Nautica RIB

[Limey Linda]

I am considering purchasing a used 22ft. Nautica. Does anyone have experience with these RIBS relative to build quality.
Thanks.

[Limey Linda]

No Nautica owners out there I guess??

[pathalla]

I have owned five Nautica's as well as a 22, I loved the 22, it will run very well with a 150 hp.

[Limey Linda]

Thanks Pat
This one is a 22 with a 225 Yam. 2 stroke( 1997, alum. trailer and new tubes in 2005. Price looks OK. Appreciate any feedback.

[pathalla]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Thanks Pat
This one is a 22 with a 225 Yam. 2 stroke( 1997, alum. trailer and new tubes in 2005. Price looks OK. Appreciate any feedback.

How old is the boat? Nautica usually uses composite in the stringer system and plywood in transom, the tubes are generally well constructed, the 22 is a dry boat as well, you won't be getting much spray with it. It should really run good with a 225, mine was quick with a 150, put up some pictures if you can. Is it a wide body or standard beam? Which console setup does it have?

[Limey Linda]

Thanks again Pat
It is a 1997 boat and at first look has been well taken care of. Has dual console, dual seat/leaning post, rear bench seat and seats forward and new upholstery. No photo at this time. Only just starting on this project but think I can buy it for under $20k. Wot you think?
Thanks again for your help
PS. I believe it is called the flush deck deluxe 22
T.

[pathalla]

One other thing, sometimes the rigging on the electrical system is not as orderly as it should be on their boats, the stuff all works, it just is not sometimes secured or neat as it should be. All in all if the boat is in good shape you will have something that is a very good handling boat, fast, easy to put on and off a trailer as well as easy to tow. You can tow that boat with a v-6 motor in a car or truck no problem. I would have no concerns about buying a used Nautica if it was in decent used condition.

[pathalla]

How many hours on the boat and motor? I personally prefer Yamaha's for power as they have been extremely reliable for me personally and I have never and I mean never had starting, idling or stalling problems with one of their engines. On a used boat with that power 15000 would be a real good price with power and trailer as the retail on the hull only is probably now above 22000. 15 to 20 is fair, if the seller is the original owner he paid a LOT more than that.
On a personal note, I knew the owner of Nautica, Franco Sr. very well, as well as Junior who now runs the company, and Debbie Young the vice president. I have many fond memories of sea- trialing their boats in Miami and using the ones I bought, no regrets.
I have been through their factory many times, and never saw anything I would consider shortcutting on the construction end. I do not believe anyone else in the U.S. builds as nice a glass boat considering style, construction and performance, just my opinion.

[pathalla]

Old photos of my boat and the one that ran us down in the police impound building, a testament to the tube construction, 39 foot cigarette hits my 22 on the port side midships and runs over the tube, hull and me, the collision breaks fiberglass on the console,rips it loose as well as the helm seat yet the tube set takes the impact and never suffers a leak, I was impressed. Second shot is of the console where the Cigarette hit us, the console was damaged pretty badly but the hull and tubes were not, no one can tell me a Nautica is not well built, mine survived a collision with a Cigarette boat, it is the 22 flush deck with forward lockers incidentally...

[Limey Linda]

Thanks Pat
Yup same model I think. I will go for it.

[pathalla]

Hey Limey, if you purchase the boat please put up some pics, I am sure others on the forum as well as myself would enjoy a gander at what you bought, good luck, hope it works out well for you...