Need to downsize - 1985 55C

[Briankinley2004]

I hate to say this but since I moved to Florida and away from my kids my 55 convertible is just too much boat for my wife and I both to maintain and handle. The large groups I used to fish with stayed as well and I am 40 miles from the nearest travel lift that can handle the boat. She is not yet a dock queen but it gets hard to justify taking a 55 foot boat offshore overnight with just two people onboard. I am tossing around putting her up for sale or an equitable trade for a smaller sport fish that is 36-40'. She is a nearly original 1985 model with very few modifications. If anyone is looking for a solid battlewagon that runs great or knows of such a person I am putting out here first before I list elsewhere or go the broker route. The listing includes:

Galley up version- 3 Heads-3 Staterooms

Washer/Dryer

4 Cruisair A/C units

Jenn Air Stove with Convection Microwave

Both helms rebuilt by Southern Charm 2021

Flybridge repainted with Awlgrip 2021

23KW M&L Generator apps 700 HR

Detroit 12V71TI's with approximately 3600 total HR. Previous owner's widow stated they were rebuilt but could not locate papers. He owned several GM dealerships. I have a story about it but at the end of the day no paperwork. They do not smoke and pass the Genesis test. I had them surveyed when I bought in 2017 and that is available

Updated exhaust risers

New exhaust blankets

RA Clarkson approved fresh water flush setup

Factory live well in cockpit deck

Garmin Electronics & radar - Simrad Autopilot - Vesper AIS

Original Nav lights converted to 12V LED

Many more things to list. I will post a few pics and can take more if needed. Had an in water insurance survey in October 2021. Thinking about asking $175,000 but like most everything it is negotiable.

 

[Briankinley2004]

 

[Briankinley2004]

 

[Briankinley2004]

 

[Briankinley2004]

 

[jim rosenthal]

Beautiful boat.. with 12v71s this would be the one to have.

 

[rsmith]

Where is the boat located

 

[JuiceClark]

What a beauty. You know you did something correctly in this life when your sportfish has a windshield wiper on the windscreen. I like your shorter tower, for sure.

If you want to zip around in a little 52C, just let me know! As my renovation has gotten to the later, easier stage, I might get 3-footitis.

 

[Briankinley2004]

Where is the boat located

Hernando Beach, FL

About an hour North of Tampa by land

 

[Briankinley2004]

What a beauty. You know you did something correctly in this life when your sportfish has a windshield wiper on the windscreen. I like your shorter tower, for sure.

If you want to zip around in a little 52C, just let me know! As my renovation has gotten to the later, easier stage, I might get 3-footitis.

I like the 52's but the 55 engine room is much more roomier. Unfortunately a 52 is still too big for up here. There is one marina that hauls out a 42 Hatteras sport fish and they said they will not go any larger as it is barely workable on a flood tide. The other marinas are even smaller. My favorite to run was the 60 convertible. Being able to get to the engine room from the stateroom hallway is awesome.

 

[omecojh]

Very tempting; I have a 42 Hatteras. Could trade for the 55 or 52.

 

[Briankinley2004]

Very tempting; I have a 42 Hatteras. Could trade for the 55 or 52.

What is the weight on a 42?

 

[whoover]

42c's are about 30,000 dry. Just sold mine yesterday, it's staying on Lake Ontario. It's been a big part of my life (and wallet) for 22 years. Brian was your boat in st Augustine when you bought it, I may have looked at it just before you.

Walt Hoover

 

[cww]

First, beautiful boat. That will sell in no time. Second, this happens after you move somewhere else as an adult and your friends are all back where you moved from. If you think about it, you probably made your last good friend 20+ years ago. I am going through this myself. All my friends were from childhood, high school, or college. As I have gotten older, they take jobs elsewhere, they move away, they die, or things just happen to where you aren't close anymore. I have had to consciously force myself to go out and meet new people the last couple years, which has had good results. Now I have new friends, they're different people with different quirks and whatnot, but life's better for it. Just saying the problem might not be the boat.

 

[madhatter1]

First, beautiful boat. That will sell in no time. Second, this happens after you move somewhere else as an adult and your friends are all back where you moved from. If you think about it, you probably made your last good friend 20+ years ago. I am going through this myself. All my friends were from childhood, high school, or college. As I have gotten older, they take jobs elsewhere, they move away, they die, or things just happen to where you aren't close anymore. I have had to consciously force myself to go out and meet new people the last couple years, which has had good results. Now I have new friends, they're different people with different quirks and whatnot, but life's better for it. Just saying the problem might not be the boat.

Agree with everything posted. Except the quirky part. Haven't met anyone like that. Hmmm. Guess I'm the quirky one!

 

[Briankinley2004]

Walt my boat was located near New Orleans when I bought her. As for being quirky that is probably the least of my issues. Actually most of the people I fished with were a mixture of acquaintances and friends. Half of us had boats and took turns going on each others boats. The other half didn't mind ponying up for fuel and helping with maintenance (the friends with a boat is better than owning one bunch). The fishing off the LA coast was spectacular compared to this part of Florida. Alot easier to get a group together to go 80 miles and catch a cooler full of yellowfin, dolphin, wahoo, etc. etc where here I go 80 miles to bottom fish. I think that is another reason people dont want to pony up for a big boat in this area and would rather catch grouper in 10 feet of water in the fall.

 

[rsmith]

I’ve never understood the attraction of the west coast. It’s way hotter. And you need to run a long ways to fish. I remember visiting my uncle as a kid in Fort Meyers. He used to say the west coast is where all the elephants go to die.

 

[cww]

Walt my boat was located near New Orleans when I bought her. As for being quirky that is probably the least of my issues. Actually most of the people I fished with were a mixture of acquaintances and friends. Half of us had boats and took turns going on each others boats. The other half didn't mind ponying up for fuel and helping with maintenance (the friends with a boat is better than owning one bunch). The fishing off the LA coast was spectacular compared to this part of Florida. Alot easier to get a group together to go 80 miles and catch a cooler full of yellowfin, dolphin, wahoo, etc. etc where here I go 80 miles to bottom fish. I think that is another reason people dont want to pony up for a big boat in this area and would rather catch grouper in 10 feet of water in the fall.

I'm with you on grouper that's my least favorite fish. No flavor just tastes like whatever you seasoned it with, and they fight you too. On the not knowing anybody where you moved to thing, join the florida gulf coast fishing group on facebook and introduce yourself with a picture of the boat. Join the yacht club, ignore the pretentious people, and go drink at the bar and say hi to people. It's rough meeting new friends as an adult. It's not something we're programmed to do easily. But you just have to put yourself out there. If you do, life will develop back to normal after a short while just with new people and a new place.

 

[JuiceClark]

I’ve never understood the attraction of the west coast. It’s way hotter. And you need to run a long ways to fish. I remember visiting my uncle as a kid in Fort Meyers. He used to say the west coast is where all the elephants go to die.

"Fort Myers"

The East Coast of FL is a concrete nightmare. I lived in Palm Beach for awhile in the early 90s, when it was still more expensive than Naples, and shall never return.

That said, living over here you have to know where the fish and sandbars are! And I do....

 

[rsmith]

"Fort Myers"

The East Coast of FL is a concrete nightmare. I lived in Palm Beach for awhile in the early 90s, when it was still more expensive than Naples, and shall never return.

That said, living over here you have to know where the fish and sandbars are! And I do....

Yeah but you’ve got red tide!