East coast boats vs West coast

[Carrera205]

Probably beating a dead horse but share some knowledge with a youngin. Well I'm relocating to wonderful Orange County soon for work and eventually would like to upgrade from my 20 foot elite to maybe a 25-28 footer that can be used at the river and the ocean. I'd like to do some runs to Long Beach or even Avalon and take advantage of the ocean. During my online boat window shopping I've found that boats made on the east coast in that criteria are way way cheaper than ones made on the West Coast. For instance I found a 28 checkmate 2009 for around 38k. In comparison I saw a 1998 Daytona 23 foot for 45k. I know its a different type of hull and style but as far as age whats the deal. Discuss.

 

[spectras only]

Sounds like you're sold on East Coast boats wanting to go in the big blue. The 28 Checkmate would have the right type of hull with deep V and high freeboard to keep you dry. I like the West Coast 28 Nordic Heat [ deep v ] in comparison to the Checkmate.

Could be a older listing https://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/56880

 

[Carrera205]

Sounds like you're sold on East Coast boats wanting to go in the big blue. The 28 Checkmate would have the right type of hull with deep V and high freeboard to keep you dry. I like the West Coast 28 Nordic Heat [ deep v ] in comparison to the Checkmate.

Could be a older listing https://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/56880

That's a beautiful boat. That's exactly the type I'm looking at.

 

[Shlbyntro]

I would say that for the grand majority ( by no means all because there are exceptions) that west coast boats have more of a custom feel and definitely seem more hand built than ec boats and price is reflected. I see a little of both being right smack dab in the middle of the country in TX and that has been the trend I see.

I see quite a few fountains, scarabs, and formula fastecs that seem very basic on the inside and I would almost go as far as saying feel mass produced. The exceptions I've seen have been from owners who have done complete tear outs and rebuilt the interior from scratch.

Have fun boat shopping! I always do

 

[Carrera205]

I would say that for the grand majority ( by no means all because there are exceptions) that west coast boats have more of a custom feel and definitely seem more hand built than ec boats and price is reflected. I see a little of both being right smack dab in the middle of the country in TX and that has been the trend I see.

I see quite a few fountains, scarabs, and formula fastecs that seem very basic on the inside and I would almost go as far as saying feel mass produced. The exceptions I've seen have been from owners who have done complete tear outs and rebuilt the interior from scratch.

Have fun boat shopping! I always do

This makes sense and that would explain the cost difference.

 

[Dalton]

I actually think east coast builders have a better business model, compared to west coast builders that pump out boats sporadically and usually try very hard to not build the same boat twice, but look behind the gauges, or the rigging under the hatch, and the west coast builders will stand out.

 

[spectras only]

Maxed Out marine has some real nice models for sale on this site, check them out.
https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/1999-hallett-270-closed-bow-500efi.190765/
The Hallett 270 with blue engine is in your price range.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

29 Shockwave Magnatude....... Will do great in all the environments you're looking at.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

2 years ago i went through the same dilemma. I ended up buying a formula 27. I wanted the comfort of a cabin, sink, toilet, and beds. I love the high freeboard and the deep deadrise. Its not really a performance boat per say, im at 60.3 on gps with 24pitch 4 blade bravo one. Even though the boat has never seen salt the plan was to use it in the big blue one day.

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[Gelcoater]

Probably beating a dead horse but share some knowledge with a youngin. Well I'm relocating to wonderful Orange County soon for work and eventually would like to upgrade from my 20 foot elite to maybe a 25-28 footer that can be used at the river and the ocean. I'd like to do some runs to Long Beach or even Avalon and take advantage of the ocean. During my online boat window shopping I've found that boats made on the east coast in that criteria are way way cheaper than ones made on the West Coast. For instance I found a 28 checkmate 2009 for around 38k. In comparison I saw a 1998 Daytona 23 foot for 45k. I know its a different type of hull and style but as far as age whats the deal. Discuss.

You don’t want a 23 Daytona for the ocean.
If you want west coast flair, and river-ocean going capability and you’re looking in the 25-28 foot range.
Lavey Craft 2750 Nu Era.

 

[Carrera205]

2 years ago i went through the same dilemma. I ended up buying a formula 27. I wanted the comfort of a cabin, sink, toilet, and beds. I love the high freeboard and the deep deadrise. Its not really a performance boat per say, im at 60.3 on gps with 24pitch 4 blade bravo one. Even though the boat has never seen salt the plan was to use it in the big blue one day. View attachment 695822 View attachment 695824 View attachment 695825

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I like that a lot. Yeah I will want the sink and all that as well. Beautiful boat.

 

[Carrera205]

Maxed Out marine has some real nice models for sale on this site, check them out.
https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/1999-hallett-270-closed-bow-500efi.190765/
The Hallett 270 with blue engine is in your price range.

That boat is badass Would be everything I wanted plus The blue engine is sexy.

