02/18/2008 06:39:26 PM
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gpetty46
Junior Member
Posts: 2
Joined: 02/18/2008
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Hello HBers! I'm moving off my 50 ft old wooden sailboat and
looking for something smaller and with less maintenance. At
first the Sea Campers looked interesting, but after seeing one in
person, they're just to small, with too little storage, for living
aboard.
Then the 70's Gibsons caught my eye. A lot of boat in 36'.
And in my price range ($20,000 or less) too.
I'd appreciate any links to Gibson owners forums or websites.
It appears some (or all) had a "cuddy cabin" forward under
the main deck? Are there floor plans of the various models
available somewhere?
Enough questions!
Thanks,
Gary
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02/18/2008 06:56:10 PM
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Daron
Junior Member
Posts: 18
Joined: 09/10/2007
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gpetty46
I have a 1973 Gibson Standard 30' with a single 318 engine.... I am in the process of replacing the interior (after ripping it all out, down to stringers)..It has been alot of work, but its a labor of love.....If I was looking at another older Gibson, I would first check the floors in the rear corners for rot...Also check around all of the windows a few times....Also check the decking for soft spots....
In the last year I have gathered all the info I could from here and other sites....
All of the people here are great....Very healpful...
Daron
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New to houseboating.....but not boating........
1973 Gibson 30ft (The Mothership)
1996 Rinker Festiva 212...(Dazed and Confused)
Enjoying the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh PA....
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02/19/2008 08:02:47 AM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1520
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Look for rot in transom, stringers, decks, canopy and window areas. Get a survey. these boats are 30+ years old and the wood in them tends twoard rot , whis is expensive to replace.
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
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02/19/2008 09:59:44 AM
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Iman
Member
Posts: 76
Joined: 04/05/2006
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There are lotsa '70's houseboats around. You'd probably be able to pick up a steel model cheapest. Aluminum will be hardest to find and most costly. I went with fiberglass and tried to find a cheap one with a good structure (paid less than $5k but I'm on a big lake with tons of boats). Of course I've seen Gibson's but when I was looking to buy cheap, I didn't look at any Gibson's, mostly Nautilines. If you do find a boat in good shape but for example without the cuddy you want, I'd still buy it. You can add a cuddy much cheaper than fixing rot. I modified my cabinets and took out the stove, changed to a pocket door to the head, etc.
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1973 Chris Craft Aquahome, 34'
Lake Lanier, GA
Edited: 02/19/2008 at 10:01:44 AM by Iman
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02/20/2008 03:37:08 PM
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BananaTom
Admiral
Posts: 968
Joined: 12/05/2006
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I believe the Pirate has an aluminium hull houseboat forsale on his web page in that price range.
It does not rot.
I am a Gibson Owner.
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Banana Tom
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02/20/2008 04:44:14 PM
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gpetty46
Junior Member
Posts: 2
Joined: 02/18/2008
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Thanks OldHouseBoater and Iman. I live on a wooden boat now,
so I'm very familiar with rot!!! I'll carry an icepick with
me when I look at boats.
BananaTom - I looked at pirate's boats, but he (and they) are
mostly a loooong way from San Diego, and I'm afraid the shipping
would make a sale untenable.
Thanks for the replies.
Gary
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02/22/2008 05:31:34 PM
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Ej
Admiral
Posts: 620
Joined: 05/15/2005
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Here is one on Ebay.
Gibson Houseboat
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04/13/2008 09:30:47 PM
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robinpich
Junior Member
Posts: 19
Joined: 02/29/2008
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We owned a '74 model several years back and LOVED it, but I agree with the others, check all the windows for leaks/rot. that was the worst problem with ours around the aft window/door. Ours had a cuddy but instead of going down by the helm you accessed our cuddy by going down 3 steps towards the aft stateroom and then turning a corner and right in front of the head door, you went down 1 more step to the cuddy. We tore out all flooring, painted the cheap paneling white to brighten it all up, bought a new "real" bed for the aft room, galley was up (it was microwave, fridge and counter so not a real galley as some have) but this was the MOST fun we've had in our boating years. Our daughter LOVED the cuddy when she was young (she's a teenager now) and if she jumped off the top of the houseboat to the lake below ONCE, she jumped a 1000 times :-)
Such good memories!
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