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So I have been looking for a 16sl- and with my two experience with owners I am allocating more funds to look at a dauntless or montauk. Where is the best place to look, I am on boattrader, ebay, and some other random places. I am looking for a total package with trailer, bimini, cover, prefer 4 stroke, but 2 is fine- I just want a well cared for boat, is that too much to ask?

Any help would be appreciated

Adam

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Adam, as anyone on this site will back me up, I spent the last year searching for my boat. Finding the right boat, IMO, is harder than finding the right woman. DO NOT rush into the first boat you see. Take your time and follow a check list. Write down what you are looking for and the options you want. If the boat you go to look at is not all that you seek, turn around and leave. Be prepared to drive all over the place to look at junk before you find YOUR boat. There are a few places to look, here a two:

This site will give you a comprehensive search of CL and Ebay:
http://www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi...cat=cpboat

This is Jeff's site, he usually finds some clean boats:
http://sites.google.com/site/rohlfing...halersite/

Hope this helps.
Kevin

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Thanks Kevin. I appreciate the help. There is a 16sl local that looks great in pics- has everything except a bimini which is fairly inexpensive. Talked to the owner tonight and will see whats what on sat. I am fully prepared to walk if it is not what I want. I am the guy who cleans the motor and undercarriage on his cars, so I will not settle.

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Adam, seems Texas has a rather large assortment of Whalers. If i come across one like your looking for, i'll be sure to let you know.

Duf

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Harley is right on the money, I looked for 1 1/2 years for my last one and am glad I looked around that much. Sometimes the best deal isn't the cheapest boat, sometimes it isn't the one in the best shape. There are so many factors to consider: price, condition, usage, your ability to work on it, etc.

The one I found was filthy with awful rub rail. On closer inspection, there was no damage around the rail, it had dried out and cracked from getting brittle. But it was original and intact, the engine purred and checked out with very even compression, it was on a nice trailer that only had a bad ground, etc.

Had the guy cleaned up the boat, replaced the rub rail ( not expensive), and re-ground the trailer lights instead of telling me they don't work, I think he could easily have gotten another 2-3k for it.

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Check out EVERY lead, check bait shop's, outboard shop's, supermarket bullitin boards, fire house, marina's, other "boat head's" (like us) at work, etc... If you are looking for a "Boat", that's "easy", if you are looking for a "Whaler", that's an "Adventure". These guy's will tell you how "Crazy" it was to find "YOUR BOAT". I found mine in the paper by accident (after much dissappointment from looking around believe me), it was a mis-print put in all "Bass-Ackward's" with wrong info. about the boat. I called and asked a few question's about this crazy "ad" (that made no sense), and the guy said "Whaaat..No wonder nobody called about the boat", I zipped out there (60 miles away) and got the boat, all because, nobody checked. Negotiation's went "Quick", and "Cash" and boat exchanged hand's very quickly, with everybody "Happy". You have to stay on the hunt, and have the "Cabbage" ready.

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Yes, it's unlikley your new boat will "fall in your lap". It usually appears with a combination of dogged determination and a dose of luck. And, as they say, we make our own luck. Here's a snazzy little tool to help your search on Craigslist. Search Tempest allows one to search multiple localities on CL from one search query. Pass it around...

http://www.searchtempest.com

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Matt,

In Harley's link above you will find links to all of the Whalers listed on Search Tempest, Jaxed, Oodle, Kijiji, boat trader, yacthworld, GSA, etc., etc...

I have found Search tempest to be ok for looking close to home but, I much prefer Jaxed which lists every Whaler listed on Craiglist and Ebay across the country in chronological order from it's listing time. This is helpful because speed is of the essence to finding and scooping up those deals as soon as the hit the market

smkymntn or anyone else. If there is a certain boat you are looking for, send me an email with your desired model, year(s), distance you are willing to travel and your REAL budget. I come across a lot of boats that I forward on to people who have contacted be about the boats they are looking for. When I find one that looks like it meets their criteria I send it long.