onplane

Thank you all for the information. This will be my first boat (other than a 12 foot Jon boat that has already cost an arm and a leg - but nothing compared to what I'm to expect with a bigger boat I understand). It's amazing how many different warning signs I've seen in the last four months looking at boats - light brown oil under the engine, hull work covered by a "keel guard", moldy cabins, reinforced engine mounts, and winterized boats (in the middle of summer) that the owners would not prep for a sea trial. The scariest thing is that in every case the owners would not fess up to any problems and said their boats were in "excellent" and "perfect" condition and "needed nothing". I'm starting to think buying a boat is worse than buying a used car. After all this, I will absolutely have any potential boat surveyed and checked by a Merc mechanic if possible. Again, thanks for all your input. One question for Bill - what is a pocket drive vs. a tunnel drive? Tight lines...

Thanks for the info. I've seen some Penn Yans that needed reinforcing where their engine mounts met the hull frame...anything like that in your experience? Is there anything I should be aware of if I'm interested in one of these boats? Did either of your boats have tunnel drive? - Jeff

I'd like to know what your experiences have been with the quality of Penn Yan and Bayliner boats, around 1990 to 1992. Thanks!

Looking for a 1992 Penn Yan 26' cuddy hardtop or something similar. Stand up cabin, don't need flybridge. For fishing and 5 person family cruising, must have perfect hull and good engine/outdrive. I'm in Hudson Valley but will travel north for the right boat. Please pass it along and let me know. I'm at [email protected] Thanks for looking.