On this fine July 4th weekend, you might be wishing you owned a boat this year in the era of social distancing and shuttered social venues. Finding ways to celebrate without violating a rule of some sorts requires some careful planning, but my feeling is boat owners aren’t taking this nearly as hard as those of us without a pleasure craft. This 1983 Century Coronado would be one of the few vessels I’d consider if becoming a full-time boat owner was a goal, thanks to having a genuine, 330 b.h.p. Chrysler 440 as a standard equipment. This 1983 model here on craigslist sounds like it’s been loved and is listed with an asking price of $18,500 with the trailer included.
There’s just something about a high-end vintage boat that’s been loved that really is no different from a high-end vintage car: they just ooze style, far more than their counterparts, and look he business. That steering wheel and gauge cluster is serious business, and offers some indication as to the performance on board. The seller notes that the boat comes with a removable soft top and comfortably seats seven, and at 22′ long, it certainly should have the room to bring a few friends. If I were to equate this Coronado to a car, I’d link it with the Porsche 928 – big, comfortable, with plenty of power and room for others to join in the fun.
Whenever you find a boat with an engine that could otherwise do duty in a muscle car, it’s usually a good indication that the in-water performance is going to be impressive. At my old address, there was a marina nearby, and an owner of an outrageously expensive speed boat had dropped two or three 440s into the back, and the sound that this thing made whether it was idling or going flat out – my God, it made you want to be a boat owner. At least for a few minutes, before you inevitably had to fill that sucker back up with fuel. The engine here appears nicely detailed, and the seller notes it has power to spare with just 670 hours.
He also notes that the robust powerplant “…kicks a huge wake for ski, wake surf, wake board, tubes, etc.,” which will be part of the entertainment if you’re lucky enough to lounge out back on one of the generous couches. The boat has clearly been loved in every capacity, from cosmetics to running gear, and it doesn’t hurt that it will come with a dual axle Calkins roller bunk trailer. A swim platform with ladder is also included, along with a center pylon for pulling tubers and water skiers. Overall, this looks like a great way to get away from the crowds while still enjoying what summer can offer.
Let’s switch gears from overpriced vintage pickup trucks, to overpriced vintage boats. Don’t get me wrong, love boats, grew up on a lake, but the vintage boat market is even more exclusive than the vintage car market, just about anyone can drive a car, but a boat takes so much more. IDK, in 1983, outboards hadn’t got to the stage they are today, and a big V8 was the only answer then. I’m sure this is a sweet ride, but not mentioned, they are incredibly thirsty, and your Kia isn’t going to pull it either, so a big V8 is needed there too. Boats are great fun, just not 5 figure vintage ones.
Since we’re talking boats, quick, HORRIBLE story. Boaters, I was taught living on a lake, had respect for other boaters. It could literally mean life or death. You can’t walk home. One of the things my old man DID teach me right. On a lake near me couple weeks back, an elderly man, fishing alone, fell into the water, 50 degrees. Witnesses said, a nearby pontoon boat circled the struggling man, the boat operator, figured it was better to go back to shore and call 911, and he didn’t want to traumatize his grandchildren on the boat,,, WHAT??? THROW THE GUY A LINE!!! By the time other boaters reached the man, he had sunk like a stone. Might want to watch out for that this 4th if you’re on water. I thought that was terrible,,,
I learned very quickly that when you are running a boat, bring lots of gas. I’m sure those inboards weren’t any harder on gas than those outboard 2-strokes. I packed a lot of gas to my friend’s 135 Johnson. That guy leaving the man in the water makes me sick. I can’t believe that someone could do that. Good lord! You stay on the scene and do what you can. I wonder how that guy can sleep at night. Be safe and have a great 4th of July!
Yeah, that really bothered me too. The standard outboards weren’t exactly gas mizers either. We had 2-6 gallon tanks, and would easily go through that in an afternoon. If we went skiing, we had to get gas, AND oil. Okay, gas was .30 cents and a quart of oil was .79 cents, but today, with the guzzler to get you to the lake, you could go through couple hundred bucks in a day. Again, like flying,( $150/hr) you want to play, you have to pay.
Better to traumatize your grandchildren by having them watch you motor AWAY from an old drowning guy that you ALL got a look at and whose emergent situation was understood? Great call, that grand dad there.
Or hey – be a hero in their eyes with something they’ll remember (and hopefully emulate) for the rest of their lives.
You cant fix stupid, HoA..and we’re beset by it…..everywhere. Common sense left town with one cent Topps bubblegum!
