I’m running a 1988 Ranger 680t. Same boat I’ve had since I bought it new in 1988. Over the years, I’ve replaced and upgraded the engine (had the dealer do this one), trolling motors, sonar units, bilge and livewell pumps, switches, and most recently, the dash panel. A recent discussion on another board reminded me of how much I love and appreciate the simplicity of my boat A guy was bummed out because his 2001 Ranger’s mother board had died and his touch pad keys weren’t responding. Having just replaced the original switches in mine with new ones for $36 and an hour or so in my garage, I realized that I wouldn’t trade my boat for a new one no matter how slick and fancy the new version is. I like working on my boat, maintaining it, and best of all, having the piece of mind to know that if something goes wrong on the water or on a trip away from home, I can probably fix it. If it’s not the switch, the fuse, or the wiring, it’s the device itself. No circuit boards, no computer chips, no relays, no problem. I’m sure there’s others like me out there. New boats are pretty and fast, but I’d imagine a lot harder to keep serviced without a shop nearby and spending lots of $$$. Anybody else got photos of their classics they can share for us fans of vintage boats to drool over?
I just finished a 95 champion 202, full on made it what I want. this is my dream boat and last I will ever own. can't afford this again. lol did an 82 champion 184 for my last boat, older hulls can be awesome.
Last edited by hopalong; 06/24/2011:22 AM.
" Hop, set the hook"! hopalong 99,999 TexDawg 99,999 FJB! not my president by a long shot!
lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
bought my pathfinder in 02 at the boat show. put another motor on in 2016. also added the full front deck in 2015. seats and cooler rack were redone at that time also. just had the bottom gel coat redone. i guess i'll die in this boat. sure can't afford a new one of this caliber.
My ol’ lead sled ‘91 Stratos 201 Pro. Bought it several years ago for $500. It had a toasted motor on it and was in pretty sad shape when I got her. Found an old ‘84 Evinrude 235 that I completely rebuilt and slapped on her. It drinks the heck out of gas, but moves her fairly well across the water. Anyway, I’ve fixed her up through the years and am in no hurry to get rid of her.
This is a wonderful thread. I bought my '99 Triton TR21 in 2004 from a well known fiberglass shop in Denton. It had been stolen and stripped down from the original owner, so I only had to pay $6K. All of the parts were there in various states of usability as the perpetrators were apprehended at the chop shop. Just a couple of examples of what they had done - the motor, a 99 Merc 225EFI with 34 hours, was laying on the ground next to the boat. All of the boat wiring harnesses had been cut out with wire cutters. All of the deck lids were laying on the ground and one of the trailer axles had been removed along with the springs and cut in half. The tires and wheels were in a pile of scrap.
So, I worked on everything from the trailer axles to the boat's top coat for about 6 months until it was better than new. For example, no more butt connectors, all heat shrink connectors now. For the few parts I had to get replacements for like the switch panel, the folks at Triton in Tennessee and their suppliers were extremely helpful. Over the years, I have upgraded the TM, electronics and had the seats reupholstered by Nina in Quinlan, etc. I learned a ton and had a great sense of satisfaction for the work.
When I have a look at the brand new bass boats, I really can't tell any differences in terms of capability. My boat will GPS at about 78MPH, has new electronics, etc.
I hear a lot of noise about those early year Tritons chine walking. I had my prop built by Steve's props and had him get the jack plate at the right height. Now, making very slight left turns at high speed to keep this from happening has become second nature.
BTW - I also still have my '76 Skeeter Hawk. We call her the bathtub. She is parked inside the barn waiting for me to wake her up someday!
This is a wonderful thread. I bought my '99 Triton TR21 in 2004 from a well known fiberglass shop in Denton. It had been stolen and stripped down from the original owner, so I only had to pay $6K. All of the parts were there in various states of usability as the perpetrators were apprehended at the chop shop. Just a couple of examples of what they had done - the motor, a 99 Merc 225EFI with 34 hours, was laying on the ground next to the boat. All of the boat wiring harnesses had been cut out with wire cutters. All of the deck lids were laying on the ground and one of the trailer axles had been removed along with the springs and cut in half. The tires and wheels were in a pile of scrap.
