Pre purchase questions on a 23' glasply

[syoungs]

So i found a 1978 glasply that is nicley outfitted, and fits my budget. Thinking i may go take a look this weekend. Its a 5 hour trip to see the boat, so im hoping before i go maybe some of yoj familiar with glasplys can answer some questions!

The big one, can it fish 4 adults without being supet cramped?
We fish out of a 19'6 nwjet freedom right now, and its tight with 4 on board. I cant tell if the glasply offers alot more room from pictures.

Any idea fuel tank size used in these boats? Its got a newer 350 with a merc outdrive. If they pit baby 20 gallon tanks or something silly that would be good to know.

And lastly, how stable are these on the water? Do they get tippy?

Thanks for any help!

[ALLTERRAIN]

I don’t remember the year of my ex bosses boat but it was a 23’. We fished ALOT out of Neah Bay with it and it was a great boat to be in in rough water. I never thought of as being “tippy” at all. There should be a cover on the floor to access the sender and should be a tag on it with the size of tank. I thought his was around 30-40 gallon. Like any other boat of that age,  check stringers and transom for rotten wood. Good luck, awesome boats!!

[Brotherman]

It's been a few years, but spent 32 working on boats. I believe they have a 45 gallon tank in them. Allterrain is correct to look for the label, should be under the center floor panel. . Several things to check is soft floors, as they are plywood. Stringers are fiberglass, but have foam below deck that can absorb water. If you are sea trialing it, look to see how it floats in comparison to the tape line. The normal things with the engine and drive. Water in gear oil, unusual sounds coming from the drive and gimbal area. They were great boats in their day, well built and ride well.

[WSU]

I have to imagine 45 gallons would limit what you can do.  What does a boat like that get, maybe 1 gallon per mile?

[spoonman]

It will be cramped with a inboard .

[whacker1]

I would bet that it is burning 8 -12 gallons per hour at 3200 rpms, which would likely be 25-30 mph depending on how it is propped.

older boats are normally between 7'6" wide to maybe 8 ft wide.  Modern boats of that length are 8'6" wide.

I will send you a p.m.

[syoungs]

yeah a 45 gallon tank is pretty marginal, but would work or 90% of what I would want to do with it I think. As of now, its between older glasply 23's and late 80's to early 90s trophys. found a couple 24' models that are equipped like I would want, but haven't seen them in person yet.

[Henrydog]

Have a shop you trust or a AMS put a moisture meter on it and check the stringers and transom for dry rot as well.  A couple $100 upfront might save you many thousands and possibly your life on the Sound.

[Badhabit]

Take some muffs that fit the water intake on the lower unit so you can start it and hear and see it run. Check to see if it has a h20 seperator and check for h20 in the filter. Check the oil in the block and lower unit. Spin the prop, listen for any grinding noise. Engage the prop while it is idling in forward and reverse. Check the dash switches to make sure they turn on and off what the switch is intended to do.

[syoungs]

This guy is asking for (imo) top money for this boat, I don't think ill be willing to spend it if we cant take it out and actually function check everything on the water.
Should I plan on checking it all in the driveway with muffs first, or will doing it all on the water work as well?

[whacker1]

This guy is asking for (imo) top money for this boat, I don't think ill be willing to spend it if we cant take it out and actually function check everything on the water.
Should I plan on checking it all in the driveway with muffs first, or will doing it all on the water work as well?

You should be able to negotiate all of those things as part of viewing /testing the boat.  When i bought my last/current boat.   he said " bring your favorite weapon (waterski, wakeboard, surf board) so you can see if you like it."  we met at a boat ramp.

[steeleywhopper]

It will be super cramped with the inboard. I’d go a different route...

[Stein]

It will be super cramped with the inboard. I’d go a different route...

 

4 can sit comfortably and two can fish.  I had a similar boat back in the day and hated having to walk around the engine every time I needed to use the downrigger.  They also really need a 15 hp kicker, the 9.9 will be tired especially on windy days.

They are a dream in the water though, softest ride around.  I had mine airborne once and hardly felt the landing.

The problem with old boats is that water eventually finds it's way under the floors and with fiberglass it's a bunch more work and potential issues compared with aluminum.  Even if the stringers aren't wood, when they are submerged for a long time you can get delamination as well as the joy of re-foaming.  I had to do that on one side of the one I bought, it was a big mess and costly.

I would agree to check to see how it sits in the water, both the waterline and listing.  If one side is wet it will have a slight list.  If both are, the waterline will be too high.

[syoungs]

Id love to have a nice big outboard boat, but anything with an outboard in the size im looking at is in a way worse condition, and more money. for a starter boat, im pretty well stuck to having an inboard for the time being.

the boat does have a 25hp kicker on it!

