View Full Version : 1993 Cruise Craft Galaxy 585 Bowrider (Thoughts on price please)
Rob McConnell
09-08-2011, 04:43 AM
Hi All
Looking at a 1993 Cruise Craft Galaxy bowrider. The reason for a boat of this type is a bit of fishing but also room for the kids and wife to be able to come out and tow a skier too.
Its a 1993 with a Yamaha 150, the only things it needs are a bimini and some welding done on the trailer and its due a service (he has service records for the last 6 years). General condition is good but not immaculate. The guy wants $16.5. What are your thoughts on this boat, it was a bit older than I wanted but my budget is $15 so beggars cant be choosers. I have had many engines before and Yamaha's have been the best.
All comments welcome, be as brutal as you like.
Thanks
Rob
mustang5
09-08-2011, 06:37 AM
Will you be in the river, or the bay?? Personally the last thing I would want is a bowrider when the wind pops up. You really want that cover from the seas in the bow especially for the family. They have there benefits with room etc.. I just see the Bow of a boat as the lifeline if you are in strife..
Look for a Haines Signature 1850L or 1950L which are about 20-22ft. You can find a couple in the price range and they are very roomy, high sides, are light hulls(which makes them versatile in rivers & open water) and are a very quick and responsive Hull.
I think for the price you could do better, but that is my personal opinion. :)
Good luck either way you go mate! Being on the water is great and your family will love it.
Swanie1975
09-08-2011, 07:19 AM
hi rob,
i currently have a 1996 signature 550 br which was a compromise (fishing for me and fun for the family:P) and im really impressed with the way it handles offshore. i dont like more than 15 knots anyway but thats just me. i find i really have to drive like an idiot to get any water over the front (very rarely happens anyway) and i just leave the bow cover on when moving but its great for more fishing room and casting ;D. i have 2 young girls (2+4yrs) and they both love sitting up the front when cruising, its the best place to be.
never felt unsafe in the boat and it would prob. handle more than me!!
back in NZ i had a signature 1950 which was fantastic for the conditions we used to regularly encounter (windy wellington;D), a great boat but i now find the cabins to be a waste of space as all my family boating is done in good conditions anyway and the girls can sleep ( if they do!) on the fold out lounge.
i looked at a galaxy 2 yrs ago on the goldie that was fully retrimmed in reasonable condition and from memory it was about that price range so it might be just a little high if the trailer and boat need a bit of work IMHO. it was a big boat tho with loads of room and a 150hp should be a good match.
whereabouts are you based? give it a good water test and see if it suits your needs.
cheers ryan:)
PADDLES
09-08-2011, 08:04 AM
g'day rob, i had one of those 550br sigs that swanie has (1992 model though) and yeah it was fun and went ok in the slop but i'll never own another bowrider up our north end of the bay, it's too rough. personally though if i had to own one it would be a cruisecraft one because they have that bit more size/weight about them. i just never liked driving the 35k's back from moreton, sitting down in a lowsided boat with waves as tall as my head. you can't stand up in them to drive without significant modification which makes things pretty uncomfortable too. that being said though, if it's a family pleasure boat you're after for the more protected parts of the bay or exposed parts on nice days then you won't go wrong and let's face it boating in krap conditions is no fun so you probably won't go out anyway. bow riders are actually pretty good to fish out of too. don't get caught up with the notion of humming along whilst someone is sitting up in the bow lounge either, they will freeze their @rse off even in summer, we put clears on our one for a bit of added protection.
i'm with swanie in thinking $16.5k pretty steep for something of that age, especially considering you have to do some repairs, and super especially given the state of the current 2nd hand boat sales market. personally i reckon you should try and wrap things up for $14.5k fully serviced and repaired so maybe a $13.5k offer with you needing to spend maybe $1k to get it tikkety boo. i've never owned a yamaha outboard so can't comment on how good they are.
lucee81
09-08-2011, 09:13 AM
I have a plate bow rider that i take out to moreten etc. The boys i go fishing with are a bit sooky cause they always complian about their backs but the mother in law and wife love sitting up the front, they normally hang up the front reading books, having a picnic etc and leave me alone down the back to fish. on a 5+mt boat thats a lot of space to myself, In the shade too;D;D
Never felt unsafe and got caught out in 20+ knot winds with a 1.5-2mt swell . The only time we really got wet was when it was raining. However in a mates bow rider 1 wave and there was a river running down the centre of the boat, that was exciting....
Would definatly own another bow rider... however i can see how a cabin would make a smother ride for extra weight up front.
Lucas
Rob McConnell
09-08-2011, 04:14 PM
Hi All
What a fantasic response, I am blown away with the detail and time you guys have take in responding and all in a few hours.
I am up near pittwater in Sydney, so pretty sheltered most of the time until you head out by lion island and further out into that area. I ownerd a cruise craft lazer a few years ago with the most horrible Evenrude which I was forced to rebuild myself shortly after buying it. As Swanie said, we rarely used the cabin as I am probably a fair weather boater. Now with two children a bowrider will be useful, like having a seperate lounge in the house for the kids.
I have never owned a bowrider because where I come from in the Channel Islands, the seas are big and you dont want to get caught off the coast with an open bow.
Having said that the Cruise craft is a high sided boat and I wont be out in rough seas with the kids.
Thanks for the indication on pricing. I was going to go in at $14.5 and do the trailer work myself but I know it will still run to about $500 for parts. As for a service, I am a firm believer in impeller and gearbox oil every year with a new fuel filter, anodes when required and spark plugs every year. So probably another $300.
I will keep you all posted on progress, otherwise its back to hunting on boatsales again.
Thanks
Rob
Jarrah Jack
09-08-2011, 05:30 PM
Rob May be worthwhile offering what you think its worth and be honest in explaining to him how you came to the figure. In this lousy boat market we have atm he may accept. It won't do you any harm. If you get the boat checked out by a pro you may come across more problems so you could make the offer conditional on a favorable report.
PADDLES
09-08-2011, 10:47 PM
yep, definitely do what JJ has suggested and get the motor checked out by a professional, at the end of the day it's almost 20 years old now, and don't be scared to walk away if you can't settle on a lower price, it's definitely a buyer's market out there at the moment especially for this type of boat so go in real low.
Argle
10-08-2011, 11:41 AM
Just to add to what paddles said - I currently have a 580BR Signature, a bit newer than what you are looking at but I can actually stand to drive this one - although I usually sit down. If its an issue you might be able to move the seat back? Other than that I find the setup to be excellent for the boating we do - sounds similar to what you are looking at. I had a cabin boat for the last 10 years and it was wasted space that we never really used. Everyone has a different idea of what is the ideal boat so take your time and do lots of looking/testing and asking questions. Its a buyers market at the moment and there are lots of good boats for sale.
Cheers
Rob McConnell
10-08-2011, 07:07 PM
Ok, quick update. I spoke to the guy today and offered $13.5k. After thinking about it, we started with a budget of 15k. The trailer would have needed $500, a service roughly $500 and a bimini $500. All of these things were a necessity to get out on the water.
Anyway he said he would take $15.5 and I explained I was not trying to bargain but politely refused, explaining that we would probably look at a smaller boat in our price range. The main point that you guys raised was that it will be 20 years old in 18 months time.
Thanks for your guidance and I will post again when we have another on the radar. I might even post a wanted add on here.
Cheers
Rob
PADDLES
10-08-2011, 07:50 PM
i think that you've made a wise decision and a fair offer rob. he might get keen enough to ring you back yet.
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