Engine Choices- Another ?

[GotHalos]

I still havent seen a Price Range for the "boat of your pleasure"..... Maybe if you give us an idea of the cash you are ready to put out, it will also give you an idea of how much of a project it is going to be, or not.....

Turnkey ready to go "UNMOLESTED" (I like that term) clean flatbottoms with rebuilt low hour (chevy) engines can run from $15-20K

If you are looking to find something in the $5K range then you should also have a bank account backing that up with about $10K saved or a large credit limit.... to make all the repairs and complete all the restoration projects you will be doing on it. just saying....

Bottom line is get a good hull.... (if you go for a project boat) fiber and wood work is THE MOST expensive part of a project. Mechanicals are not too crazy to restore and replace.

THeres alot of nice turnkey boats out there.... for sale.... everything has a price!

Well shit, I guess I am out of luck. This is around what I was hoping to spend (part of the reason, I'm asking these questions). I'd rather learn before I go and buy a money pit (Yes, I know all boats are money pits). After all that is why I am asking for opinions, you guys have been there before, I haven't. I came across this for $5,000 :http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/4073407655.html

Maybe a dumb question but is something like that not even worth buying or? I appreciate everyone's input so far, like I said I'd rather keep saving and buy something I can keep for a long time, as I intend to do.

At this point I'm not looking to go 100 mph or even be the best looking boat on the water. I don't mind working on something, as I know I will have to, regardless of how much I spend. Just looking to get out on the water and possibly explore new waterways. What it's all about right?

I'm also not in a hurry to buy, so I don't have a problem with waiting for the 'right' deal.