[throwingsticks]

Id love to have a nice big outboard boat, but anything with an outboard in the size im looking at is in a way worse condition, and more money. for a starter boat, im pretty well stuck to having an inboard for the time being.

the boat does have a 25hp kicker on it!

If this the boat a state below us, I think the asking price is fair, plus if it has been stored under cover or indoors that is a HUGE plus. Solid boat for the $ if you are ok doing maintenance yourself.

[Buzz2401]

Have taken a 19' Glasply with 4 guys out to Westport halibut fishing.  38 miles straight out in rough conditions.  We brought a extra 5 gallons of gas.  I/O 4.3l.  Glasplys are great boats but at that age anything is possible.

[syoungs]

Id love to have a nice big outboard boat, but anything with an outboard in the size im looking at is in a way worse condition, and more money. for a starter boat, im pretty well stuck to having an inboard for the time being.

the boat does have a 25hp kicker on it!

If this the boat a state below us, I think the asking price is fair, plus if it has been stored under cover or indoors that is a HUGE plus. Solid boat for the $ if you are ok doing maintenance yourself.

it is the same boat, and has been stored under cover according to the ad. I am going to talk with them more tonight about it and get as much history from the boat as possible.

I do all the maintenance on my dads nw jet with an inboard, and have on boats with inboards prior, that aspect doesn't scare me off much. I have rebuilt a couple transoms on smaller boats, and done a little glass repair work. I know that with my budget, things will need fixed and repaired for sure. I am leaving myself enough wiggle room price wise that it shouldn't be devastating if a big repair/upgrade is needed.

[syoungs]

Theres a 28' 1975 carver that keeps drawing my eye as well. It would fit 4 of us more comfortably for sure, but seems like an awful lot of boat lol.
https://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/d/coeur-alene-1975-carver-28-flybridge/7137980917.html

seems like the glasply is more setup and ready to fish. turnkey.

in reality, most of the use will be salmon fishing in the sound and b10 area, including the ocean, crabbing and bottom fishing, and chasing halibut once in a while. a 28' boat appeals to me because my family is all rather large people, and sometimes the wives want to go to hang out.
The more logical side of me says a 23-24' boat will get me going and probably be enough for a few years, at which point a nicer boat may be in order, with a much bigger budget.

[throwingsticks]

Id love to have a nice big outboard boat, but anything with an outboard in the size im looking at is in a way worse condition, and more money. for a starter boat, im pretty well stuck to having an inboard for the time being.

the boat does have a 25hp kicker on it!

If this the boat a state below us, I think the asking price is fair, plus if it has been stored under cover or indoors that is a HUGE plus. Solid boat for the $ if you are ok doing maintenance yourself.

it is the same boat, and has been stored under cover according to the ad. I am going to talk with them more tonight about it and get as much history from the boat as possible.

I do all the maintenance on my dads nw jet with an inboard, and have on boats with inboards prior, that aspect doesn't scare me off much. I have rebuilt a couple transoms on smaller boats, and done a little glass repair work. I know that with my budget, things will need fixed and repaired for sure. I am leaving myself enough wiggle room price wise that it shouldn't be devastating if a big repair/upgrade is needed.

It looks like it has been listed for a longtime, so you could get some wiggle room on price, but with the extras that is nice package!

[throwingsticks]

Theres a 28' 1975 carver that keeps drawing my eye as well. It would fit 4 of us more comfortably for sure, but seems like an awful lot of boat lol.
https://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/d/coeur-alene-1975-carver-28-flybridge/7137980917.html

seems like the glasply is more setup and ready to fish. turnkey.

in reality, most of the use will be salmon fishing in the sound and b10 area, including the ocean, crabbing and bottom fishing, and chasing halibut once in a while. a 28' boat appeals to me because my family is all rather large people, and sometimes the wives want to go to hang out.
The more logical side of me says a 23-24' boat will get me going and probably be enough for a few years, at which point a nicer boat may be in order, with a much bigger budget.

that carver scream money pit... old twins, super heavy no thanks

[syoungs]

oh yeah, extreme money pit. I just like big boats lol!
If I was retired, and needed a big project, I would consider it. even though I really want to drag that thing home, I realize that's probably not the best option 

[syoungs]

Id love to have a nice big outboard boat, but anything with an outboard in the size im looking at is in a way worse condition, and more money. for a starter boat, im pretty well stuck to having an inboard for the time being.

the boat does have a 25hp kicker on it!

If this the boat a state below us, I think the asking price is fair, plus if it has been stored under cover or indoors that is a HUGE plus. Solid boat for the $ if you are ok doing maintenance yourself.

it is the same boat, and has been stored under cover according to the ad. I am going to talk with them more tonight about it and get as much history from the boat as possible.

