Coming round full circle. Started boating in '97 (atleast the second time. Had a 20 year period of no boat) with a 1980 245 SVR SeaRay. Excellent, well preserved boat that wife and I enjoyed imensley (sp). In 2000 we sold SeaRay and bought an ancient (1977) steel hulled 14X60 houseboat. Had worlds of good times, enjoyment from it before problems with steel hull caused major headaches. Sold it to another poor SOB and got a '98 16X78 Sumerset aluminum hull lake houseboat. It has also been a great source of pleasure and relaxation. Now, due to fuel, slip rent, insurance, and especially maintanence/upkeep(spending 3/4 of EVERY Saturday washing this monster really cuts into weekend fun time) we've sold it also and are seriously considering a 1984 SeaRay sedan bridge we've known ever since our steel hull purchase. We're on a landlocked Corps lake and this old boat's been freshwater all its life. Know this is quite a step down in age, room, and creature comforts,,,BUT,,,IT FLOATS!!!!and we won't have to worry about every little gust of wind before backing out and actually going boating.

Going Saturday to hear her run, check genset, and marine air. Naturally, there's a big gap between sellers asking price and what I'm willing to give, but ain't there allways.

Best,

Bob

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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.

Bob keep us posted.

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• 1978 57' Carlcraft w/twin 454 350hp Crusaders V-drives
  
  
• 1984 26' Sleekcraft, 502 BBC, 525hp
  
  
• Realtime Weather Aboard The Bama Breeze

GOT 'ER DONE!!!

Went this afternoon and finished the deal for a 1984 SeaRay 340 Sedan Bridge! have known this boat for several years as it was across and two stalls down from our first houseboat. 34'X11',11" with [2]260hp merc V drives and a (don't know kw's yet, just know it'll run marine air and stove top at same time) Onan. Prefer Westie, but not gonna replace as long as this little guy runs as sweetly as it seems to now. Has head/shower combo,master stateroom in very bow of boat,center galley with electric cooktop, 6cu.ft. fridge,icemaker and microwave, salon/lower helm in rear of enclosed area,dinette and galley booth both make out into sleeping areas, decent sized rear deck and a nice swim platform. Upper helm has nice bimini, and there's a full set of enclosure curtains for upper helm and rear deck.

Fully realize what a step down this is from a 1998 16'X78', but gonna put the Gibson "boaters" to shame for time spent out of slip, and have a helluva time doing it! While rather skittish of lightning, one of these BOATS will handle anything coming down on a landlocked lake!

Worst downside, this is the nastiest tub we've ever undertaken to humanize! When we knew her the owner was living aboard (against Corps regs, but he never had them notice for two years). He was single,retired,and nothing better to do than polish and shine (though I think he may have "bachelored about" on the inside cleaning). Been neglected now for couple years and looking a little frumpy but she'll still clean up ok I think.

Bob

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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.

Nice description, now where are the photos

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Banana Tom

Since I own a steel-hulled houseboat, I'm curious as to the source of your 'major headaches'! I spent most of this spring finding and taking care of all the rust I could find on ours, and if what I found is 20 years worth, assuming I keep taking care of it I got another 60 years worth of hull left before I have any worries! (but maybe I'm not looking everywhere I should!)

Congrats on the new boat! The wife & me decided a long time ago that we wanted to buy a houseboat when retirement rolls around. However, in the meantime, we've personally witnessed the vegetables our own parents have turned into since THEIR retirement rolled around, and we made a decision that, if we're ever going to own a houseboat, it better be NOW rather than LATER. We're still in our 'low-50's' (barely!) and I figure we have 15 - 20 good years left before we're just plain too tired to houseboat, and we'll probably do exactly what you just did, sell the big'un and get something smaller...


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1988 SkipperLiner 53x14
1995 Tracker Party Cruiser 32 *for sale*
2003 Chaparral 260 SSI
2000 Allegro Bus 40' DP

My parents bought a custom-built steel hulled 12x55 around 1990, lived aboard for 7-8 months of the year. I and my 6 brothers and sisters would visit for the week of July 4th every year. Mom and Dad eventually moved closer to the lake and spent less time on the houseboat. When my wife and I got our 2 kids out of the house and bought a 2001 Chapparal 186ssi (kids wondered why we didn't buy it while they lived at home...) we would trailer it to the lake most weekends, staying on the houseboat. That's when we knew we would have to have our own. My folks are in their early 80s now and sold their boat to a friend at the dock. We bought our (first) houseboat Jan 2007. It's so satisfying to watch my parents enjoying a cruise on our boat now. And Dad's Chesser (sp?) cat grin is probably from knowing that he no longer has to foot the bill for slip rent, gas, maintenance... We're in our early 50s and look forward to every chance we get to go boating. Hopefully we'll be able to enjoy it for another 15-20 years, too.
Full circle, indeed.

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Mike

1989 Sumerset 14x64
Twin Volvo AQ131C SP
Watts Bar Lake
Spring City, TN

Congrats Bob on not letting too much time pass without a boat! Sure you'll miss having the space, but you'll also apreciate more freedom from the dock too! Could there be a "great loop" trip on the horizon?

Time to post some pictures so we can virtually bring her up to gadget status!!!!

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• 1978 57' Carlcraft w/twin 454 350hp Crusaders V-drives
  
  
• 1984 26' Sleekcraft, 502 BBC, 525hp
  
  
• Realtime Weather Aboard The Bama Breeze