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Old 10-08-2007, 09:34 AM   #1
PCdiver
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Question 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

I'm thinking about buying a 1987 24' Privateer. It has pilot house and a armstrong bracket with a 02' Mercury Optimax 225. I'm not familiar with these boats, does anyone have any experiance or knowledge of them??? How about the motor?
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Old 10-08-2007, 09:36 AM   #2
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

Awesome boats. Get a survey done and if it passes... pick it up!

They make great small dive boats and you can't kill them.

Rachel
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Old 10-08-2007, 09:59 AM   #3
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

They have great lines, but they were not really designed to be offshore boats.

Wet and know to hand out an ass kicking in a sea.

Make sure the floor is dry also, another problem.

2002 Optimax........Be careful!!!
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Old 10-08-2007, 12:48 PM   #4
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

I bought one brand new in 1987, sold it in 1990.
I think the cabin arrangement was called a Chessapeake. Hardtop, forward cabin was a place to throw gear bags and keep a porta john.
I used it as a 6 pack charter dive boat, as did the next two owners.
Wide and stable, it makes a good dive platform but not especially fast with 225 hp, might cruise 23 k. Not much deadrise. OK ride in 2-3 but it will beat you if you over power the hull and try to run much faster.
Nice little big boat, for a monohull. Not near the boat that a 28 Delta is though, if you're shopping for something to use commercially.
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Old 10-09-2007, 09:03 PM   #5
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

Thanks for the info, Im going for a test drive tomorrow.
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Old 10-09-2007, 10:14 PM   #6
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

my old boss had a privateer same as this one and i tried to buy it off of him for years. would not sell it to me. i rode on it and was happy with the ride, sea state was all but perfect that day.
for a small dive boat for you and a couple of friends it would work well.

if you do not mind what are they asking?
put up some pics after you take it for a test ride.

wreckchick had one in the keys and ran it as a 6 pac charter
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Old 10-12-2007, 03:02 AM   #7
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

I bought my 24 privateer from wreckchic, refit it a bit including completeing the dodger to full cabin (used nidacore) and have been very happy with it. Solid boat, very economical.

Mine is set up with a bracket and a yamaha f225. Full tank, two pasengers, four tanks, some ice, I top out at 35 and cruise at 29-30mph.

On a typical 3-4 diver day, I cruise about 28mph, and get about 2.6-2.9 mpg.
I can load the boat to the gills, for two separate tournaments this year we loaded that boat with 18-19 LP tanks, ice, equipment and 5 divers, ond on one of those tournaments went 50 miles off shore. A bit slow to plane, but the boat handled very well.

I have had my boat 60 miles off shore on nice days, and slept on the boat many times.

I have run it as far as cedar key from Johns Pass, and brought it up the shallow weeki-watchee river to dive hospital hole, as well as bringing a load of friends and kayaks up the homosassa to the headwaters to kayak with the manatees.

The boats only real drawback is rough water performance. Very good in 1-2, starts to get wet and unenjoyable in 2-3. More than three, the boat stays home.... however that is the compromise you get from the shallower hull, the balance in an average of 2.8 mpg and being able to plane heavy loads on a single f225. The boat is about the most versatile I have seen, that is why I bought it. Good offshore, inshore, skinny water (draws 12 inches), it has the cabin to shelter you from the storms and it trailers fairly easy. Good luck with your decision.
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Old 10-12-2007, 07:37 AM   #8
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

I picked one up about a month ago for a winter project! Its a 22 roamer
old sea tow boat. I'm gonna run 200 02 opti on bracket. I'm not sure about the Opti either? I got it cheap from a guy who repowered. Im on a tight budget Ill take what I can get!

I saw pics of Docs in an old thread thats what helped me pull the trigger on the hull i think its going to be very versital
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Old 10-12-2007, 09:01 AM   #9
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

Hey Doc,

You still haven't showed me any pics since you did the refit on her!

R
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Old 10-17-2007, 03:02 PM   #10
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

Just bought the boat. You guys were right on. In a little bit of seas she rides kind of rough, but I just figured that I will take it slow when the seas pick up. Other than that I really like the layout and it seems like a solid boat. I can't wait to take her out spearing with some friends. Thanks for all the good info.
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Old 10-17-2007, 03:47 PM   #11
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

If you need somebody to help you test it out as a dive boat let me know.
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Old 10-17-2007, 09:44 PM   #12
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

Quote:
Originally Posted by kodyb87 View Post
If you need somebody to help you test it out as a dive boat let me know.
Sure thing, always looking for new people to go spearing with. I will be out of town for a few weeks, but I will let you know when I get back.
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Old 10-17-2007, 09:49 PM   #13
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

Sounds like a plan. Just gettin settled into my new job and the new budget that came with it, so in a few weeks I should be back in line and ready to start back diving pretty often. Shoot me a PM or give me a call at (850)814-2808 anytime you get ready to go.
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Old 10-18-2007, 07:22 AM   #14
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

You can take the Optimax to the dealer and get a history report out of it. They had a few problems with them, but hey are very good motors, very efficient.
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Old 10-25-2007, 10:55 AM   #15
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Re: 1987 24' Privateer. Are these good boats???

Rachel, Im currently traveling Now, currently in India. Will get you some pics when Im back stateside in a few weeks.
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