Bozeman Bob

Patience Grasshopper , took us 8 months before we found the right one. Don't rush it and just settle on one because your tired of looking, which should be 1/2 the fun of it anyway. iboats/yachttrader/boattrader/google/craigs. [which I used to search from New England to Chicago, Detroit had some decent boats last year.]..something will pop up in your price range.

I have seen fresh water engines come apart just as quickly as salt water do. All the surveyors I have dealt with inspect everything but the engine. They leave that to mechanics at your expense to look it over. There is no guarantee they can find everything ,its a educated crapshoot. Who is to say a timing chain isn't on its last breath or a piston ring isn't ready to grenade ? If your searching for the ultimate deal make sure you have saved enough on the deal to be able to replace the engine in the near future and if you don't your more ahead of the curve. Sorry to hear some have had bad results with saltys but I see a whole lot of them being used as charter boats.

I would say your only issue is that you probably will be replacing the engine in a few years unless itis a newer one that was designed for salt water use and it was religiously flushed after every use. I would not be worried about the wiring, trim tabs or actual hull. What size/ make of boat and engine ???? To some of the post above, most salt inboards are closed cooling and the actual block is fine running in salt, the exhaust manifolds are replaced every 5 years or so vs 15-20 on fresh water. If it is a open system expect to replace the engine. I bought a salty last year and have had no issues and was about 17,000-20,000 less than what I would of paid if it was a freshy. I could replace both drivelines all the wiring and still be ahead. I would do it again and it was surveyed.

Have you considered the Trojan F32 listed on here. The price point is there, fresh engines , fully rigged and room for your family to spend weekends on. Yes its a older boat but fresh water all its life and the gel coat may be in very good condition, hard to tell from the pictures. Sure would leave you with gas and storage money being way under budget. Don't think your going to find anything [ Tiara-Amberjack] in the 2000's with your budget. Just a thought and it can't hurt to take a look at it.

I know a guy that keeps his 31 Tiara in Erie Pa. and is selling it. Boat was set up and kept on Ontario until he moved it two years ago to be closer to his home. Has not posted it for sale anywhere that I am aware of,not in a hurry to move it. PM me if you want his info

www.yachtsurvey.com

Blackfin Combi 29 is also near the top of my hit list if you want a bad ass ride, that does both fairly well. The boats I mentioned are more fish machines vs lets make Momma happy and get some glitter. If your going that route then the Tiara is what I would zero in on.

Also Luhrs makes a 29 Open . Carolina Classic has a 28 not sure what it jumps to after that.

Late 90's early 2000's are going for 35-45 grand and from what I have seen of the 2000's they are a lot more cruiser than fisher.The stern area is more for lounging than battling. For that kind of money I would be looking at a Tiara 29 Open and more than likely it will be a saltwater boat. The 29 Opens are as scarce as hens teeth on the Great Lakes. A good survey should eliminate any fears of salt water. Usually the exhaust manifolds will have to be replaced and other than that I wouldn't worry about a boat from saltwater as there almost always a closed cooling system and straight inboards. I usually go to Hudson Valley on craigslist and search the 60 or so surrounding areas and come up with quite a few of them. Blackwatch, Alberemarle, Henriques, Ramapage, Topaz and Bertram also come to mind.