I do all the maintenance on my dads nw jet with an inboard, and have on boats with inboards prior, that aspect doesn't scare me off much. I have rebuilt a couple transoms on smaller boats, and done a little glass repair work. I know that with my budget, things will need fixed and repaired for sure. I am leaving myself enough wiggle room price wise that it shouldn't be devastating if a big repair/upgrade is needed.

It looks like it has been listed for a longtime, so you could get some wiggle room on price, but with the extras that is nice package!

yeah, they listed it on another forum almost a year ago. I don't know if the price is scaring people away from looking at it, or maybe they have no wiggle room at all and aren't in a hurry, or maybe its a pile of junk (though the pictures don't make it seem that it is).
if its what they say it is, I think it would make a great setup to get started with, and its turnkey, has everything I would need as far as electronics and fishing accessories.

[syoungs]

https://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/d/coeur-alene-trophy-24-ft-with-trailer/7155633354.html

This is the other boat im giving serious thought to.
The guy inherited it from his late father, doesn't know a whole lot about it other then his dad was an avid fisherman and used it often. He is supposed to get me more pictures tonight. I think its way overpriced, but I get the feel from talking to him that he just tossed something price wise out, and I could probably take it for significantly less money. it has some electronics and downriggers, but isn't as nice as the glasply for sure. it does buy me a slight bit more room and a bigger fuel tank though.

[throwingsticks]

https://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/d/coeur-alene-trophy-24-ft-with-trailer/7155633354.html

This is the other boat im giving serious thought to.
The guy inherited it from his late father, doesn't know a whole lot about it other then his dad was an avid fisherman and used it often. He is supposed to get me more pictures tonight. I think its way overpriced, but I get the feel from talking to him that he just tossed something price wise out, and I could probably take it for significantly less money. it has some electronics and downriggers, but isn't as nice as the glasply for sure. it does buy me a slight bit more room and a bigger fuel tank though.

My buddy got a really nice 24 ft tin boat two years ago, he low balled the guy. Then the guy told his wife how is insulted by the price, and wife made him sell it for my buddies asking price.... She wanted it gone after sitting around for a few years not getting used. They bought it new and likely lost $100K on it.. so you never know

[WSU]

You might expand your search.  I've had friends buy bigger boats from down south and they are WAY cheaper.  The last one was shipped up from Florida.  I'm talking tens of thousands of dollars cheaper.

[syoungs]

You might expand your search.  I've had friends buy bigger boats from down south and they are WAY cheaper.  The last one was shipped up from Florida.  I'm talking tens of thousands of dollars cheaper.

Did he just browse craigslist and boat trader? I assume he bought from a marina? Im going to start looking further out.
Went and looked at both of the referenxed boats this weekend. 1100miles in the pickup in 2 days with nothing to show for it   

The glasply was a nice boat. It was truley turn key, not quite as clean as the pics show, but real close. The layout of the boat I wasnt in love with, and it didnt seem to handle weight with me and another big buddy very well. I think it woulda done what i wanted it do, but I decided to pass.

The trophy isnt ready to be sold imho. The layout me and the wife really liked, but its filthy. Probably needs some upholstery work soon, as the seats are getting pretty weather checked, the engine hasnt really been ran in 4-5 years, the gas is that old, etc etc. I told him 4k tops, and gave him some pointers on getting it ready to sell. Hes not a boat guy, but seemed very honest about that. Im guessing itll be for sale a long while.
The 24' trophy other then condition, is exactly what were looking for.

Search continues....

[Stein]

My buddy considered a side business of buying big center consoles and driving them up here and selling them.  They make great offshore boats, proven designs to run long distances in big ater.  Not my cup of tea, but others like them.  I can't argue with the amount of deck space for fishing and they can handle big water without doubt.

[throwingsticks]

this is a reliable option
https://yakima.craigslist.org/bod/d/parker-1992-campion-215-explorer-2014/7160355644.html

[hiway_99]

I would go look at that campion.  It might be slightly underpowered though.  I had one with a suzuki 225 4 stroke.  That was way too much motor.  They are a wet boat in the ocean but ride pretty well.  That vintage has wood in the transom and stringers.  The early 2000 they have Kevlar transoms and I believe stringers as well.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

[syoungs]

That is a nice little boat, looks like 200hp was the max rated capacity, so probably under powered.
Its to small for what I want to do, but would serve most people just fine I imagine.

After more thought and discussion with other people and the wife, I think were going to bump our budget and go bigger from the get go. Gonna keep looking for the right deal to drop in my lap, but im not in a big hurry to buy. Hopefully the used boat market calms down over the winter, right now its crazy!

[Stein]

For what you are looking at, I would want at least a self bailing or solid bow.  That Campion wouldn't be pretty when you scoop water, no way a bilge pump could keep up.