Puckebaum

J

JAYROCK

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
RO Number
28607
Messages
272
We are taking the jump, house is sold! Everything will be finalized in about 3 weeks. We are starting for the search for a live a board.
I found a 65ft Puckebaum Baymaster. Does anybody have any experience with this brand? Anything I should look for OR look out for!
I missed a 70ft Monticello river yacht by about 2 weeks... Might have been a blessing if the Baymaster is a better boat. Thanks. Jay.
 
I owned a 1979 67' Pluckebaum Coastal Cruiser with twin 3208 turbo cats. Nice boat, well built planing hull, comfortable and plenty of room. Check the tanks closely. All the tanks are aluminum, even the holding. It not unusual to have to cut the side out, removal the corroded tanks and replace. Water and holding tanks corrode first. Also, check the bottom closely for pitting.

Good luck.
 
Gregory S you are correct! Pluckebaum! Fat fingers and not enough caffeine.....

Thank You Lucky Dog,I will have a survey done before I sign up. Boat is in KY, Near Louisville. Once the house crap is behind me Ill make the trip and check her out!
 
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN A PLUCKEBAUM!!!!!!!!! They are heavier built, smoother riding, quieter and longer lasting than anything out there. They also are a classic design that will never be out of date. They already have an isolation transformer so you don't have to worry about stray current problems. We had our bottom Coal Tar Epoxy coated.

We lived aboard our 55 for 7 years, FOR SURE the best 7 years of our life!!!

The 3208s are the smoothest engines out there. They start with less than a turn run and idle as smooth as silk. When you get it a few things things to check/service. Manifolds - pull the extensions off and check how much wall is left on the outlet end. They erode from the inside from the exhaust gasses. I had less than 1/16 left when I replaced mine. Have valve lash checked. These engines tend to have clearance get tighter with age. Once you have them reset your good for 5 years. The injecters probably never been out, you may want to have them removed, cleaned and tested. The coolant may be original, change it out. I used Rotella oil in mine and it only used about 1 or 2 quarts per year. Change out the impellers cause you don't know when they were changed last. Then your good for 5 years. The exhaust extensions tend to rust out at the water injection pipe. These can be fabricated at any metal fab shop inexpensively. It probably has 3208 NAs. NAs are probably the best engine ever put in a houseboat. They are only 210 HP and should last 10,000 hours. The fuel tanks have probably been changed out. If not PUMP THE NASTIES OFF THE BOTTOM OF ALL THE TANKS. If the boat has been sitting do this before you move it. When sitting, crap and water tends to accumulate. When you move the boat you can suck up the bottom junk and can contaminate the entire system. The tanks are aluminum and water collects on the bottom and they tend to rot thru. Service both Gennys when you get the boat including the impellers. Keep a water pump shaft seal on hand for the Westerbeke. The Kholer has a Perkens and they are forever. Put a new nozzle in the furnace and change out the filter. If the refridgerator has been replaced make sure it is anchored to the floor and/or has restraints anchored to the wall.

PM me if you have any questions.
 
Old Houseboater, you are the guy I was looking for! Thank you for the insight and knowledge. ! I have not laid eyes on her yet. Need to smell, touch , and hear the boat! Any idea how much headroom will be in the staterooms. The master is in the bow, the guest is midship... Stateroom size has a lot of bearing on the purchase......thanks again
 
Hi Jay

I currently have a 1991 70’ Baymaster and will answer any questions I can. The Plucke is one of the best built boats out there and hands down better than a Monticello. The only wood in the boat is paneling and flooring. They are truly forever boats.
Three years ago I was at Pluckebaum and they were refurbishing an older boat and I asked Dennis Pluckebaum “To his knowledge in the 45+ years of building boats how many have been scrapped or damaged beyond repair” . His answer was ZERO.

Lucky dog is correct stating that some of the older boats are having 30+ year old tanks replaced. It is something to be aware off.

Is the boat your thinking about the Red 1976 65’ “Paradise”? If so that boat has been for sale along time (at higher $). I am not saying it is a bad boat as I was never in it.
Back in 2009 I stopped at the then broker’s office in Cincinnati (without apt) and they refused to show the boat. Turned out it was just across the river in Dayton,Ky. A year later I met the owner In Dayton as I was returning from KY Lake with my newly purchased boat. I told him the broker story and you could see the fire in his eyes and the smoke coming out of his ears. If still with same owner I would think he would be very motivated after 5 years and a strong cash offer could get you the boat.

Headroom is approx 7'
 
Padave, yes it is the boat Paradise,I spoke to Dennis Pluckebaum twice in the last two days. Wow what a great guy. I took y'all's advice and asked about the tanks on this boat. Dennis said the fuel tanks where replaced 10 yrs ago.
I ask him his thoughts on the boat....
1. Catwalks could use some paint
2. A couple of windows could use new seals.
3. Some of the carpentry work could use some help.

He said the mechanicals where good!

With that being said... The boats asking price is cheap.... As best as I can tell.
Finding a boat suitable for family to live on full time is challenging at best. I don't have a 300k budget to spend. Cheaper with some sweat equity is more my speed.
 
Jay
With some sweat and a few skills this may be the boat for you. There is storage under the floors even the possibility of a small cuddy under the main salon. Mine has one with approx 5.5' headroom. You should ask about the frt windows. These boats have curved lexan windows on the windshield corners. Looking at the pics online they appear to be a bit hazy and may warrant replacing. I you buy the boat I would really consider having Pluckebaum do the paint and replace the window's. He can paint the decks apply non skid and it will look as if new. If you would need more sleeping area ask Dennis about prepping the under salon storage area for a cuddy. On a different boat that I considered at Pluckebaum Dennis said he could cut the floor and add the stairs for the cuddy and I could finish the rest. Look online at other boat pics for reference on this. Also the washer and dryer on my boat is in the cuddy along with twin beds. Just something else to consider.
 
Great advice padave! I will look at the boat soon. She's on the hard presently but should be back in the water soon. My time line should be about the same. I'll keep ya posted!
What kind of performance numbers should I expect on this bay master?
 
Jay
You are lucky. Being out of the water is great. This means you can inspect the bottom and even do the survey without having to pay for the haulout. The money saved could be used for other things like the deck paint,windows, or even bottom paint if needed. If you decide to buy think about doing whatever is needed or wanted below the waterline. Things like repacking shafts and depth transducers. Even if it's not in the budget for a new depth sounder you can pick one and install the transducer and get the head unit later.

As to performance my boat has 3208T's at 320hp so I can only comment on them.
1000 rpm = 9 mph and 2.2 mpg
2100 rpm = 17 mph and still 1 mpg
Top speed WOT at 2850 rpm = 26 mph. Did not really look at the gallons per hour to calculate the mpg. Very rarely run it that hard.
The mpg numbers are total fuel flow for both engines.
Speed was from GPS
fuel flow from Floscan meters

Not to bad for 70x18 and 42000 lbs.
At that 17-19 mph it is on plane.You can even feel the bow nose over.

Where is the boat now? Is it at Plucke?
 
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