 

[Uncle Dave]

There is lots of nuance to from East to West and varied construction styles to look at some demonstrably superior to others.
Some things to observe between the coasts and different vendors.

Lots of east coast boats are cheaper because they are simply poorly and cheaply built assembly line type product.
We got that stuff out here too, but not as much of it. They have good stuff out there as well.

Paint Vs Gel - most east coast boats are painted like a car where West Coast boats use gelcoat diff process, product, and lifespan.
Molded in vs bolted on - all the molded in stuff like windshields, guwhale storage, swim steps started in the West
Lake Boats/River vs. Ocean boats - lots of low profile river and small water focused stuff out here . Really cool unique stuff that works well on rivers.
West coast guys typically offer more choices in Layup and Core material - Where East coast guys you get what you get.
Innerlined vs wood floor boats.
Vacum Bagged/Infused/ Hand laid up- all have their own plusses and minuses - guys on the east coast like to pretend an oven is an autoclave - and its not.
Whats the resin type? Poly? vinyl ester? a blend. What is the layup? Will it have a core? Or simply be thick fiberglass? What core material choices are offered?
Who races (or did and when) - who doesn't. Do they race what they sell today? A company learns a lot about construction in a race program.

And when/if you go look at the places you want to pay attention to a couple things

does the place have a booth? No booth = Not legal.
does the manufacturer have an AQMD permit? No AQMD permit = not legal can be shut down at any time.
does the manufacturer have manufacturing insurance? some have it some dont you probably won't ever need it but what if the boat comes apart at 80 MPH and a passenger is killed because delaminated hole in the hull causes a spin out?

Guys shunning all the rules can certainly offer better prices than guys that play by the rules.

Bring your tape measure - What does a foot of boat mean ? Is swim step and beak included in that- like fountain?

Have fun and good luck finding your next boat!

UD

 

[spectras only]

UD, you getting way too technical to confuse. Quoting you here. Bring your tape measure - What does a foot of boat mean ? True measurement should be at waterline A trawler`s given length specs is more honest than any performance boat`s, East or West Coast.
Carrera, if you want an ocean going boat, look for one that doesn't have a ca,bin, galley or Porta Potty, J/K
Here's what that boat looks inside where the hull gets pounded most

 

[Dalton]

Some east coast trends do seem a little odd

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[spectras only]

Some east coast trends do seem a little odd

View attachment 695837






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Well. if that CC a Buddy Davis, I'll take it odd or not.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

I like that a lot. Yeah I will want the sink and all that as well. Beautiful boat.

Im in temecula if you want to come down a snoop around it a bit

951 252 3814

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[H20 Toie]

If your going to run in the ocean than get a boat with twin motors
A lighter boat is great for lakes and river but not so much in the ocean

 

[CanyonLakeDave]

Exactly what I was about to say. I would not buy a boat intended for even an occasional ocean run without twins. In your price range there will be some Fountain 29’s that are a great choice considering. Bump it up to $50k and you’ll have a ton of options. Cigarette Cafe,Scarab 33 & 38, Formula fastech 35....etc

 

[Ouderkirk]

Probably beating a dead horse but share some knowledge with a youngin. Well I'm relocating to wonderful Orange County soon for work and eventually would like to upgrade from my 20 foot elite to maybe a 25-28 footer that can be used at the river and the ocean. I'd like to do some runs to Long Beach or even Avalon and take advantage of the ocean. During my online boat window shopping I've found that boats made on the east coast in that criteria are way way cheaper than ones made on the West Coast. For instance I found a 28 checkmate 2009 for around 38k. In comparison I saw a 1998 Daytona 23 foot for 45k. I know its a different type of hull and style but as far as age whats the deal. Discuss.

The business model for the east coast builders is mass production.

It's not that their designs are bad per se, but it is the execution. I will give you an example. My firend had Baja 24' Outlaw. HE owned the boat for 5 years, and in year 5 he niticed that the floors were getting soft (rotting). Why was this? When they laid up the boat, and the floor was installed, the bottom side of the plywood was dry. None of the holes cut into anything that was backed by wood were sealed with resin. In the high humidity of the east, and all of the rain, boats get wet and never dry out...ever. The interior funiture is made of dry plywood and nothing is sealed. Within a few years it's all garbage.

I have had this same problem in multiple boats (Checkmate, Imperial, and Regal)

The goal of these builders is to get the boat past the warranty period, and little more.

Compare that to my 30 year old Eliminator 20 Sport Cruiser. The floors are solid, and so is the interior furniture. Everything was covered with resin and there was nothing exposed to water. There is a certain pride in the craftsmanship of a west coast boat builder that does not exist on the east coast for the most part. There are exceptions, but lifetime quality construction is not the norm.

You pay $$$ for this pride in workmanship, but in the end, after 30 years you still have something of value, where in 6 years of a Baja, or other you've gota boat that is rotting apart and will be a complete pile of junk in 4 more.

