Looking into Maxums

[PJHoffnet]

My wife and I are in the final count the down (>14 months) until full retirement. While we live in Nebraska, we already have our retirement home all set and waiting in Viera FL (about 15 miles south of Cape Canaveral, on the ICW). We 'practice' being retired down there for 7-10 days every other month or so.

Part of our plan is to have a 35-45 ft cruiser for ICW and eventually (after building up the skills) Caribbean island hopping. We've developed this 'thought' list after reading a lot of material on what to think about prior to buying a boat. Hopefully not too much - I don't want to get kicked off the first day for over posting. Researching the best financing and insurance options. Also slip hunting - it's a big boat for the area and we haven't found a ton of nearby openings.

We plan on doing a lot of forum reading and learning. Even if we eventually go with a different brand we're bound to still learn a lot.

- Pat & Paul

Cruising Area
Indian River
Florida Keys
Florida Gulf Coast
Intercoastal (entire east coast)
Bahamas
Caribbean

Type of cruising
Recreational travel
Day long runs, port hopping, moored/on the hook each night (with a few long haul exceptions when necessary)

Expected weather
Night lows of 40s, Day highs of low 90s (Heater and AC a must)
All sea conditions, though will strive to always seek shelter vice trying to navigate in weather

Hull Type: Motor Yacht, aft cabin. Currently looking at Carvers & Maxums

Quarters
Master aft cabin suite (with private head, separate shower)
Standard shape bed vice round (sheet availability? $$)
Guest v-berth bow cabin for two
Drop down table for two in salon, or fold out couch good to have
One common head. Separate shower stall good, but not necessary
Chart work area - guest cabin?

Crew
One 55 yo male w/ 27+ years US Navy (navigation, rules of the road, radar, radio, qualified submarines and Craft Master (100 ft twin diesel vessel)
One slightly older female w/ freshwater novice skills - no formal training
No major medical or mobility issues
Both have completed the Florida State Boater's Safety Course

Budget
~$115K and down financing is all set up. Expect almost full price of boat to be covered by recent sale of our house

General
More fiberglass less wood interior
Full sized refrig/freezer
Davit, RHIB
Safe to walk around stern to bow - high rails, wide deck
Reverse osmosis system (great if it's there, add if needed)
Generator
Radar
Chart table
VSat
VHF
External speakers/hailing speakers
EPIRB
Digital Charts (how do you do updates?)
Voyage Planning system (The Captain)

Training Plan
Basic Coast Guard
Six pack

Training Float Plan
Year One
Indian River Lagoon between the bridges
Indian River Lagoon Port Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet
Atlantic Ocean Port Canaveral to sight of land lost
Atlantic Ocean Port Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet

Year Two
Indian River - St Lucie River - Lake Okeechobee - Tampa - Key West
Key West - Bahamas

Year Three
Bahamas - Turks and Caicos - BVI - USVI

Year Four
Anguilla- St Kitts & Nevis - Antigua & Barbuda

[Phillbo]

When you decide to venture down island the site below is a wealth of information:

https://www.cruisersforum.com/

[mmwjr]

Welcome and best of luck, you're out of my league.

[biggerseagar]

Welcome and ditto!

Roger

[dbriceno]

For a little more, my 2000 Maxum 4600 SCB is for sale. 2000 Maxum 4600 SCB Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Everything is negotiable.

[PJHoffnet]

Originally Posted by dbriceno

For a little more, my 2000 Maxum 4600 SCB is for sale. 2000 Maxum 4600 SCB Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Everything is negotiable.

That's a nice MY ... bit out of my league in both size and $$. Looks very clean, I'm sure as the weather warms up it will go fast.

[PJHoffnet]

Under contract for a 1999 Maxum 4100 SCA. Survey/Sea Trials in first week of March, hope to close not long after - having already walked away from one boat because of a bad survey, I have a much better feeling about how this one will do under the microscope.

[gigliotti63]

We love our 2003 3700, moved up from 3400 Wellcraft. We boat in freshwater, and other than minor issues that were quickly resolved after we purchased the boat in 2015 for the second owner. You get a lot boat for the money with a Maxum, and I don't think you will be disappointed if you end up purchasing. Maxum was bought by Bruswick (Sea Ray & Bayliner) and the line was discontinued. We have very similar hardware on our2003 to what is found on a Sea Ray. Overall, very happy with the Maxum. The Maxum is our 3rd power boat, and very satisfied with the fit & finish.

[kingstonal]

Congrats on the new boat. I have the same boat and have done lots of upgrades. If you have any questions just ask. good luck with survey

[PJHoffnet]

Originally Posted by kingstonal

Congrats on the new boat. I have the same boat and have done lots of upgrades. If you have any questions just ask. good luck with survey

Thanks, I'm not smiling the big smile until things are complete, but as I said earlier, I have a better feeingl about this boat than others we've gotten close to securing.

Trust me, I'm sure I'll be picking your brain and the other folks who are 4100 owners - asking tons of 'dumb' questions. I'm a big fan of the Chinese Proverb

He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever

[kingstonal]

No worries. We were all in your boat when we first got the 4100.

[PJHoffnet]

Had an excellent survey/sea trial yesterday and expect to be underway on our 'new to us' 1999 4100 SCA within the next two weeks.

I've been doing some book learning by reading through a 2000 4100 SCA owner's manual I found on line. Looked for the major system components while the surveyor was doing his thing and found most things, but there certainly does seem to be some differences - so if anyone has/stumbles across a link to a 1999 owner's manual I'd appreciate a yell.

The seller wasn't available yesterday, so I'm not sure what pass down documentation will be available - I'm hoping for a lot since the current owner is the second owner, owning the boat since 2002.

We're certainly excited, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, there will certainly be a ton of question coming in the future.