So, I worked on everything from the trailer axles to the boat's top coat for about 6 months until it was better than new. For example, no more butt connectors, all heat shrink connectors now. For the few parts I had to get replacements for like the switch panel, the folks at Triton in Tennessee and their suppliers were extremely helpful. Over the years, I have upgraded the TM, electronics and had the seats reupholstered by Nina in Quinlan, etc. I learned a ton and had a great sense of satisfaction for the work.
When I have a look at the brand new bass boats, I really can't tell any differences in terms of capability. My boat will GPS at about 78MPH, has new electronics, etc.
I hear a lot of noise about those early year Tritons chine walking. I had my prop built by Steve's props and had him get the jack plate at the right height. Now, making very slight left turns at high speed to keep this from happening has become second nature.
BTW - I also still have my '76 Skeeter Hawk. We call her the bathtub. She is parked inside the barn waiting for me to wake her up someday!
I have a 99 TX21 with a 225 Opti and it is great. I am in the process of reviving my 87 Nitro MX185 with a 79 150 Black Max and my nephew just bought a 72 Skeeter Hawk with a 80hp Merc that he is reviving...
Last edited by bronco71; 06/23/2006:10 PM.
1987 Nitro MX185/Mercury Black Max 150 1999 Triton TX21/225 Mercury Optimax
Just have to say again how much I love seeing these vintage beauties. I agree that newer boats don’t actually offer much of an advantage. I mean, how many cup holders and coolers does a boat need?!
Right there with you. Scooter was home built in '94. 3/8" aluminum hull, 1/4" deck and stringers. 300 lbs, and takes a beating like nothing else. Good thing, it does a good job of jumping oyster reefs and sand bars.
Wonder why the chop shop chopped it up like they did? For instance, what good is an axle cut in half? or taking the lids off the hull? very strange.
I wondered the same thing until I found out it was a group of teenage boys just up to no good. Very strange and dumb if you ask me. Another example, they used a hole saw to cut a 2 1/2 inch hole in the top of the 52 gallon fuel tank. Why? No idea. Then, the tank was useless. I got a new one from Triton. The could have make lots of money parting the boat out, but they did not. Their loss turned out to be my gain. The original owner got a check from his insurance company and I basically paid for the motor and got the boat and trailer for free. I think I spent about $2400 in parts to get the boat going again.
This is a wonderful thread. I bought my '99 Triton TR21 in 2004 from a well known fiberglass shop in Denton. It had been stolen and stripped down from the original owner, so I only had to pay $6K. All of the parts were there in various states of usability as the perpetrators were apprehended at the chop shop. Just a couple of examples of what they had done - the motor, a 99 Merc 225EFI with 34 hours, was laying on the ground next to the boat. All of the boat wiring harnesses had been cut out with wire cutters. All of the deck lids were laying on the ground and one of the trailer axles had been removed along with the springs and cut in half. The tires and wheels were in a pile of scrap.
So, I worked on everything from the trailer axles to the boat's top coat for about 6 months until it was better than new. For example, no more butt connectors, all heat shrink connectors now. For the few parts I had to get replacements for like the switch panel, the folks at Triton in Tennessee and their suppliers were extremely helpful. Over the years, I have upgraded the TM, electronics and had the seats reupholstered by Nina in Quinlan, etc. I learned a ton and had a great sense of satisfaction for the work.
When I have a look at the brand new bass boats, I really can't tell any differences in terms of capability. My boat will GPS at about 78MPH, has new electronics, etc.
I hear a lot of noise about those early year Tritons chine walking. I had my prop built by Steve's props and had him get the jack plate at the right height. Now, making very slight left turns at high speed to keep this from happening has become second nature.
BTW - I also still have my '76 Skeeter Hawk. We call her the bathtub. She is parked inside the barn waiting for me to wake her up someday!
I have a 99 TX21 with a 225 Opti and it is great. I am in the process of reviving my 87 Nitro MX185 with a 79 150 Black Max and my nephew just bought a 72 Skeeter Hawk with a 80hp Merc that he is reviving...
Please have your nephew upload pics of the old Skeeter on here! Those old bathtub boats are just plain cool.
Sure will! Have to get before pics and after pics later. He has the floor, seats and rod boxes torn out of it right now! I had an old Skeeter built in gas tank he is going to put in it. He is also adding a live well.
1987 Nitro MX185/Mercury Black Max 150 1999 Triton TX21/225 Mercury Optimax
Its my first boat at 55 years old and an old boat but I am thoroughly enjoying it. It's perfect size for me for what I want to do as a recreational fisherman. Nice thread, thought I would pitch in !
