1985 170 or 1974 19-6?

[icewoz]

Hi Everyone,

New to the board here.  I've been looking for a smaller center console after selling my 28' Sea Ray.

I have identified a couple of them.  The first is a 1974 19-6.  Needs work.  Current owner claims that a friend who has worked at a marina for 30 years came over and checked the boat for wetness and claims there just a little towards the back.  However, to do this, he cut into the top of the transom (almost like opening a can) and then sealed it with caulk.  Looks awful. Bottom of hull was never cleaned from last time it sat in the water (On/Off should clean this up), and has started a 1981 Mercury 115 engine one time this Spring to make sure it worked.  Wiring to/from the engine was reworked a couple of years ago.  Still looks new.  A small crack in a hatch cover and little dent that damaged some of the glass up front on a hatch as well, but the boat is 37yo).  For some reason, I kind of like the boat.  Looks like if it was cleaned up, might look half way decent, however, I'm not very handy as far as fashioning new teak or other things like that so a little nervous about taking on a "project" boat in a way.  Not sure if I'm able to feel any soft wood in it.  There are area's that don't seem to have any support (like under the console/foot area and along the starboard side where cables run to engine).  

Owner had it priced at $5100 and is now down to 3500.  I'd really think about it for 2500 given the work that needs to be done.  More pics here:  http://bit.ly/p1hQYc


The other is a 1985 170 with a 1985 mercury 140hp. Boat is spotless.  A good wax job in the Spring and she will look brand new.  Would rather have the larger, but given this one basically needs no work, very tempting.  Owner is asking $4500.  Includes a stereo, fishfinder, all cushions in great shape, bimini top.  More pics here:  http://bit.ly/qckOKP

I was hoping to get some opinions/thoughts from others on which direction to go.  Right now, even though it's smaller, the 170 is looking really nice.

Boat will be used in the Great Lakes (Lake St. Clair).

Thanks!!!

[gran398]

Ice, welcome aboard!

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here a bit. Hope thats ok.

Forget the 19'6. Its priced way too high. And will need a lot of time/labor/$ spent to get right.

The 170 looks nice. But given where you are, it gets rough in a hurry. Is this enough hull for your needs? It seems pricey too.

Fall is coming on. Its a buyers market. I jumped way too fast on a 22-2 and it cost me bigtime. Based upon that experience, and since there are so many out there for sale, and more coming to market...I'd keep looking.

JMHO, hope this helps.

Here's an example of a good deal found right here on the board. Sorry the pics aren't still around viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7635

Again...Welcome

[GoneFission]

I have to agree with Gran - both seem a bit pricey - especially the 19-6.  Keep an eye out on Craigs and eBay and you can find a deal.  Want to go up a bit in size - you might get this one for the minimum bid of $5,000 - not that far to North Carolina - and you will have a really good boat for big water like the Great Lakes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AQUASPOR ... 3a6a340303

[MarshMarlowe196]

Agreed, prices seem to be high on those two boats, but prices seem to be higher on most everything the further you travel north...  


With that being said, I'd have to ask how will you be using your new boat?  Do you plan to venture out into the big water of the lakes, or are you mostly looking to stay in the shallows?  If you plan on fishing the open water, I'd really consider something like John linked to.  The AS 170, 19-6, and 22-2's are really inshore boats.  Lightweight, minimal deadrise, low freeboard- translates into a rough ride in anything over a 2' chop. Most of the fishing I do is in creeks, rivers, lakes and harbors, though I have had my boat 30 miles out.  My back hurt after that trip.

I have a vague memory of me and my dad fishing out of an older AS 170 when I was younger, and I remember really liking the boat.  So many boats came and went back then, mostly to put money in my dad's pocket, so it wasn't sold because it was not a good boat.  

I have had several Key West 1720's, and I really liked those boats too.  Boats tend to shrink when you put them in the water, and that was my biggest complaint about the the 17'.  If I was alone or with one other person, the 17 was OK.  Any more than that, and it began to get cramped.  But, in many respects, the 17 was a better fishing boat than the 19-6 I have now.  It required less horsepower, floated skinnier, responded much better to a troll motor and was easier to maneuver in a tight spot like a creek or a crowded boat landing, and its obviously easier to tow.  With how I use my boat, I wouldn't go any bigger than the 19-6 I have now-  My boat feels almost too big and unresponsive at times for the type of fishing it's cut out for.  But, the trade-off is more space, obviously, and a marginally better ride.

[icewoz]

Thanks for you thoughts thus far.

I'm not going to be using the boat for fishing actually, just to be able to get out on the water and maybe visit some swimming holes I couldn't get into with the 28', and basically to just go for a ride, take in the scenery.

