Thank you for your response....that is a lot of really great info....after your comments, I think I need to find a boat with a 8 1/2 foot beam.
Still trying to figure out the best model and engine configuration. 1 or 2...2 stroke or 4 stroke .....guess it depends on the model. My son is a spear fisherman so I definitely need a swim step. I will keep the boat in a slip but would be nice to be able to tow to a lake or the river for a vacation and have a boat and not to need an oversized tow permit....so i think the Gulfstream is out.
BTW the 2007 Gulfstream at $28,000 ad is a scam....Shout out to the other member that mentioned!
Great Community!
The search continues = )
It helps to separate in your mind the value of the boat/motors(s)/trailer?/electronics.
Boats over 20 years may need fuel tank(s), hoses, thru hull fittings, wiring/switches/batteries, transom/stringer/deck work.
Expect to see spider cracks in the gelcoat and a faded or chalky gelcoat.
A new Grady without a hardtop is like a base model Mustang...why???
A used Grady with a Grady hardtop is a value over adding one later. Consider it when pricing
You are new to outboards. IMO you should go straight to 4 stroke and never "experience" a 2 stroke. Two strokes are dead men walking..a VHS tape...an iPod
If you find a nice BOAT with 2 strokes, price it like you are going to have to repower with 4 strokes. If the 2 strokes run, you can sell them off and put the money towards new 4 stroke(s)
I got $5500 for a pair of running 2000 225 OX66s. I ran them for 2 years and they sucked up over $1000 in parts and got 1 mpg and the cost of oil was crushing.
BLUE SMOKE SUCKS. I think the market for used 2 strokes is quickly fading.
generally a 24' should either have twin 150s or a single 250/300. A 24 or 25 is right at the edge of needing twins.
You will save a lot of money upfront, on service, and on gas with a single. The biggest drawback to a single outboard is docking manueverability. But its way better than a single inboard by far. Some people think having twins is for safety. I know a lot of lobster boats with a single inboard that run out 100 miles for days.
If you have a fairly new 4 stroke the amount of $ you might ever spend getting towed in will never add up to the cost of a second motor.
Old trailers are a money pit. Things quickly add up to the price of a new trailer, especially if you are paying for labor.
The latest generation of electronics is big touch screens, side scan sonars, doppler radars. How far behind is the boat you are looking at? price in that.