Newbie F30 1978

Orb353 · Post by **Orb353** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:57 am

I am looking at buying a 1978 30' express hardtop- I assume it is an f30. It has a single screw chrysler 440 330hp. What kind of performance can I expect out of this boat. The boat is out of the water and in need of mainly cosmetic work. I am getting a boat mainly for a weekender for about 4 people staying on it. Also for crossing to bahamas, and cruising in the keys. Can this boat handle a generator?
Also how does it handle rough seas? Does the hull pound?

ORB

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:02 am

Do you have a link to a picture?

Read-up...
http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=2854

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:22 am

I would reconsider buying that size of boat with only a single screw as it is not a trawler hull.

Orb353 · Post by **Orb353** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:52 am

http://www.orbconstruction.com/forsale/index.html

these are pictures the guy sent me. It needs cosmetic work for sure. He is asking 2500$ delivered. He said it will run in the 20mph range.

You can cross to bimini in a 25' fishing boat in the summer if the weather is calm.
I am just looking for info on how this boat will handle in different conditions. I also considered repowering it with a diesel. I am a diesel mechanic and could find a good used diesel. Is this boat large enough to sleep several people for a few nights?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:12 pm

The boat looks poorly taken care of . but what do you expect for 2500 bucks . a single 440 should have no problem pushing it on plane . As far as sleeping 4-6 people in can be done 2 in the V berth 1 top bunk 1 bottom( sofa make to a bunk) and 2 in the dinette / berth , but it will be crowed I don't over night more then us 2 on my F36

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:13 pm

Orb353 wrote:http://www.orbconstruction.com/forsale/index.html

these are pictures the guy sent me. It needs cosmetic work for sure. He is asking 2500$ delivered. He said it will run in the 20mph range.

You can cross to bimini in a 25' fishing boat in the summer if the weather is calm.
I am just looking for info on how this boat will handle in different conditions. I also considered repowering it with a diesel. I am a diesel mechanic and could find a good used diesel. Is this boat large enough to sleep several people for a few nights?

That does not look like F30 to me. Are you sure that`s what it is? Its F26 I think.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:16 pm

Rodman wrote:
Orb353 wrote:http://www.orbconstruction.com/forsale/index.html

these are pictures the guy sent me. It needs cosmetic work for sure. He is asking 2500$ delivered. He said it will run in the 20mph range.

You can cross to bimini in a 25' fishing boat in the summer if the weather is calm.
I am just looking for info on how this boat will handle in different conditions. I also considered repowering it with a diesel. I am a diesel mechanic and could find a good used diesel. Is this boat large enough to sleep several people for a few nights?

That does not look like F30 to me. Are you sure that`s what it is?

My thoughts too. Every F30 I have seen has twins...

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:26 pm

Orb353 wrote:http://www.orbconstruction.com/forsale/index.html

these are pictures the guy sent me. It needs cosmetic work for sure. He is asking 2500$ delivered. He said it will run in the 20mph range.

You can cross to bimini in a 25' fishing boat in the summer if the weather is calm.
I am just looking for info on how this boat will handle in different conditions. I also considered repowering it with a diesel. I am a diesel mechanic and could find a good used diesel. Is this boat large enough to sleep several people for a few nights?

I picked this F26 up for $1,500

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:29 pm

Here is another F30 with twins layout looks the same inside, they sold some as single for the price point....
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... 64369&url=

As before I would not run a boat that big/heavy with only a single.
Also his example looks like a lot of work to bring it back... check the decks and stringers for soft spots.

Jersdevil · Post by **Jersdevil** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:29 pm

I have an F30 Clean Machine with twins and the engine hatches look just like yours. Are you sure it is not twin screws?

Orb353 · Post by **Orb353** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:12 pm

Thanks for all the info. I have not actually put my eyes on the boat yet. He is about 500 miles from me. I was looking at a chris craft catalina, but I thought a trojan might be a better built hull. I am not looking for something to cross florida straights in 10-12ft seas , just something that will run about 18-20mph and handle 4-6 ft seas well. I am trying to get into the inboard, larger boat market. I have had boats under 25' , mostly center consoles. I currently have a 222 aquasport. I want something to Island hop in the keys and the bahamas, and that I can sleep on.

He says it is a 30ft boat. I have not asked him about the model. Any idea on fuel consumption?

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:12 pm

Orb353 wrote:Thanks for all the info. I have not actually put my eyes on the boat yet. He is about 500 miles from me. I was looking at a chris craft catalina, but I thought a trojan might be a better built hull. I am not looking for something to cross florida straights in 10-12ft seas , just something that will run about 18-20mph and handle 4-6 ft seas well. I am trying to get into the inboard, larger boat market. I have had boats under 25' , mostly center consoles. I currently have a 222 aquasport. I want something to Island hop in the keys and the bahamas, and that I can sleep on.

He says it is a 30ft boat. I have not asked him about the model. Any idea on fuel consumption?

Where are you located, I am in Orlando. They are several people here that own Trojans that live here in Florida.

larglo · Post by **larglo** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:25 pm

He said.....I was looking at a chris craft

A Chris Craft,,,,,,oh my god..

Orb353 · Post by **Orb353** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 3:28 pm

I live in Valdosta,ga. I am partnering up for a boat with a friend who lives in miami. We want to leave it docked down there. We have been to the keys lots of times with smaller boats and rented houses and such, but we want to take the jump over to the bahamas, maybe start vacationing over there , and if it is too rough , we can always shoot down to islamorada or something. We are just looking at boats right now, trying to decide what we want. I love the lines of those trojan hardtops. We are not bluewater fisherman, so we really are not looking for a flybridge. We are divers, but get a little fishing in sometimes.

The guy that has the boat actually has a boat moving and salvage business. I think he got the boat really cheap somewhere. The f30 is probably small for more than 2 or 3 people to sleep in , so we may end up looking at something larger.

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:00 pm

Orb353 wrote:I live in Valdosta,ga. I am partnering up for a boat with a friend who lives in miami. We want to leave it docked down there. We have been to the keys lots of times with smaller boats and rented houses and such, but we want to take the jump over to the bahamas, maybe start vacationing over there , and if it is too rough , we can always shoot down to islamorada or something. We are just looking at boats right now, trying to decide what we want. I love the lines of those trojan hardtops. We are not bluewater fisherman, so we really are not looking for a flybridge. We are divers, but get a little fishing in sometimes.

The guy that has the boat actually has a boat moving and salvage business. I think he got the boat really cheap somewhere. The f30 is probably small for more than 2 or 3 people to sleep in , so we may end up looking at something larger.

Just keep in mind anything over 12ft beam will require you to have a semi to haul it and crane to load it in the water. That is where it will have to stay.