99/00 44 Hardtop express thoughts, opinions, reviews, etc

[RGrew176]

One thing to think about is the exchange of the Canadian vs American $. If the Canadian boat is $126K that translates to $98,903 American. Makes the boat a pretty good deal and the additional cost of transportation not such a big deal.

[SeaNile]

The price is already in USD, haven't come to an absolute agreement but it'll be less than 130k.

Trying to see the one in Jersey City but the broker has not called back in a few days. Frustrating.

[Cooler]

RE: difference of 30K. Lot more boat in the 440 Trojan. OAL is 6 ft longer, Beam is 14" wider, and the weight is 7,400 lbs more. Granted, part of that is the hardtop, but still significant weight difference. Most often, that is a result of construction and less coring on the Trojan. The base price on the Trojan was $100K more when the vessels were new. Again, that hardtop is cooked in that difference, but well worth it. In my travels I have seen more than a dozen 440's. My original retirement plan was to purchase a 440, and live out my years in New Zealand in the Bay of Islands area. Then grandkids happened. Could never be seperated by that much distance from those kids. One testimony to quality of construction. Hundreds of 35 foot posts were accidently dumped into Lake Michigan in 1996. I was in Door County when a Trojan 440 came in, the captain was totally beside himself. On the cruise across from lower Michigan, he hit a number of those posts that were penciled at the water line, going at cruising speed. The impact was so hard, the entire vessel shook like an earthquake. He did not come off plain because he was convinced a post could be protruding through the hull. We got him to a shallow area where he could inspect under hull. Saw two impact points due to bottom paint scrape. We were also able to pinpoint the spots in the bilge to inspect any stress cracks. Nothing, no damage in or out. He lifted the vessel with a travel lift, had a surveyor inspect the area. Again, no evidence of any incident, other than the bottom paint rub. Did find a couple more impact points on the outside. This is the first time I saw a very good captain slam a martini at 7:15 in the morning. AND, you will probably put off the twofootitis for a number of years IMHO. Good luck! er

[SeaNile]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm not 100% sold on the hardtop, although it does have a large sky light window that retracts, it does not have cockpit or helm AC. My initial thoughts are it may be significantly hotter in the helm area while anchored, probably louder while cruising and also has the possibility of diesel fume smell at low speed and maybe even at cruise. All of this when compared to the canvas top boats because I would rarely have the front canvas portion in that connects the overhead canvas to the windshield.

[tomschauer]

Hard top or Canvas?
I would take the hard top anytime!!!!

[RGrew176]

Source of the post Hard top or Canvas?
I would take the hard top anytime!!!!

Same here. No doubt about it.

[SeaNile]

We will see what happens. The hardtop one is in Canada which makes seeing it impossible at this time and also would make getting it to me challenging. The one for 159k is an easier purchase because it's only a 2hr car ride away. Aside from the crazy asking price it has a rather dark interior which I don't care for including a black couch. I think the boat needs to be lightened up a bit with lighter carpet, couch, etc.

The other choice is a 99-02 Sea Ray 400/410 SunDancer. I know a totally different boat but there are several that are of interest to me.

[Helmsman]

Source of the post We will see what happens. The hardtop one is in Canada which makes seeing it impossible at this time and also would make getting it to me challenging. The one for 159k is an easier purchase because it's only a 2hr car ride away. Aside from the crazy asking price it has a rather dark interior which I don't care for including a black couch. I think the boat needs to be lightened up a bit with lighter carpet, couch, etc.

The other choice is a 99-02 Sea Ray 400/410 SunDancer. I know a totally different boat but there are several that are of interest to me.

If you plan to own it for awhile, I would spend the time to get as many key items that you want as possible. Check both the Sea Rays and Carvers you are looking at to see if the hull is cored. Some people don’t mind that but I would, particularly in an older boat.

I would take diesel over gas any day. Diesel’s are safer, and Diesel engines last much longer as long as they have been cared for.

I think the environment you are buying in is quite tough. Most boats being sold have inflated pricing, and as you noted CV is certainly making things tougher.

[SeaNile]

The 159k boat? On market since September with zero offers....does not appear updated to me other than the isinglass looks decent. Apparently the valve adjustment has not been done according to the broker "these engines don't need a valve adjustment, no one does that....been doing this for 26yrs and never heard of such a thing."

Quick look, headliner needs attention, several bubbles in the arch, I'm sure the engines need the after coolers cleaned, etc.

The other local one was a 99 listed at 95k just went under contract. Heard from someone who looked at it "was in rough shape and passed." So, there is no way this 159k boat is a 159k boat when the BUC is 115 and the comps are 100ish. Here is a link to the boat.

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1999/t ... t-3692895/

[tomschauer]

The pics of that Trojan look pretty nice.
Covid has really made it a sellers market. Boats and motor homes are selling for crazy dollars. You have have been able to get that Trojan in 2019 for 125k or less. When we purchased our 355 in 2015 (14?) it was surveyed at 79.5k. Just had a survey done for insurance and it surveyed at 92.5k. I did do some decent upgrades and improvements, but not that $$ in my opinion. Your bargaining chip is many lenders will not lend on a boat more than 20 years old, or if they do the rate is higher.

Good luck!!