[JakeBoswell]

Im 17 years old and I'm a river rat since day one. Parker strip is my little slice of paradise! I grew up around a 21 foot rogers with a berkley jet for years and now am used to my family's  checkmate outboard. Boats are really all i know and love and I have been savin money to buy my first boat. Lots of advice i've gotten have pointed me in the direction of purchasing an older tehiti or kona or maybe a newer dana jet as a first boat. But would it be cheaper to just do a project? Any pointers or advice from you older river rats for a young up and comer? it would be greatly appreciated.

[SoCalPSD]

It's all a matter of money. A lot of good running nice looking boats can be had for 3-4000. But for. Around 1500-2000 will get you a decent looking project that is useable.

If your looking still, try to get something that's full stringer, aluminum tanks, and a berk or jacuzzi wj pump.

[Roadrunner]

From November to late March you can pickup twice the boat for half the cash. Take someone with you that knows boats and has a sharp eye. Cash is king and boats are a luxury. You can really score a sweet deal if you are patient, watch Craigslist like a hawk, and know how long stuff has been for sale. Good luck!

[JakeBoswell]

could i find a Rogers for a decent price? or just cause that is a rogers will it jack up the price?

[SoCalPSD]

Someone on the site just gave one away I think. He may still have it. Goes by nastynate on the board

[GlassCutter]

http://www.socaljetboats.com/project-boats/1969-rogers/

[JakeBoswell]

thanks guys! i guess the idea of a project is a bit intimidating to start with. but i've always heard in the long run its very self fulfilling

[JakeBoswell]

oh trust me i know what boat stands for! Bust Out Another Thousand! spent many weekends taking the family boat to the outboard doctor in havasu from cylenoids to a new pump to a stuck oil level gauge. So all in all look for a solid hull with good stringers and good fiberglass? then worry about pump and motor and like apoholstry and such items towards the end?

[SoCalPSD]

In all honesty your better off saving money and building funds. Then when the right deal comes along you can jump on it and still have some cash left to put into it. I'd recommend staying away from anything that's not complete. Buy something that's all there so you don't have to hunt for a motor, pump, tanks and so on.

[GlassCutter]

Not trying to be a jerk here but I'm just thinking about the mistakes I made at 17 and so I just gotta say that if you can't afford to have insurance on this boat, then you can't yet afford a boat.   "Mistakes" cost waaay more than insurance.

[SoCalPSD]

Not trying to be a jerk here but I'm just thinking about the mistakes I made at 17 and so I just gotta say that if you can't afford to have insurance on this boat, then you can't yet afford a boat.   "Mistakes" cost waaay more than insurance.

I agree completely with this.

But here's one of those project deals I was talking about, been on cl for a while and could easily be talked down 500-700

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/3971069203.html

[SoCalPSD]

lost paper work, but registered 2013.  why wouldnt he just go to the dmv and request a replacement title?  because something is fishy with it, thats why.

A simple call to the DMV and police department is all it takes to make sure it's not stolen and to make sure he is the registered owner. I do it every time before I go look at something with no papers

[GlassCutter]

Link has been taken down.   Hmmmm