Lake St. Clair isn't that big of a lake, but because it's shallow, it's gets choppy fast.  Running around the North Channel of the lake where my cottage is at is usually fairly calm, except on weekends when the big boats are out throwing their wakes around.  The other reason I'm looking at this sort of boat is for the shallow draft due to having only about 3.5-4.5' to bring it into the hoist.

Most I would have on it is one other person, at most 2.

Please keep your thoughts coming.

I am thinking at this point of taking your advice and maybe wait a bit and see what pops up over the next few weeks as people get their boats out for the winter.  If the 170 gets sold, well, I guess it gets sold.  Owner says he has it out on Lake Erie once in awhile and it seems to do pretty good.  Erie gets choppy in only a slight breeze.  I need to sea trial it maybe to find out, but hate to inconvenience someone if I'm not sure I'm going to buy.

[gran398]

You're spot on Jess. No such thing as a "perfect" boat. In general, you'll trade ride for draft and ease of manuverabity at low speed.

I always thought a cat would make for a great ride on the Great Lakes. Here's an interesting blog. The 21 Sea Cat they discuss is phenomenal. I have been 65 miles out in one...twin 45 Honda's. Runs like a knife throough hot butter in a heavy chop. Drafts 10 inches or so, motors up.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-for ... -21-a.html

[Treefish]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7541

[icewoz]

I saw this one.  If you were asking 3900 for it, then the one I'm looking at should go for 22-2500.  I would.  If he would let it go for 2200, I'd snatch it up and throw another 1500 at it and try to fix it up a .bit.

Anyone know approximately how much repairing the transom on the pics of the 19-6 might cost?

[Treefish]

Something else to keep in mind about that 19-6...if he cut into the top of the transom and saw a "little" water, there could possibly be a "lot" of water in the bottom of the transom.

[imonna 19 6]

Hey ice,

i'll be blunt, run screaming from that 19-6.   I love my 19-6, its a 1979 but from your description you do not want a project boat and thats what that one is.  
Dont even buy it for 2200.  
An old engine, a wet transom, likely wet core in the floor, havent discussed the gas tank, which could be in rough shape, wiring issues, couple of battery replacements, a busted thru hull or two...1500 wont go far on that boat.  problem is once you go to address one prob (like wet transom), your gonna have to dig into stringers, floor, etc and if you choose not to, you are connecting new new with old, dry with wet,  and wasting your money.

NOW, if you want a project boat, thats a different story, but you said you didnt and that makes all the difference.

if you have 2200 for a boat and 1500 for repairs, look for something in better shape.

My two cents, but based on buying exactly what you are looking at and getting exactly what i described.  Love the boat, but cant afford to fix it, so have to settle with problems.

Best of luck

Bill


edit: oh yeah and looking at the pics of the transomn, your scupper is about two inches under the water line, like mine, which might indicate more water than is being discussed.

[slvrlng]

I found my 19-6 on craigslist for $325.00. The guy I bought it from had bought it from his neighbor a week before for $160.00, he doubled his money in one week! Not much money granted but still a profit. That 115 Merc on the 19-6 is of course a classic in its own right. The original "tower of power". I just can't see throwing that amount he wants when you will have to add at least another 5000 and several hundred hours of labor to get it where it should be. Myself, I would much rather have treefish's than that one.

[slippery73]

I'd be looking more along the lines of these:

http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/boa/2577952281.html

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/2594567795.html


The pricing on these should be right around $5k.   In this market, they aren't worth much more.  

The boats you posted on aren't worth much more than $500 if bought as a package.  You wouldn't make much more than that parting the boat out.

I'd look for a late 90's aquasport if your going to get one.

[gran398]

The 19-6's run great. If you want to have a great selection, you'll need to shop where the selection is greatest. The great state of Florida.

Closer to home: The Delaware/Maryland/tidewater Virginia area...Delmarva....sold a TON of Aquasports in the day. That's where my present one is from. Our fellow board member Cap'n John makes a valid point regarding "Northern" boats. The running season is shorter, they are stored under cover or inside the majority of the year, are winterized annually...and have never seen the intense Florida sun.

Other good areas to search are Mass., De., and Me.

Just be patient and keep looking. Even if you have to pay to have it hauled....the deals are out there

[gran398]

Here ya go. And in the family too.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7689

[Capt. Bob]

Here ya go. And in the family too.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7689

The upside on something like this is that you can actually see work that the owner has done and also communicate with people that have worked on the craft. You may pay a little more than a Craigs List from an unknown seller but you at least have a fighting chance. Most members that DIY or have professionally done rebuilds post up their work (though some are a little slow on photos we won't mention any names ) so it's not just "lip service" you're getting.

Good luck and remember the hunt is the best part.

PS...Gran, has Lewis given you your camera back yet?

PSS... Good on ya for posting this Scott. That's the way you do it.