Want to Buy 28' x 8.5' Express

[Addicted2Water]

Hello all, this is my first post on the forum and I'm hoping to get a little advice from those experienced with the smaller M's.

For some time I've been looking for a "new-to-me" cruiser style boat. The Marinette really stands out as a affordable and maintainable platform. Besides, I like the classic look much better than the bubble styling of fiberglass cruisers.

I've owned a 22.5' runabout for 1.5 years now and it's just not the best fit for how my fiancee' and I use it. We spend maybe 80% of our time cruising and occasionally do a little wakeboarding or tubing. The thing that our current boat doesn't do very well is cruise... My little 22.5' boat really struggles in the chop on Trinity and Galveston Bay near the Houston Ship Channel. Also, we have to rent a cabin for longer stays at the lake, which adds up the cost and hassle of a weekend getaway. We'd really like a boat that we could stay aboard for 2 or 3 nights at a time. Specifically, the idea of hitching up the boat, leaving town, and plunking down at the lake/bay for a long weekend without having to rent a cabin is very appealing.

The 32' M's look like just the ticket except for the wide beam that requires an oversize permit to tow. I seriously considered just dealing with permits, but decided that many of the restrictions wouldn't allow me to actually use the boat as I/we would like. Here's where I need some advice: I am looking at buying a 28' Express to meet most of our wants & desires, then considering modifying it to make a trailerable boat into a weekend-liveable boat for 2 people.

This brings up a few questions:

- Will the 28' Express (single screw) maintain just about any displacement/semiplaning speed or do these boats have a distinct on plane/off plane speed range? My current boat either wants to go less than 9 MPH or over 19 MPH. Cruising at any speed in between is completely out of the question. This is very problematic in windy conditions or when attempting watersports activities... Notice I say attempting

- Does the Chrysler 318 c.i. in a 28' Express have the power to pull up a skier? Thought: I could affordably build a 408 c.i. stroker... (used to be an engine builder and have some experience with these little 318s)

- Is the cabin comfortable for two adults, one being 6'2" tall? Headroom and V-berth room are my main concerns.

- What changes are required to accomodate overnight/weekend stays for 2 people? As I understand, water capacity may be the biggest hurdle to overcome.

- Does anyone know of a 28' Express for sale anywhere near Houston, TX? I'd be willing to drive a few hundred miles to pick up one in good condition.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[TinLizzy]

I can't help you with much, but I do believe that most 28's are 10 ft wide.

[kgrove70074]

My 28' fb sedan is 11' wide

[Maestro]

TinLizzy is correct. All 28' Marinettes are a 10.5' beam. This will require permits. In many places the permits are really not too bad. In some areas you can get annual oversize permits for less than $50. Usually you need separate permits for state vs. county roads. Some states/counties will issue the permit online, others are more old fashioned.

I have hauled my 28 footer through multiple states, etc., and the cops have never really taken a second look at me. If you look like you know what you're doing that helps.

The older boats from the 1960s such as the 31 footers are more like 8'8" in beam so they won't look like they are oversize but if someone gets a measuring tape out you're technically illegal.

If you were to consider a 28', you'd be surprised how roomy they are for a group of 2-4 people. Even standing 6'2", you'll have room to stretch out in the front V-berth. It's surprisingly spacious. Headroom shouldn't be a problem either. The ceiling is a little bit lower in the bathroom. Most 28' Marinettes still have a bathroom (head), kitchen (galley), and a large dinette table that turns into a good size bunk. Plenty of room for people to hang out on the back deck as well.

It will handle the chop much better than your runabout. It will still roll around pretty good if you allow the waves to hit you from side-on.

There are many factors that affect how long you can stay out on the water but a 2-3 day weekend on a 28' is totally doable. My wife and I (and our dog) do this all the time with minimal equipment/supplies.

Speed/Skiing: depending on a wide variety of factors, a 28' Marinette with single 318 is probably going to have a happy cruising speed of 21-22 mph. Maybe around 25 mph at full blast. (My boat has a 440, so my ideas about speed might be slightly off. I can hit 30mph at WOT) I am a skier and have always wanted to try skiing behind my boat but I expect that even if I could get going, it would feel awfully sluggish compared to a proper ski boat. I feel like the boat does not accelerate fast enough to allow the skier to get up on plane.

If you're dead set on skiing, a 28' with twin 318s would get you more speed, but also send more $$$ out your exhaust pipes.

Marinettes are planing hulls but the bow points high in the air at cruising speed if you don't have trim tabs. (I do but they don't work right now!)

I will defer to an actual owner of a 26' Marinette to talk about speed, etc., for those boats. I would guess they can go faster but they also may have smaller engines.

Feel free to ask follow up questions as you continue to research...good luck!

[meltonhill]

26' Marinettes are wider than 10' also. There's a post already going on this. They are not bad to tow, but trailers can up the price.

