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C

Christov10

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2024
Messages
11
Location
Stepford, Tennessee
Hello. My name is Chris and I live in Southern Middle Tennessee. Grew up on the West Coast and spent my formative years surfing. Have paddled folding kayaks in Tennessee since about 2005. Took up cycling when my son got old enough to realize I was gone a lot. Repeated shoulder injuries have kept me from paddling much and for a while kept me from pedaling. Here lately, after completing what my acupuncturist says was my first 60 year cycle, have been thinking about getting (at first) a houseboat but now (after more thought) a modest trawler with which to explore this state's navigable inland waterways.
 
Greetings,
Welcome aboard y'all. To be perfectly blunt, what's your budget, do you have any boating experience AND what do you want the boat to do for you (weekends, extended cruising, sitting around fishing/swimming etc.)?
IF this is your first boat, I highly recommend USPS (US power squadron) courses. GREAT time to take them (winter) now. Boating Courses
Enjoy!
 
Thanks for the welcome and greetings.

Budget's limited to the amount of cash my wife will tolerate my spending on a boat and related expenses. I'm unwilling to go into debt for anything so that rules out Nordhavn, Kady-Krogen, Dashew FPB and pretty much any boat more recently built than the Orwellian Year.

Boating experience is limited to understanding how waves work when breaking and swells bending along the coastline (surfing) and handling human-powered double-ended craft (kayaking & canoeing). Totally agree boating courses are a necessity. Thanks for the link.

Really, what I want a boat for is to explore/cruise Tennessee's navigable inland waterways for the next few years on weekends and vacations over against spending time and money at crowded beach cities. The family will sell the farm up north before much longer so that won't be our regular summer and Christmas destination. Wife will retire in a couple of years. Because I was unwise when a young man, I'll be working until I die, but weekend cruising strikes me as a pleasant alternative to retirement.
 
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If that were my aspirations, I would definitely by a houseboat. Doesn't mean you are not welcome here once purchased.
 
We really like our trawler, great for vacations and every weekend of use. Doesn't cost us much to operate and we appreciate the heavier weight of her.
 
House boats are very popular here in the Delta. Inland rivers don't have big waves and house boats don't draw a lot of water. They are also inexpensive as far as dollar / space ratio goes and easy to work on (everything is pretty square and not curved / sloped.
 
Houseboats seem to have gasoline powered engines and are for that reason (I am guessing here) less economical to run. I tend to think of them as floating waterside condos (and who knows, I may come back around to that).

I have seen an Albin 43 on a classifieds site that appears to have sold for $85k about 7-8 years ago after a previous owner had spent a lot making it "look" new. Older YouTube videos of the same boat indicate upgrades and maintenance had been brought up to date. Current photos indicate exterior is in need of attention, interior looks about the same, engine compartment needs cleaned. Needs surveyed. But the current asking price is less than that of a decent used car. So that interests me. More than a houseboat of the same age.

Anyway, that Albin is what got me seriously thinking about buying a trawler, which is what got me seriously thinking about possibly, eventually, going farther than Tennessee's rivers.
 
Welcome aboard! And FWIW, I think you're on the right track.
 
Budget's limited to the amount of cash my wife will tolerate my spending

Someone here has mentioned not keeping track of expenses. Prolly not wise, but understandable after ten years and two boats here.
 
Greetings,
Mr. C. "...less economical to run." Fuel will be WAY down on your list of expenses whatever boat you buy.
 
I have been boating for 16 years in Middle TN. Right now I own a 42’ Trawler (2 bedroom, 2 bath, Generator, Heat and A/C. I bought it 5 years ago for 63000. I budget 7200 a year for slip fee, maintenance, and fuel (diesel). I have been on KY Lake, all of the Cumberland River up to Gainsboro. My wife and I are fully retireing this Spring and plan to do Ohio, all TN Rivers, down to Mobile Bay. I love boating and love this life. Feel free to pick my brain all you want.
 
There are some pre-2000 Camano 31s available. We use ours mostly for exploring river systems off of NC's Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Might work for you in Tenn.
 
