One Very Sweet 18 Ft Sportsman On Ebay. Dang, I Need A Bigger Barn!

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LOVE THE TRAILER!

Every now and then, ebay produces really good deals, and this just may be one of those times. We spoke to the seller and that even convinced us more. Heck we tried to talk him into keeping it and restoring it. The current owner is a car guy and gets the need to preserve it. Its the real deal and a worthy project.

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Very cool paddle!

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These U18’s are amazing boats and if you restore it, you wont ever sell it. Most Sportsman stay in the family since they are so dam usable and rewarding. The little sister of the U22 these 18 footers are large and have the ease of a smaller boat. And trust us, can take a beating out there in any water. At the current bid around $3K its very doable if you are smart.

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Neat old depth finder! Floor and seat color indicate restoration. See the material in the pocket next to the wheel, original?

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Here is a reference of how the interior should look, Correct blue seats and floor. Courtesy Katzs Marina

The engine is a Chris Craft K painted, which we asked if rebuilt, YES, 300 hrs ago. They used it last year, the owners are in there 80’s and get this.. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS! And spent her entire life on Lake Anna.. WHAT? Literally right down the street from us.

screen-shot-2017-01-25-at-9-29-28-amThe boat was ordered in 1949 and delivered as a 1950. I would if it were me, would get it running, soak it up and run it for the summer and see if you love it, then have this next winter lined up with a restoration place and do the bottom.

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Fresh restored / Preserved U18 – Photo Bob Kays

If you love the 18 footer but don’t want to under go the process, there is an AMAZING one for sale at Katzs Marina all done up flawlessly with a cool history as a police boat . HERE

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Alan from Katzs Marina testing the restored one on the water – Photo Bob Kays

OK, where was I, my Memory is going.. Oh ya. Now back to the ebay listing.

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Lots and lots of recipts

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Engine rebuild 1976?

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The Hull Card.

There ya go. She is a very nice worthy U 18. If you are the winner, let us all know! If it just stays with one dang bidder, we are going to buy it. She deserves the best and will be fun to see her out on the water again. Maybe this spring!
YOU CAN SEE THE LISTING HERE

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Thanks for the??? mmmm,, Rimes with Worries… mmmmm, It’ll come to me.. Just a second.. Mommy? nooooo, Oh well.. You’re gonna change the name anyway.

26 replies
  1. Sunday Funday
    Sunday Funday says:

    What is wrong with me! I’m actually thinking this boat might be a good idea. I have a 28ft fiberglass boat that I have been replacing the transom on for 3 years, a house in the middle of remodel, and an old IH Scout in line to get back on the road. i have thought of buying a cheap boat to get back on the water, and then this comes along. I have issues!

    • Rick
      Rick says:

      Yes definitely do it because you never know how strong your marriage is until you take it to the breaking point with another project.

    • WAYNESWORLD
      WAYNESWORLD says:

      REMEMBER THIS , WHEN YOU ARE 99 ON OXYGEN IN THE OLD AGE HOME , YOU WANT TO REMEMBER WHAT TODAY WAS, NOT THINK ABOUT WHAT IT COULD HAVE
      BEEN, AND WHAT DO YOU CARE WHAT YOU OWE YOUR
      BANK, WHEN YOUR DEAD

  2. Wudzgud
    Wudzgud says:

    Well see how high it goes with Matt’s advertising. You better get a cut of the sale.
    Thanks for the “MAMORIES”

  3. Sunday Funday
    Sunday Funday says:

    You are all evil! The only way this makes any sense for me to even think about is if is truly a “user” for a couple of years. After that, I can decide on selling or restoring or having restored.
    The 1100 mile one way form MN to pick it up would make a fun road trip!

  4. Matt
    Matt says:

    Oh dear! Now you have to bid on this. You’re buying more than a boat you’re saving woody boater from itself.

  5. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    Dang! I got my Argentine runabout from off Lake Anna,,,,right near me…and I am fighting the urge….that is a great boat, great project or just GO BOATING!
    Just back from Key West….nothing but Tupperware BS down there…but this one here is a winner!
    Bid it up….but I am not going to let any of my dear WB friends steal it…for sure.
    John in Va. as is the boat….

  6. thomasd
    thomasd says:

    dang!, i was hoping you wouldn’t see this sportsman on ebay, now there will be to much bidding competition for my back pocket. I was lucky you didn’t see those 2 vintage duplex gallon oil cans on ebay a few days ago or I wouldn’t have won them so cheap but I still love woodyboater 😉

  7. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    Well, if you could buy it for 5K or less, which is doubtful, and restore it yourself not counting your hours for 10K or less, which is improbable, you’d have your 15K intro to Woody boating boat! Or, you could let somebody else buy it and restore it for, for say 30 to 40K and wait for it to sell restored for around 15K. Hmmmmmmmm………

  8. jim g
    jim g says:

    Matt,

    I’ve got an 18′ Sportsman I’ll sell you for less then this one. Its a bit rough but I have the original sales contract from the dealer in Algonac. It was bought by a lady and had the name put on it at the factory.

    • Chris
      Chris says:

      Darn! Why did I click on the ebay link? If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t know that I live in the same town! Now I may have to see if I can go look at it.

  9. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    Good point about the town/location…..I am SAVED because this boat, though it spent its life in Va….in now in South Carolina or some such….what a relief!!!

  10. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    Selling because 80 ?…I just passed 86 yesterday and got so busy on my birthday, I missed this one…Wow ! $3,000 and did you see that trailer….when was the last time you saw one of those ?…But I’m sure with all this attention is is probably out of my price range now….although South Carolina is not all that far away from N. Florida

      • Sunday Funday
        Sunday Funday says:

        Too much for me on an impulse purchase. My plan would have been to load it all on a car trailer, but my round trip drive would have been 2200 miles.
        Congrats to the buyer. Hope it works out for them!

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