I started restoring old two stroke motorcycles a year ago after 18 yrs off from riding. Now that I have a few of them running Its not the same. you run down the hwy or sit at a red light and everyone around you is on a cell phone,not paying attenion. i have decided to sell the 6 of the 8 motorcycles and get a houseboat project for the whole family. 3 boats have caught my eye.

I'm looking for something we can take to a cove to swim and be able to beat the heat of the day. If we run around the lake it will be on the jet ski's

late 60's 43ft nautaline. I briefly looked at it yesterday at a storage place. the hull looked in real good shape, straight and solid the only pace I saw was on the left side about about a 1ft area that looks bowed in about 1/2". The fiberglass feels solid it is about 3' to 5' from the transom, may be acsessable from the engine compartment. The engine compartment doors are shot,soft and leaking. The man at the storage facility drilled a hole in the hull so it would not hold water. The engines were replaced with good used 360 engines form a repetable marina 3 years ago. they were set in place but not hooked to the dana outdrives. Engines look really rough, plastic over the intakes, but really weathered. The outdrives need at leased new boots. The fiberglass on the decks feel solid. The floors in the cabin are soft and will need to be replaced, but I did not see any signs of leaks on the ceiling. Insided needs a major cleaning but interior is in good shape. There are 2 new ceiling a/c units. I am going to take a good look at it on tuesday. The only history That I know of is. The owner is a alcoholic live on the boat tell his mother was ill. He moved to his mothers house and rented the boat to two college kids that were kicked off the marina in two months. the boat was pulled winterized and put in storage. He owes 3yrs taxes and several months storage fee. He is asking $3200, I'm thinking $1800

Tuesday If they will let me I'll take my generator and battreys and see what works and if the motors will turn. As far as the stringers i can get down in the engine comp and the front hatch is there any place to see the center of the boat.

Are the 360's and dana's worth messing with. It seems small runabouts with 4.3L and 3.0L and mercruisers are a dime a dozen.

Does anyone have any sugestions on what else to look for.

2nd) early 70's Riverqueen (i think) it looks just like a gibson. spotless inside hull was treated last year. the front overhang had 2 soft spots that were refiberglassed and needs final sanding and paint. the transom has a 3" section of rot in the plywood. It has window a/c's but no generator. Nice 318/Volvo 10,000. one weekends work need to be pulled and trailered to a lake

3rd) 78 & 77 42ft Gibsons w/trailer 1 is complete with damage to the hull 350's and V-drives. The other has been gutted but has good hull and transom. would make o good boat. It is 150 miles away and I have not seen it yet.


I'm finding houseboats everywhere is there any reason for the high turnover

Thanks Jeff

You need a knowledgeable houseboater to lead you on your quest. There are a lot of people out there with boats that are worthless and the owners are desperately trying to avoid disposal costs. You sound like you are inexperenced and these people are just laying in wait to unload there problem on newbies like yourself. GET HELP. If you find something that you think you might like GET A SURVEY. You CAN DROP $5,000 TO $20,000 IN REPAIRS IN AN EYE_b_link__.

Best to bite the bullit and purchase a boat in good condition that will pass a good survey.

To answer your question. DANAS and CHRYSLERS were outstanding units in there time, but finding someone who is familier with them is a tough go.

Read this:

http://www.houseboatingworld.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,129/func,view/id,6943/catid,1/

I passed on the nautaline because of transom and other rot, and the 2 gibsons to far away and to much work