I lived in Tennessee Valley from 1980-2005 and cruised all navigable portions of the Cumberland, all of Tennessee River, all of Tom-Bigbee Waterway, some of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Heartland boating is waaaaay under rated and is dead simple to learn compared with other areas like The Gulf ICW, Atlantic ICW, the Great Lakes and PNW. Don't even get me complaining about the West Coast.
I had the perfect river cruiser in my 1980 Marinette 38 ft model with two staterooms and two heads. It had Chysler 318s and would get up past 20 mph without drinking a ton of gas, but we usually ran her at 1500 rpm at 10-12 mph.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 4.56.58 PM.png

They are light, strong, and hold their value. They are purpose built for Heartland Cruising. Made in Kentucky I believe. I did see one with Diesels at Iuka, MS so if you really want diesel, it is doable. Find one. You will thank me. Expect $30-45k for a really nice one that has been loved and upgraded. This is a boat you can use a few years, take good care of it and probably get most of your money back. NOT a coastal cruiser, but a River Queen.
I might do the Great Loop in one, but really, inland waterways and these boats are like peanut butter & jelly. A perfect combo.

Good luck and Welcome Aboard

DJ
 

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Captain DJ said:
Find one. You will thank me. Expect $30-45k for a really nice one that has been loved and upgraded.
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I've been looking at Marinettes since reading your message. Thank you for the tip. Been communicating with a fellow in Savannah with a strange, small boat that's been repurposed from a Bristol Bay fishing boat but I don't think it would be long term suitable for much beyond day-tripping on Center Hill or similar lake.

NCheaven said:
There are some pre-2000 Camano 31s available. We use ours mostly for exploring river systems off of NC's Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Might work for you in Tenn.
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Those that I've seen advertised are outside my budget right now but they look suitable.

I appreciate the tips you have all provided and have been following up on them.
 
We have a lot of Marinette's here around Sandusky Oh. I believe there is currently a 40' for sale at Battery Park.
 
PierreR said:
If that were my aspirations, I would definitely by a houseboat. Doesn't mean you are not welcome here once purchased.
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Totally agree, inland waters generally favor houseboats and pontoon boats for many reasons such as roominess, less initial and often maintenance costs, ease to modify to personal wishes, availability......

What they lack is rough water capabilities to a point. But many houseboats that punch a lot of positive points, can also be cruised down to and along the Gulf Coast, some can certainly cruise farther as some do the loop, cruise the Florida Keys and some have ventured to the Bahamas.

Just remember the more seaworthy a houseboat is....the more it is like a trawler and it's compromises than one suited for inland rivers and lakes.
 
Marinette is not really what I would label as a houseboat. There is a ton of them on Lake Erie and Lake Erie is not exactly house boat friendly. They are a modified V design. My biggest complaint against them is chine slap at anchor.
 
My issue with getting a Marinette or other boat from any of the Great Lakes is getting it back to Tennessee. Have seen several Marinette boats advertised in the Sandusky area. Seen very few Marinette houseboats advertised. One or two. Will pay out of pocket for whatever I wind up getting so the relatively low initial cost of the Marinette boats is attractive.
 
RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
Mr. C. "...less economical to run." Fuel will be WAY down on your list of expenses whatever boat you buy.
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I and many others here will agree with RTF... I would not rule out a gas powered boat solely on fuel costs as you will find that is a relatively minor cost unless you are set on doing something lije the loop... 1,000s of miles is a short time span. Generally you will need to invest more for comparable diesels vs gas and will need to travel many miles just to break even. I'm not against diesels and in fact now own one but had 2 gasser previously and they served us well. The advantages of a house boat in your cruising area is they provide lots of room, comfort and enjoyment for the $. If you find yourself doing extensive travel and a real desire to go beyond what a houseboat could handle selling a decent houseboat in your area should be relatively easy.
My approach would be to look at a broad section of boats ( trawlers, cruisers, houseboats ) and weigh what you'd get vs prices. You can always sell a well maintained boat for a fair price and not take an economic beating provided you didn't over pay initially and have maintained it well.
 
Oh, that's right, I remember that Marinette did build houseboat too. Just don't see them in the Great Lakes.
 
