Oh No! Another New Guy!

[stray current]

New to the forum anyway,recent purchaser of a 2003 Marlin and previous owner of a sandy victim 2000 gulfstream,yes Gradys are breakable if only by Mother Nature!
I'm currently docking in the Ocean City NJ area,we lost a house in addition to the boat to sandy and sorta vagabonding for now,the Great bay area is disappointing for now and I don't know if we'll ever go back,I try to keep looking forward.Most of the Jersey shore is still in cleanup mode and getting better,Mystic islands seems like it'll be a while if ever.
Our plan is to use the boat for fishing and cruising,I'd like to say with a balanced approach but we'll just have to see,we're just starting ti figure out what we bought.We is my Mrs and me,she is co-owner and co-pilot, first mate and crew.She'd rather cruise and sunbathe and I'd rather fish,I just gotta figure out how it all works.
I could go on for quite a bit but don't want to bore anyone this early as well as losing the caffeine buzz.I'd like to thanks the participants here for a wonderful education as well as what seems like a no harassment attitude towards others.I've been on other forums where I know some others use it for a bully board but so far haven't seen it here.I've gotten some terrific info from people I wouldn't otherwise meet and it's always a boost to hear from others rather than sales rhetoric,bare numbers or what they want to sell;nothing beats 'real time' results.
I'll be around,thanks again!
Ron

 

[Tucker]

Welcome to Great Grady. Unlike many forums this is a very polite and courteous crowd. 03 Marlin eh? I'm really jealous. Be nice to stretch out in the bunks. Did your insurance company do a good job with your claim? Really sorry about your house.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Welcome to the forum and sorry about your losses. I am a native Floridian and experienced a hurricane or two in my short time on the planet. While the nation forgets due to the 24 hour news cycle, it takes a long time to recover. I recall many homes a year after the storm hit still repairing the roosfs and so forth.

Here is an idea. Ask your wife if you can invite a friend of hers or yours to go along on your fishing trips. She can get sun, while you and your buddy fish. If your friends are cool they will gladly offer to help pay for fuel and bait maybe. As you know crewing a fishing boat with two people while spacious means one guy drives while the other rigs bait and so forth if trolling. If you are a bottom bumper she can still do the sun thing while you fish too. This is one of the most polite and nicest forums I have ever been on the internet anywhere. I would like think there is something special when a group of folks appreciate the same thing and in this case, the quality of a Grady. I do get Grady envy from time to time though (lol)....but as a small business owner, I can appreciate what it takes to buy and operate a bigger boat like a Marlin. Maybe one day we will be able to move on up to that delux helm seat in the sky......

 

[mboyatt]

Welcome to the forum, Ron! Like smokeymtngrady, I too grew up in Florida and have been through several hurricanes. Hurricane Andrew completely decimated my home in 1992. House, vehicle, and all other belongings destroyed. In the aftermath of the hurricane, my 21 foot Mako got stolen. I left Florida for the carolinas 2 years later. Anyway, welcome and happy boating. This is a great forum with folks who are willing to exchange information without being condescending or hateful. I purchased a Grady 192 Tournament about a year ago. It was between a Boston Whaler Outrage and a Grady Tournament. I am glad I got the Grady White. I truly love the boat. It needed work, but is really a quality built boat. Have fun on the water this summer!

 

[stray current]

My storm anger is currently directed towards public officials and lack of coherent information from those allegedly in the know;if there's anything positive it's bipartisan anger.
I didn't set out to buy a 300.In '11 I sold a SeaRay 270 sundancer to but a Grady 265 in the marina I used.It was an estate sale and they were hesitant and expected top dollar plus and we couldn't after several stumbles close the deal. Istarted looking more and found a 282 that was as good or better for my 'needs' and again no deal either they wanted too much or I offered too little.Between travelling back and forth the 232 waved a few times and between exasperation and frustration I had it surveyed and bought it.Unfortunately my wife had major health problems and we didn't get to use it much before Sandy ate it.
The insurance co wasn't too bad to deal with,I had agreed value insurance and I don't know if they found everything yet but I got my check and went shopping.....and that 282 is still for sale.
Around here I didn't see many 265s for sale this time and after some knee surgery maybe an express is not for me anymore...not many 232s for sale either. I found the 300 from a real estate listing and a 'distressed' buyer,I risked some $$$ and time to get it cleaned and dewatered fuel as best I could,had it surveyed and engines checked and got what I felt was an exceptional price.
Some things I learned-in a given year there is overlap between prices,if you want a bigger one (and who doesn't?) it may not be much more money;there is no shartage of 282s 265s or anything else except ones for sale;some pricing is ridiculous so don't feel bad by making an insulting offer,you know,the one you'd fight the guy who offered you that about,there's a lot of good boats for sale no matter who made them and I guess by the same token bad ones.One other thing-have you noticed you have more water this year? I live and boat in NJ,cross the bridge to PA twice a day for work and don't see many boats anywhere anymore,in the Delaware for many years you could almost cross the river on boats on a sunny summer Sunday.
Annnnd last but not least,don't drink a pot of coffee before posting to a forum! :dance
Happy sails!