Me, too! My relic is a 1958 BlueStar 14 SuperChief, made in Miami, OK. All-riveted aluminum, and super-strong. I cut the gunwales down about 6 inches, removed the middle seat and built a flat deck to make a Low-Tech Poling Skiff. Now powered by a Yamaha 15 4-stroke. Great skiff for the marsh and flats. IslandJim
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
rb7764: A 1961 Johnson 5.5 Seahorse. I gave it and my old skiff( a 1959 12-foot aluminum skiff our Dad bought new) to my sister, who has them in Fort Davis, TX. Not much water out there! IslandJim
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
Thanks, Cuervo Jones! I bought that raggedy-azzed tin boat and parked it in my RV slot. My neighbors said, "Here we go again!" I started chopping on the boat, and they said, "Yeah, he's really lost his mind this time!" I cut 40 pounds of aluminum off the boat! When I was done, all of them came by and said, you really outdid yourself this time. What's funny, is that I had made a sketch two years before I bought the boat, of what I wanted, and "Tin Star" looks exactly like the sketch. My goal was a copy of an Ankona Shadowcast 16, but in aluminum(and many thousands cheaper). Mission accomplished! A great flats skiff. IslandJim on the Texas Riviera
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
You could get yourself set up with a tidy little business making custom boats I suspect! Guys that don’t want to shell out the cost of a new house for a poling skiff would probably be very happy to pay you for your craftsmanship.
Cuervo: I'm almost 75, and all I want to do is fish, not build more boats. But, I don't understand why Alweld, Alumacraft, G3, Lund, etc. don't build a lightweight aluminum , flat deck skiff? Like you said, a "Technical Poling Skiff" from Ankona, East Cape, New Water, and many others will run $15K to $50K, all up. One doesn't need carbon fiber and space-age technology to build a light flats boat. Poling towers apparently lose their lustre, also, judging from how many I see for sale on Craigslist. The only people I see on them are guides! IslandJim
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
Don’t know how to post pics, but my ‘93 Pantera II is a member of the family. Still shines like new and still running great after 534.4 hrs on the 175 Fast Strike. Yes, I still use the VRO pump too.
92' Nitro 180FS with a 150 Johnson. Bought from a buddy for cheap and being my first boat I didnt really know if I would keep it or not. 5 years later still love it and doesn't cost me a penny outside of regular upkeep. That old Johnson will still hit 52mph with one person in no time. Looking forward to taking it to Steve to get its factory shine back and then carpet after that. Only regret is not being able to use it more but family comes first....
1994 (These and sister 15 & 21's made from 1993-97) Dauntless 13. We love this boat for all it can do: it was a ski boat in Fl, a tender for a trawler, a commercial flats/bay boat, some "old guy" (probably younger than me now) put bass seats on it and a trolling motor for a bass boat. Not the best boat for any job really, but will do all of them well. With the motor trimmed up we need 9" water to operate. All the lights, switches, bait well pump have never been gone through and still work like new. Photo from when we lived in Fl.
The little boat that almost sunk Boston Whaler:
Last edited by 1956Zebco; 09/24/2004:33 PM. Reason: added name
I have a realy hice original 1992 Cham 201 DC Elite with a VZ225 Yamaha on it. Great Boat. Best ride in rough water of any boat I have ever had. Bad news is, I am so old that I can't go out by myself anymore.
Wayne
Wayne
Luck will beat skill any time you have enough of it!
Man....Y'a;ll make me feel bad that my '03 Skeeter has some bumps and bruises and needs a wax. These are some gorgeous older boats (kinda how I like my ladies, too!)
I didn't lose him at the boat. I shook him off cause I didn't want my hands to get "fishy"
My ol’ lead sled ‘91 Stratos 201 Pro. Bought it several years ago for $500. It had a toasted motor on it and was in pretty sad shape when I got her. Found an old ‘84 Evinrude 235 that I completely rebuilt and slapped on her. It drinks the heck out of gas, but moves her fairly well across the water. Anyway, I’ve fixed her up through the years and am in no hurry to get rid of her.
Had a buddy who had a 87 181 pro loved that boat. I had a 179 v 87 model it was a fast boat but liked his better.
