Good morning all.


I'm new to this site but not new to boating. I'm looking to move into the bigger boat type of boating since the price of gas is at record highs - stupid eh?

Currently looking at a 1989 Doral Prestancia 30’ with twin 5.7 Mercs (1200 hours each). The boat is in excellent shape with radar and all the bells and whistles. I got them down to $28,000 with free docking till the end of the year.

I have a few questions which I appreciate some advice on…

#1 How much gas are these babies going to suck back with “normal” cruising?
#2 Is 29K a good price – seems to be from what I’ve scene on the Internet?
#3 Is 1200 hours a big deal on a supposed well maintained engine?

Please help A.S.A.P. as I am taking it for a test drive Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks

#1 How much gas are these babies going to suck back with “normal”
cruising?

1mpg is typical for boats of that size/style. That's 26 gallons per
hour at 26 mph. Anywhere between 19 and 30 gph is to be expected.

#3 Is 1200 hours a big deal on a supposed well maintained engine?

1200 on gas engines is not a small amount. Around 120 hours is a
typical amount per year for recreational use. So you're looking at a
boat that was being used for less than the typical amount. Or that it
sat for some very long stretches without the engines running. This is a
warning sign. Boats (or anything else) that goes unused usually means
they've also been neglected. Or there was something 'really expensive'
to fix and they postponed it well past the economical repair stage.

Please help A.S.A.P. as I am taking it for a test drive Monday or
Tuesday.

Pay for a survey. Do no buy a used boat without one. Yes, this will
cost you a couple hundred. Spend it now or prepared to get reamed for
several thousand in surprises later.

Thanks Bill

1 mpg = ouch - lower speed (like rowing) would equal ?

I'm used to Bowriders so I'm having a problem trying to figure out what to expect mpg for a nice little tour up and down the river.

Survey is 4 sure

1 mpg = ouch - lower speed (like rowing) would equal ?
I'm used to Bowriders

And with one of those you're pushing a lot less weight through the
water. Typical cruisers are upwards of 10,000 pounds and moving that
requires a lot of energy. You really have to decide if you want the
added space and amenities. You have to juggle all the variables.

Survey is 4 sure

It's always a challenge finding a decent surveyor, and then getting a
thorough inspection done. Be sure to find a reputable one that's done
boats of that make, or at least style.

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:48:31 +0100, gralin
wrote:


Good morning all.


I'm new to this site but not new to boating. I'm looking to move into
the bigger boat type of boating since the price of gas is at record
highs - stupid eh?

Currently looking at a 1989 Doral Prestancia 30’ with twin 5.7 Mercs
(1200 hours each). The boat is in excellent shape with radar and all
the bells and whistles. I got them down to $28,000 with free docking
till the end of the year.

I have a few questions which I appreciate some advice on…

#1 How much gas are these babies going to suck back with “normal”
cruising?

About 13 gph *each* at 3400 RPM. At today's prices that works out to
well over $100 per hour.

#2 Is 29K a good price – seems to be from what I’ve scene on the
Internet?

The engines and boat are both getting along in years. Make sure you
have both surveyed. If either the boat or engines require major work
you should run away. It's a buyers market right now and you'll find
lots of other "bargains".

#3 Is 1200 hours a big deal on a supposed well maintained engine?


Yes. The engines are getting close to end of life, especially for
5.7s, and especially if they are raw water cooled.

Please help A.S.A.P. as I am taking it for a test drive Monday or
Tuesday.


Postpone the test ride until you find a boat surveyor (inspector).

gralin.3fcf...@ wrote:

Good morning all.

I'm new to this site but not new to boating. I'm looking to move into
the bigger boat type of boating since the price of gas is at record
highs - stupid eh?

Currently looking at a 1989 Doral Prestancia 30’ with twin 5.7 Mercs
(1200 hours each). The boat is in excellent shape with radar and all
the bells and whistles. I got them down to $28,000 with free docking
till the end of the year.

I have a few questions which I appreciate some advice on…

#1 How much gas are these babies going to suck back with “normal”
cruising?

Wayne.B wrote:
About 13 gph *each* at 3400 RPM. At today's prices that works out to
well over $100 per hour.


The guy *should* be able to do the math if he's going to be driving a
speedboat around. And the old phrase "If you have to ask the price you
can't etc etc" also comes to mind.


#2 Is 29K a good price – seems to be from what I’ve scene on the
Internet?


The engines and boat are both getting along in years. Make sure you
have both surveyed. If either the boat or engines require major work
you should run away. It's a buyers market right now and you'll find
lots of other "bargains".


Yep, if you wait a couple years, you can probably pick up one of these
(or one quite a lot like it) for free.
If a boat (or car or house etc etc) is on the market with a noticably
lower ask price than similar boats (cars, houses, etc etc) in the same
area, there is definitely a reason for it.

My suggestion is that you go & look at three or more boat, so as to
have at least some rational basis for comparison of price vs
condition. Besides, you might find something you like a lot better.



Please help A.S.A.P. as I am taking it for a test drive Monday or
Tuesday.


Postpone the test ride until you find a boat surveyor (inspector).

Yep.
Never be in a hurry to buy a boat.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:28:53 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Wayne.B wrote:
About 13 gph *each* at 3400 RPM. At today's prices that works out to
well over $100 per hour.


The guy *should* be able to do the math if he's going to be driving a
speedboat around. And the old phrase "If you have to ask the price you
can't etc etc" also comes to mind.

Heh, our old Bertram sportfish with twin 7.4Ls used to burn 35 to 40
gph. I was usually too shell shocked to do the math, and that was 10
years ago with gas at $1.70.

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8...thyjaneov1.jpg

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1...cf03201na2.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/209/dscf0322ls5.jpg

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:02:58 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

Heh, our old Bertram sportfish with twin 7.4Ls used to burn 35 to 40
gph. I was usually too shell shocked to do the math, and that was 10
years ago with gas at $1.70.

When we got our turbocraft, a sixteen foot jet drive with a 109 HP
flathead six, gas was as little as 25 cents in town, 50 cents at the
gas dock. Five GPH? It's been fifty years hard to be sure. 18 gal tank
lasted three hours or so. Of course a pack of cigs or a paperback book
or a magazine were a quarter.

Casady

Thanks for the input.

Math is not a problem...

Decided to buy a 97 Doral 25SC with a 5.7 Merc Alpha III (424 hours) - everything is just like new. With trailer etc. etc 36K