If I was going to stay on the river systems I would totally buy a house boat. Right tool for the job. Probably a Pluckebaum
 
Bacchus said:
I and many others here will agree with RTF... I would not rule out a gas powered boat solely on fuel costs as you will find that is a relatively minor cost unless you are set on doing something lije the loop... 1,000s of miles is a short time span.
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I have been looking at some different gas powered boats. Some of those are trawler-style boats.
Bacchus said:
My approach would be to look at a broad section of boats ( trawlers, cruisers, houseboats ) and weigh what you'd get vs prices.
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More and more I am coming around to this approach, too.
PierreR said:
If I was going to stay on the river systems I would totally buy a house boat. Right tool for the job. Probably a Pluckebaum
Click to expand...
Pluckebaums are waaay out of my price range. Craigslist has Wendys founder Dave Thomas' Pluckebaum listed at 1977 Pluckebaum - boats - by owner - marine sale - craigslist It's a time-capsule. Maybe if I hit the Powerball this weekend, but even then, probably would go with something else a little more modest.
 
No bow "slap" during anchored issues in these waters when you get a DC, (double cabin) and put the kids in the V berth and take the walk around Queen/king aft. Plus, not going to experience the wave action in the protected areas of Tennessee/Cumberland River Systems.
Under cover stored, NICE condition, right engines, perfect for a solo or couple cruise, and dirt cheap in Knoxville, TN.
If it is for a family or two couples, then the 36/37/38/39 DC would be my pick.
For a single person or a couple, the Sedan might be the right choice. Heck, this is such a great deal, I might buy one to save for a Great Loop run in 2026.
 
I have communicated with the Knoxville broker. That boat’s under contract but if the deal falls through will let me know. Another’s up for sale in the Chattanooga area and I will email later today. Am planning to look at another boat in that part of the state next Sunday morning anyway.
 
Let us know what you end up buying.
I was really impressed with the condition and prices on these wonderful Marinettes. I will be especially interested in the outcome if you get one of them.
 
Will do. I’m looking at 32’ sedan this weekend and another next weekend. Have located a 28’ model in Kentucky that sounds a little overpriced considering all the questions the broker was unable to answer when I spoke with her today. Will see what she comes up with. There’s a fisherman model at Nashville that’s priced higher than I would consider paying but if the other boats don’t work out maybe I will see about negotiating.
 
I'd hoped to edit my post, above, but could not.

Next weekend, I've scheduled with the broker to see this boat - https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1987-marinette-marinette-sedan-32-9342509/ - previous deal fell through. Owner's had a few months. No navigational electronics. Broker's mechanic has rendered the generator operable by correcting a wiring problem.

Tomorrow scheduled to see this one at Chattanooga - https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1988-marinette-marinette-flybridge-32-9588754/

Here's the 28' Marinette at Monticello Lake, Kentucky - https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1974-marinette-28-9423214/ Honestly, for my purposes, something like this is might make a good boat with which to learn the basics and my wife could probably tolerate occasional weekend boat-camping in this minimalist style.

The Kentucky broker was able to tell me the 28's owner has had it for the span of two summers, bought to do the Loop but his wife declared it insufficiently roomy. She was also able to tell me "some of the gauges might not work and the hour-meter doesn't work," also that the owner hasn't serviced the engines and they have no service history on the boat. She had no idea how much fuel or fresh water the boat held, whether the sink, toilet, stove worked, whether that boat has factory heat/air. She did know there's no trailer. I am yammering on about the broker because the young woman sounded almost petulant that I'd asked her any of the foregoing questions. Seemed strange to me.
 
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The one in Dixson looks worth the money,
  • Newer canvas including cockpit
  • Newer electronics/nav
  • light weight rattan furniture
  • wood sole vs carpet
  • updated interior
  • electro-san marine sanitation system
  • long deep dock box $1200
  • Chrysler 318s
  • Air conditioning
  • Onan Genset, new batteries
  • updated and always under cover in FW
All this for $27k !
Both are NICE boats, but the Dixson boat definitely has more than $4k in nice extras, and probably lots not mentioned. Probably a steal at $27k. But maybe try $25k before someone else nabs her.

Good luck!
 
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