[Rockxx]

Addicted,
Welcome aboard. As the owner of a 1972, single 318, 28' Express, if you find one you're going to love it. My 72 model has a 10.5 beam and believe anything built after the mid 60's will be likewise. Plenty of room for a week end as we will spend at least two weekends a month aboard ours. Only problem your going to have is finding one with a generator and air conditioning. I've been to south Texas in the summer and its brutal. If you'll pull the Memphis Tn Craig's list you'll find a 26' advertised but not really sure they know what they have.

Good luck,
Rockxx

[Addicted2Water]

I guess maybe it was the mid 60's boats that I was looking at before... I found a few that were advertised to have an 8.5' beam, all with a single engine, but of course I had no way to confirm this. I'd have no problem adding a gennie and AC to any boat so long as the hull will last for a good long while. Seeing as how I intend to trialer my boat this would certianly be the case . I think a trailered aluminum hull would outlive me!

I wouldn't mind an 8'8" boat... at least I could claim ignorance an likely get away with it!

Also, I saw an in KY that was advertised as a 31' X 9' and it looked pretty close to what I'd be looking for. These seem like rare birds though... Anybody know of a 31 for sale within a day or so of TX?

Thanks for all of the replies!

[Maestro]

The 1960s Marinettes are a bit harder to find, but I have seen a handful of them for sale in the past year or two. Statewidelist.com is a good way to find things, it searches all craigslist pages for an entire state.

My buddy on this forum, ShelbyGT, has a 1962 31' Marinette with a single AMC/Graymarine 327. We clocked her at about 21 mph at WOT.

I think I may have found the one Marinette that is trailerable without a permit: 1959 Marinette 28' Family Cruiser. These guys are rather rare, but they do turn up on occasion. Here is a link to one that sold awhile ago: http://www.yournewboat.com/marinette/index.htm

The advertisement includes a scan of the old Marinette Brochure which advertises the boat as 28' long by 8' beam.

MetalHead - one of the members on this forum - used to have a 1959 Family Cruiser. He might be able to confirm this for us.

[Addicted2Water]

Those family cruisers kind of look like a cruiser and a houseboat had a baby. Very unique... and spacious.

I really like the looks of the 31 x 9 boats and they seem like they would be just the right size as well. Plenty of space for modifications or just storage. Maybe I could stuff a very healthy 500+ c.i. big block into one to give it some extra muscle. It certainly seems like the stock engine would be underpowered for any skiing activities... just judging on weight versus engine displacement. Has anyone with a 31 tried stuffing a big block in there? Seems like the deck might need to be raised looking at pictures.

Also, do most 31s have a shower or just a head w.o. an inside shower?

[seef158]

Here are my answers to your questions. I bought a 1978 28 express with a single 318 this spring and put about 75 hours on the meter in my first summer with it.

- Will the 28' Express (single screw) maintain just about any displacement/semiplaning speed or do these boats have a distinct on plane/off plane speed range? My current boat either wants to go less than 9 MPH or over 19 MPH. Cruising at any speed in between is completely out of the question. This is very problematic in windy conditions or when attempting watersports activities... Notice I say attempting

===I find a good cruising speed to be around 12 mph, if memory serves me that is around 1600 rpm on mine. Full speed is 25-27 mph depending on load and conditions, this is at 3200-3600 rpm which is the most I can turn. If you use the trim tabs you can keep "on plane" at around18-20 mph but you will burn some fuel there.

- Does the Chrysler 318 c.i. in a 28' Express have the power to pull up a skier? Thought: I could affordably build a 408 c.i. stroker... (used to be an engine builder and have some experience with these little 318s)

===I do a lot of skiing, I'm sure I could get up on 2 skis behind my boat but there is no chance of dropping a ski, too slow. I will probably borrow a set of combo skis and do it this coming summer just to say I did it. I think you could do some good wakeboarding behind these boats with the speed/wake they throw off

- Is the cabin comfortable for two adults, one being 6'2" tall? Headroom and V-berth room are my main concerns.
===My wife, dog and I have spent a few weekends aboard, one 4 night stay with her mom along, and a guys weekend with 4 of us using a few air mattresses on the back deck. There is plenty of storage for food and beverages. We had to throw a duffle bag or two around when we had company. That being said I plan on doing the guys weekend again so it must not have been too bad....Plenty of beer involved made it fun!

- What changes are required to accomodate overnight/weekend stays for 2 people? As I understand, water capacity may be the biggest hurdle to overcome.
===I don't think any changes, we can make it through 2 days on the water supply, but we do not have a shower. There are plenty of gas docks where I boat to fill up with water......

- Does anyone know of a 28' Express for sale anywhere near Houston, TX? I'd be willing to drive a few hundred miles to pick up one in good condition.
===As said before the 28 express is going to need permits to be legal. That being said I trailered mine all summer with no permits. I am about 20 miles from the St. Croix/Mississippi rivers and trailered there for 5 or 6 trips, made one trip to Duluth (300 miles round trip by trailer) and another to Bayfield Wi (400 miles round trip on trailer) area from my home near the Minneapolis area. I have not had a cop give me a second look. I do have a crew cab dually which helps make the boat not so big. See my thread about the Venture trailer I purchased this fall, under 5000 out the door with tax and fits like a glove....