Having no experience with anything larger than a 35' Trojan on Lake Erie, I welcome your input and discussion. Looking to live aboard and cruise local to Sarasota,Fl to Key West and occasionally to Bahamas. My being older, there is probably a good chance there will not be much traveling. I would hire a Captain of course for those events. I assume the draft is between 4 and 6 feet. Looking at DD specs, I determine the specified engine is not a N model? Don't hold back, let me have it. Guess I am not supposed to post the link. Talking bout a 78 Broward 1984 MY 12V71 (N?) twin, 5000 hr ea
Why knot? Where's the love? If an old Broward can be bought right and you have the time and means, why not give an old girl some love? OK, so she's high maintenance and she's been around, so relegate her to dock queen status! Got some grumpy guys here tonight.
He luvs da ole gals. They are pretty. But when that lip stick wears off,,,,,,,,, I luv the Detroits. Cant beat a V12 Natural. I luv properly maintained alloy boats. As long as somebody else owns them. To keep all that up, it takes a tall checkbook. Even more for a dock queen.
Yeah, if that particular boat isn't getting much love here... look for other options. FWIW, many older guys can live aboard and occasionally cruise to those destinations in a much smaller boat than 78'. -Chris
Try asking the same question on the Hatteras owners group (http://www.**********.com/forums/). A few active members there are living the Dream.
We have been on an old glass 58' for 15 years now. Still comfy. Dock Queen; mostly lately. We can cut the lines and head to the islands rite this second though.
Brings back memories. Here's a guy with a few dock queens. Old Broward's don't scare me as long as it's a Good Deal..
No, a perfectly logical question to try to understand his reasons so can speak intelligently regarding it. Without knowing why he wants to buy a liveaboard that will mostly be a dock queen, can't answer his question. If it's strictly to live upon, any condo in town will make better sense. If he wants to cruise or eventually intends to cruise more, it may be different. If he was in San Francisco, where condo prices were many times higher it would be different. "Why" is always the first question to provide an understanding. Seems you're the grumpy guy.
At no point did I say it was a bad idea. Without understanding your reason and what you intend to accomplish, I can't form an opinion on the idea. Not even to the point of discussing the specific boat yet.
Me grumpy? Definitely! I'd rather be busting butt on an old Broward than hacksawing the shackles chaining me to this keyboard! I love old Browards. Hatts too. If I had to choose... wrap my @$$ in fiberglass.
The old Browards are great looking boats, I wonder how big of a check it would take to get that boat back in shape.
It all DEPENDS on what shape it is in NOW. LOLOLOL Old Browards aren't too terrible to maintain if zincs are kept on them. I've been through surveys on several and most of them the plates were all fine. The issue is keeping topside paint on them, and that has gotten to be a very expensive proposition at today's yard prices.
My response started with the beer can analogy. It's a high maintenance boat. Exceeding condo fees. I did deal a lot with some Strikers and Big Roamer houseboat designs. Luved them also. Plates were always thin and chain lockers from the inside took abuse also. My fathers yard stayed in business re-plating the great old MLB 41s. Including cutting off and bolting on plastic wheel houses. Until EOL. Zincs and Cummins could not save the best MLB ever. The newer 47s seem bomb proof with their new tech alloy. I have have heard of plate issues also but then buried and never disused again. Bottom line, why expose a beer can to acid (sea water). Glass boats will out live all of us.
Disclaimer; There is nothing more grace full than an ole Broward (and others) slipping down the water ways. The grace and design of these times can never be duplicated. These design should never be forgotten. Thank goodness there are folk out there who can keep some of these classics up. IMHO, Bless them and their check books.