 

[LOBOATOMY]

Now if you want an East Coast style boat with the West Coast Custom and attention to detail this boat has it all. Well it is located on KY lake, in the middle so it makes scene. This is one gorgeous boat and the owner spares no money in maintenance and is by no means a hanger queen. And it halls ass.
https://www.offshoreonly.com/classifieds/35-nordic-flame-o73130.html

 

[spectras only]

Above listing at OSO is in the 90K range. Nice boat though! Being a Mirage boat [ 257 Trovare with twins ] owner myself, I'd recommend to check out this West Coast build 31 Mirage. It's a unicorn, maybe 4 or six ever made before the factory folded. My boat, it's a 1990 model, had inner liner cockpit already so, this newer 31 footer would be made same. 24* bottom with steps. Arizona listing, so someone here could check it out.
https://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/19878
Forget about this listing, just checked> 31 was posted 25-Jan-2013

 

[RiverDave]

This makes sense and that would explain the cost difference.

I think the cost difference may come from salt Walter usage as well?

There’s a lot of really great CC’s out there in your price range. 50-60k can get you something pretty cool!

 

[DeepVee]

For me it's pretty simple if you want an ocean capable boat then consider how many East coast and West coast boats race in Offshore and survive. A large number of the East coast builders have had boats that run hard in the factory classes and survive. Other than Lavey Craft and maybe Warlock are there any other West coast boats that have been raced on a regular basis and survive the abuse? We were in and out of Donzi when they were developing the ZRC, F2, & SuperVee boats. Those boats were fast, comfortable and could take some pretty serious abuse. I'd say all of what Donzi learned from the race boat programs went right back into the production boats of the time and spured the development of the ZR boats.

 

[Bigbore500r]

This outta scratch your itch for a high performance lake / ocean "do it all" boat......
Dont' see these too much, they are supposed to be great in the rough
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/d/1989-warlock-29-offshore-1100/6689215412.html

 

[CanyonLakeDave]

For me it's pretty simple if you want an ocean capable boat then consider how many East coast and West coast boats race in Offshore and survive. A large number of the East coast builders have had boats that run hard in the factory classes and survive. Other than Lavey Craft and maybe Warlock are there any other West coast boats that have been raced on a regular basis and survive the abuse? We were in and out of Donzi when they were developing the ZRC, F2, & SuperVee boats. Those boats were fast, comfortable and could take some pretty serious abuse. I'd say all of what Donzi learned from the race boat programs went right back into the production boats of the time and spured the development of the ZR boats.

I had a ZRC and absolutely the best v-hull I’ve owned

 

[Bigbore500r]

For me it's pretty simple if you want an ocean capable boat then consider how many East coast and West coast boats race in Offshore and survive. A large number of the East coast builders have had boats that run hard in the factory classes and survive. Other than Lavey Craft and maybe Warlock are there any other West coast boats that have been raced on a regular basis and survive the abuse? We were in and out of Donzi when they were developing the ZRC, F2, & SuperVee boats. Those boats were fast, comfortable and could take some pretty serious abuse. I'd say all of what Donzi learned from the race boat programs went right back into the production boats of the time and spured the development of the ZR boats.

W A R L O C K
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/d/1989-warlock-29-offshore-1100/6689215412.html

 

[Gelcoater]

he factory classes and survive. Other than Lavey Craft and maybe Warlock are there any other West coast boats that have been raced on a regular basis and survive the abuse?

Eliminator did.
33 Daytona, 36 Daytona, and 34 Eagle.
And no maybe about it, Warlocks were raced in several classes.
Infact I remember them being into Offshore racing before Lavey or the big E.
Those were great times!

 

[Carrera205]

This outta scratch your itch for a high performance lake / ocean "do it all" boat......
Dont' see these too much, they are supposed to be great in the rough
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/d/1989-warlock-29-offshore-1100/6689215412.html

This thing is killer i would love to run a classic like that.

 

[Ibeplumbing]

If you were to post the same post on OSO I bet you would have a totally different response than here. West is biased to their stuff, east the same. That being said. I have 2 weest coast boats, and 1 east. The 2 west coast boats are much nicer amenity wise. More space inside the cockpit, more comfortable overall. Not much freeboard. Rigging and construction wise, it's not even close in my opinion. My east coast cat feels so much stronger. I like that it's foam cored and not balsa. I actually prefer the paint over the gel. I like that it is 14 years old and still looks new. Not yellowed. I banged a wall, fixed it and painted it myself and looks good. The east coast boats have their own flare to them. And built new you can make them as nice or nicer than anything the west coast boats put out. It's really a preference thing to me. I will say that I would trust a east coast boat in the ocean before I would trust many west coast boats. Not to say the west coast boats aren't capable, just not what they are necessarily made for.