2000 champion 186. 150 vmax. Bought new. Been great boat. Batteries n trolling motor and no other $ well impellers. Putting few g in refurb can't complain. Bout to retire n no 75000 boat. Lol
1999 Basscat Cougar Finally had to re-power in 2016 after 225 EFI layed down with 1700 hrs They priced me out of the new boat market years ago. Bought it brand new in 98 for $27K I will probably be buried in this boat.
1999 Basscat Cougar Finally had to re-power in 2016 after 225 EFI layed down with 1700 hrs They priced me out of the new boat market years ago. Bought it brand new in 98 for $27K I will probably be buried in this boat.
God only knows how many hours and still on the original powerhead. I bought this one to flip years ago but I can't make myself sell it.
Man those were and still are one of the best looking boats ever made!
I can't blame you for not selling her!
2016 Ranger RT188 Charcoal Metallic Dual Console 2017 Yamaha 115 VMAX SHO (VF115LA) SS Prop Minn Kota Ultrex i-Pilot Link 45" 80 lb. Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BalZout Console Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BBT Bow Mount Trick Step
Pulled this one back from south Florida a few weeks ago. 1987 Intrepid CC. Can't afford a new one this size . The boat itself is mostly original and is in excellent shape. Excited to get it on the water.
I ACTUALLY BOUGHT A NEW BOAT IN THE BEGINNING. A 93 Procraft 186 in 94. After 17 years I upgraded to a 2000 21' Hawk which lasted for about 2 years until it got swamped in a winter storm parked on a beach. Don't ask! Next was a 96 19 1/2' Bumble Bee which I won on a $4000 bid off of E-bay. Had an upgraded 99 175 and it was a great little boat that got very squirrely at about 55 mph. The guy who had it said it went 75. On his speedo. When I put my gps on it it went almost 60 top end. Then a neighbor said he was moving and was selling his 93 Ranger 491 VS. A single console, which most weren't back in the early 90's. It came with a 94 200 Evinrude and hadn't been in the water for 4 years sitting out in the elements under trees. To say the inside was in bad shape wouldn't be untrue. Ant and roaches enjoying a good home inside. But the seller put a new Minn Kota Fortrex, new seats and new tires. And was asking $4000 which is what I paid for it. Good bones is good bones. The Evinrude wouldn't start anytime it got cold out which was a real pain when starting out on any morning or even afternoon after running ten miles. So I added two used 12' Talons and had a 94 Mercury 200 EFI put on and am dealing with other minor repairs but I love this boat. It will be my last for sure. I also added a pole in the floor to help steady myself while moving up on and off of the front deck. It has already saved me from a serious fall which I don't need at my age. And when the mechanicals are all completed I will get to the carpets.
Last edited by Bruce Allen; 11/15/2005:23 PM.
Lake Fork Anglers Every Thursday Daytime Tournaments.
I love seeing old boats that have been well maintained or restored. They function perfectly and I believe most boats do not end up with the lifespan they should due to poor maintenance and mans desire to have "new and shiny" things. I guess it helps the industry to pump out new ones to those that can afford the crazy prices, but there is a lot of waste involved. No reason a fiberglass boat should not last 100+ years baring any encounters with non water entities.
I'm doing a SECOND restore on my 83 Sea Nymph Striper to give her a new lease on life. Very capable boat. Can creep through 1 foot of water and have had her 30 miles offshore. Cant wait to get her going again.
Not as old as some on here, but I've had this '04 Skeeter since 2013 and it has been a workhorse. Bought it from an airman at Ft Walton Beach, Fl., off craigslist of all places.
1999 Basscat Cougar Finally had to re-power in 2016 after 225 EFI layed down with 1700 hrs They priced me out of the new boat market years ago. Bought it brand new in 98 for $27K I will probably be buried in this boat.
That is a good thing about having an older Basscat. The design doesn't change. That looks like a brand new boat. Good job.
My 2000 Blue Wave is sitting at the shop waiting on a 2020 yamaha 200hp repower. My old motor was going to need a full fuel system rebuild. I did not want to put that much money in a 20 year old motor. I love my Blue Wave hull, perfect layout for the way I fish. I never even considered a new boat.
Thanks, I got what I think was a pretty good deal, $6500, had to drive 7 1/2 hours to MS to get her, original seats in good condition, I upgraded to a new TM, added graphs and will be getting a new trailer soon..the only drawback is the narrow rod locker door, storage space is good!