1988 grady white 204c overnighter

[dnice84]

Hello everyone I'm new to the forum and I'm looking into a 1988 grady white 204c overnighter and just wondering what people have to say about the hull design seeing how it has wood stringers and transom. any answers would be much appreciated thanks

 

[VeroWing]

Like any boat that is 25+ years old, you need to do a proper inspection before making a move on it. If you are not confident in your boat inspecting ability, then a certified marine inspector would be a worthy investment. Some 1988 boats will have damaged core areas that could be expensive to repair, and others that have been well maintained will be completely solid and ready for another 25 years of service. A thorough inspection now may save you many headaches in the future, and may find you a nice boat that will provide years of enjoyment to you.

 

[Clockwork]

I had a 1990 204c and I loved that boat. It did have a wet transom as do most but it hadn't started to rot yet. From the boat of that era you'd be hard pressed to find one without water in there. Rot is what you really want to avoid and it takes quite a while to rot out marine plywood.

Hull design is a very newsworthy one but not the best ride as it isn't a deep v. But it's a trade off. Ride isn't everything. Its a very stable hull and very good in a following sea. I had mine in very rough water many times and frequently 50 miles offshore up here in Washington. Best 20 footer imo.

 

[overnighter20]

I have an '85 Overnighter 204. I had rot in the transom but mostly just around the outdrive boot. I had the outdrive removed and I dug out all the rot I could and filled it with small strips of plywood and lots of epoxy. I pumped it in from the sides of the opening but also drilled holes all around the opening and pumped the epoxy in through the holes. Not a perfect replacement but cost me about $400 instead of $4000-$6000 to have the engine removed and the transom replaced.