in the unlikely case that I needed a warranty repair, I could drag the boat back up to Canada. The warranty has to do with the dealers, not the country that you reside in. I was looking at a 2 day trip up from Reno. With 2 Suzuki dealers in Bellingham, I wouldn't worry about the warranty. You might want to contact them about your warranty concerns before you decide.

 

[onoahimahi]

For me now it is the a no-brainier: 2001 Gulfsteam. It's is a whole lot more boat and you can troll with your kicker to keep the hours down on the big V6. Plus the boat was built in the 21st century..! You would need a beast to tow it so you may want to consider keeping it at a slip or mooring. You would have to research that vintage motor to make sure it didn't have problems. And have it checked out thoroughly by a mechanic. It will obviously consume more fuel but since you are only cruising to spots 2-10 miles out, that shouldn't be a big factor.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

The Gulfy appears to be the boat of choice especially if you really do not plan to trailer the boat. If I did not want or need to trailer it is my boat of choice in the 22-23 foot range. If you need to trailer it any great distance then the seafarer is the choice. Good luck in your decision.

 

[Clockwork]

I have an overnighter and my dad has a seafarer. We fish regularly 50 miles offshore for tuna, halibut etc. We use my overnighter mainly because it has a very reliable engine yamaha 150 2 stroke. It is extremely seaworthy and it has never taken water over any part of the boat in very rough seas. However the seafarer is a lot bigger boat, slightly bigger beam and deeper with a lot more fish storage. All elsebeing equal id go seafarer. His seafarer just has some bugs we cant afford at50 miles out.

 

[Clockwork]

As for the overnighter vs gulfstream thats a hard comparison. Vastly different. I just bought a sailfish 25 slightly bigger than the gstream. First thing that came to my mind was how much bigger it is that overnighter. The overnighter is the best boat ive ever had. Its a very handy boat. Biggest 20 you can get but very easy to launch and handle. The gulfstream is a handful. Better onthewater worse inyour driveway and behind your truck.

 

[billyttpd]

Through a Sailfish in the mix to really stir the pot will ya LOL!!!. That said Im considering towing my 96 Adventure to Canada after investing in a for sale sign...I had no idea how uncommon they are in the PNW. as you described the Overnighter and Seafarer you were considering buying I would go Overnighter. mainly for the new engine and full canvas. In New Jersey where I boat I can not recall seeing a twin powered Seafarer, but all that weight for 235 HP?? Doesn't make sense to me. The Gulfstream is a great boat...that's the one I want to find here. but like someone else said that may be a lot of boat for a solo trip. Evaluate your needs and wants honestly and choose from there.

 

[gradyforyou]

Sure wish you would ride to SC and buy my boat. Boat prices are higher where you are for sure. I have a 91 228g, repowered with the F250 and could not be happier with it. I have yet to get water on the deck from scuppers too deep. Lots of negative talk about excessive weight for four stroke, I think it handles fantastic. Just my two cents. My boat is for sale, if you want to ride down.

Sure was nice to see someone who likes the older hulls.

 

[bayrat]

As mentioned , your requirements for style of fishing arent extreme so the Overniter would most likely fit the bill. The Seafarer and Gulfstream are nice boats but the engines are 12-13 years old. I wouldnt let the lack of warranty on the Overniter stop me...the other 2 boats have no engine warranty either and in the case of the Gulfstream its $8k more. I have a Seafarer myself and I think that the Gulfstream is awesome, but..for your particular situation I would vote for the Overniter with the newer engine.
Best of luck in whatever you decide.

 

[gradyforyou]

Maybe I am missing something here, but if pricing is that high in your area, why are you not looking at boats further away? By rough math, you could buy a plane ticket, hire a surveyor, pay transportation costs and still save some money. I am not trying to sell you my boat, but it doesn't seem like you have good deals around you.

 

[Doc Stressor]

He would have to pay a 12% PST (sales tax) on a used or new boat he imports from the US as well as an import tax on a trailer if he gets one. The tax is only 7% on a boat that is already registered in Canada.

Considering that Gradys cost almost as much on the west coast of the US as they do in Canada, importing is not always the best idea.