The Coronado name was used on a line of boats back to the Fifties. I was a Gar Wood freak for years back in my yute…but common sense always grabbed me first and the cost of yearly varnishing and other assorted maintenance will kill ya!
There is a great magazine.I subscribed to for years.Classic Boating…………..great to look at, without the cost of upkeep!
here lies the problem let the old man drown not so you don’t upset your spoiled grandkids whoopy crap! watch them grow up to be the idiots causing hell we got now! if this fool had any brains he would give those kids a life lesson, be kind help your fellow man! fat chance of that eh!
A bunch of decades ago I’d crew for a nice old couple in the neighborhood on weekends. One year that stopped. When asked why the response was too many idiots out there on weekends, we’re sailing weekdays now. Now retired and watching a few more decades of skill degeneration I’ve come to the same conclusion. Eg: Saturday we watched a guy trying to dock a simple 20 ft center console bounce off the stern of the boat to one side, off the lower unit on the boat to the other side of the adjacent pier, his finger pier and finally the bulkhead. The Missus and I go out during the week. As far as that despicable human you mentioned, I don’t know where it happened but around here you are required to stand by a vessel in distress, help as able (legally protected under Good Samaritan) and stand by until Police, Rescue, CG or BoatUS and SeaTow types show up.
Sadly that story is reflective of our society Shield the kids from everything and snowblower everything in their way. That’s a terrible lack of common sense and priority. This particular boat does nothing for me. It screams 1970’s blah. I’ll bet it sounds awesome however.
Screams 1970’s? – – It’s listed as 1983 – – –
Ya I know – – – butt out (LOL)
– – – Had to do it – – me bad =:)
@Joanne/Fred
It’s definitely listed as a 1983, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t look like it’s escaped from the 70’s. Awful lot of brown there. Just my opinion anyway.
Yeah Bakyrdhero, that mold goes way back.
There is an old saying . B.O.A.T. Bust Out Another Thousand .
A boat is a hole in the water that you throw your money into.
so are 65 mustangs, rusty ford pickups pintos and lots of other rusty 4 wheel heaps that includes 80 grand overloaded with crap you don’t need pickups and suvs
I live in Florida and would love a boat, but find our car collection keeps the bank empty. But they are so much fun!
Years ago I had several boats with large outboards. They were a blast, alas like everything else fun the hobby just got too expensive. Add to that the over crowding and people that don’t have a clue about safety or courtesy And I gave it up. Today we use a canoe or kayak and avoid any body of water with power boats. We find it more relaxing, quieter too.
2 happiest days in a boaters life: The day they bought it and the day they sell it. ( at a BIG loss )
Clean and loved for sure, but overpriced with 600 hours, got 1/2 it’s life left on that motor in marine use (WFO 99% of the time).
Was it used in salt water? Manifolds & water jackets wear out quick.
Probably 12 gallons an hour at cruise. Actually not that bad as power boats go.
My MIL has an AirB&B rental on a lake. Guests renged for the 4th weekend and brought their boat. On the second day a moron pulling a kid on a tube was headed straight for them on their pontoon, the moron was watching the kid, no spotter on board, and not where he was going. The guest swerved left and moron crashed into the rear of the pontoon, destroying the outboard motor and damaging the rear section. No one injured but they had to pry moron’s boat off the rear end and the park rangers (state lake) towed the guest back to the launch ramp. They said had he not swerved the kid on the tube would have smacked into the guest’s boat with some serious injuries.
Even though the MIL is on the lake we never had the desire to own a boat, but this one would be so bad to run around in.
Overpriced for sure. After all, you can buy a brand-new 22 foot plastic ski boat for only $125,000 on sale. That looks just like almost any other $125,000 ski boat on the water.
Had a cruiser boat in the early 80’s with a 440. It did sound great, but man, did it use gas. I once guessed out it got 3 mpg. Even back then we could go through $100.00 in a weekend, (real money back then) felt like there must be a hole in the tank. It was even worse than a 454 or Olds bigblock squirt boat, and they were terrible. 40 mph/12 gph, 3. mpg, yeah, that is about right.
I had an off-shore performance boat with twin 440’s. And was it fast! And I didn’t buy it expecting excellent “miles per gallon” – an expression true boaters don’t use any way – boats are judged, if they are judged at all, based on gallons per hour. I see folks on this site spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on vehicles that they are never going to drive and enjoy, while boaters spends hundreds and thousands of dollars using their “toys”, building memories and just having a lot of fun. As far as the cost of operation, there is the cliche: “If you have to ask what it costs to operate, you can’t afford it.” Nor, however, should you knock the folks that can.