mgreen5228
Member
I am going to get back into fishing and need a new to me boat and I am looking to the brain trust here to help me find the right one. My past pure fishing boats were 2 aluminum ocean boats. I have been out of fishing for 3 years and an looking to retire in the next year or so, and want to get the boat that is perfect for me to see if I can get at least 5 more years, maybe more of fishing. Requirements are something that I can single hand when needed but will fish 2 when my wife comes along. Sometimes it will be a trip for 4, but that is less likely and if two people are not super comfortable, so be it.
My happy place previously was fishing out of Sekiu and going out into the ocean. So some of the days have long trips so need good range. I was just getting ready for some trips to Vancouver West coast when health impacts forced me to sell my last ocean boat. I plan on picking up where I left off so some trips your the west side will be happening in 2027 if not 2026. I will be fishing Halibut, Lings, Salmon, and Seabass or Black Rock Fish. I am not planning on Tuna as I have not taken any of that drug yet........ If I did, I would want to go bigger.
I don't want to tow more than 10,000 lbs and I believe I would prefer to stay at 8' 6". A boat that looks real good are the Grady White 24s. A Grady 232 with twins would be perfect except for the beam.
4 Stroke outboards only. Twins preferred, but a single with Kicker is OK as long as it is rigged to be a seamless transition from main to Kicker.
I need to be able to run controls while holding my rod.
I don't care about cabin accommodations as it is pretty much just gear storage for me.
I want a walk around, that has side decks that I am "in the boat" when docking etc.
I want some enclosure because of all the weather and spray that will be delt with. I will add a small diesel heater for defogging the windows and adding a bit of dry heat.
This one will be fiberglass and not Aluminum.
I am looking at a 1992 Grady 246G that I will have inspected January 15th for wet transom and any other possible structural issues. It has a 2024 Yamaha 250 HP with 30 hours on it, and a 2024 Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust on it. The main engine is under warranty till October 2029. No expense was spared on the engine rigging. The bill for the engines and rigging was about 32K US. The canvas is a bit rough, needs new Isinglass. The hull needs a good cleaning but looks like will buff out to look great. The trailer is OK, but could probably use some love. If the boat checks out structurally, I will do a sea trial and see if I am happing with performance and how the boat sits in the water with 4 strokes. This has the "Grady Drive" Bracket on it. 38K US is the price, for the package.
When I decided to get another boat, my budget was 50K. that is in the rear view mirror now. If I go this way, I will spend over another 30K on electronics, and new fuel tanks and other bits and pieces. I will probably be all in a bit over 70K and could push to 80K , but I will have exactly what I believe I want for this next boat. I do my own work and enjoy the process so there is no labor in the budget. Just my sweat. This era of boat will need all new tinned wire also. I plan to pretty much take it apart and put it back together with all new thru hulls, hoses etc.
In a perfect world, I would find exactly what I want for 70K and not do any upgrades, but every newer boat I look at for under 100K seems to need an upgrade of engines, and/or electronics, but the hull might say 2004 instead of 1992. That would probably be better at resale but seems to be more expensive for an upgrade. I almost never see anything that has the electronics package I want this time. I am looking at Furuno and plan to get all the pieces and parts so I can add Time Zero if I want.
When I look at the Grady 24 in the newer models, they all seem to have a Euro Transom which to me makes the boat smaller. Educate me if I am wrong on this. The other Grady's in the early 2000s plus or minus 2' of length seem to have 9' 6" beam.
I have looked at Trophys, but I don't see many outboards, same for the Stripers. I have not seen any Whaler Conquests that are close, but that is one I would like I think. The true walk around is non-negotiable for me as that is what my wife wants.
So, talk me into it, or talk me out of this direction. Do you think there is a better direction? I try to always buy with my selling or exit plan in mind, but that is secondary to having the right boat. Prices are going down and will probably continue in that direction so I either want to fish or not.
Don't hold back on ideas!
My happy place previously was fishing out of Sekiu and going out into the ocean. So some of the days have long trips so need good range. I was just getting ready for some trips to Vancouver West coast when health impacts forced me to sell my last ocean boat. I plan on picking up where I left off so some trips your the west side will be happening in 2027 if not 2026. I will be fishing Halibut, Lings, Salmon, and Seabass or Black Rock Fish. I am not planning on Tuna as I have not taken any of that drug yet........ If I did, I would want to go bigger.
I don't want to tow more than 10,000 lbs and I believe I would prefer to stay at 8' 6". A boat that looks real good are the Grady White 24s. A Grady 232 with twins would be perfect except for the beam.
4 Stroke outboards only. Twins preferred, but a single with Kicker is OK as long as it is rigged to be a seamless transition from main to Kicker.
I need to be able to run controls while holding my rod.
I don't care about cabin accommodations as it is pretty much just gear storage for me.
I want a walk around, that has side decks that I am "in the boat" when docking etc.
I want some enclosure because of all the weather and spray that will be delt with. I will add a small diesel heater for defogging the windows and adding a bit of dry heat.
This one will be fiberglass and not Aluminum.
I am looking at a 1992 Grady 246G that I will have inspected January 15th for wet transom and any other possible structural issues. It has a 2024 Yamaha 250 HP with 30 hours on it, and a 2024 Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust on it. The main engine is under warranty till October 2029. No expense was spared on the engine rigging. The bill for the engines and rigging was about 32K US. The canvas is a bit rough, needs new Isinglass. The hull needs a good cleaning but looks like will buff out to look great. The trailer is OK, but could probably use some love. If the boat checks out structurally, I will do a sea trial and see if I am happing with performance and how the boat sits in the water with 4 strokes. This has the "Grady Drive" Bracket on it. 38K US is the price, for the package.
When I decided to get another boat, my budget was 50K. that is in the rear view mirror now. If I go this way, I will spend over another 30K on electronics, and new fuel tanks and other bits and pieces. I will probably be all in a bit over 70K and could push to 80K , but I will have exactly what I believe I want for this next boat. I do my own work and enjoy the process so there is no labor in the budget. Just my sweat. This era of boat will need all new tinned wire also. I plan to pretty much take it apart and put it back together with all new thru hulls, hoses etc.
In a perfect world, I would find exactly what I want for 70K and not do any upgrades, but every newer boat I look at for under 100K seems to need an upgrade of engines, and/or electronics, but the hull might say 2004 instead of 1992. That would probably be better at resale but seems to be more expensive for an upgrade. I almost never see anything that has the electronics package I want this time. I am looking at Furuno and plan to get all the pieces and parts so I can add Time Zero if I want.
When I look at the Grady 24 in the newer models, they all seem to have a Euro Transom which to me makes the boat smaller. Educate me if I am wrong on this. The other Grady's in the early 2000s plus or minus 2' of length seem to have 9' 6" beam.
I have looked at Trophys, but I don't see many outboards, same for the Stripers. I have not seen any Whaler Conquests that are close, but that is one I would like I think. The true walk around is non-negotiable for me as that is what my wife wants.
So, talk me into it, or talk me out of this direction. Do you think there is a better direction? I try to always buy with my selling or exit plan in mind, but that is secondary to having the right boat. Prices are going down and will probably continue in that direction so I either want to fish or not.
Don't hold back on ideas!
