Am looking for just some "rule of thumb" guidance, so to speak. Any thoughts on a general price range for a 23' Mexican Skiff with 40 horse Yamaha? Hull is in very good condition, motor less than a year old, clean and has been maintained by a responsible commercial fisherman. Sits well in the Sea and handles well. Actually I was suprised at how well a 40 pushed 23 ft with a fairly deep V.

Any thoughts on a going rate, even if just very general guidlines?

I have a few rules in buying a boat on the island and # 1 is never buy a used motor on Ambergris Caye.
Motors here get maximum use and abuse.
23' mex skiff is a good boat design for the area. If its in good shape offer 6,000. and tell them to keep the motor.

Thank you mr. Elbert. I'm looking hard at this deal and may go with buying the hull and some gear, then buying my own new motor. most my boating will be recreational and mainland inside of the reef. probably most all within about 3 miles of shore ( I'd like a deep V to go further out.

Any thoughts on how high a side wall should be for this close in this Sea area?

The guys here raise the sides about 8 inches to keep dry, I haven't seen yours so I don't know what to advise.Its not a boat I would want to be in the open ocean if it got rough and it does get rough suddenly and by surprise sometimes. I wouldn't advise going to far out on the other side of the reef in a Mexican skiff
3 miles is a long way in a squall.

And the Bahia de Chetumal to the west can be ugly in a norther...

Yeah, 3 miles would be about the max i'd go in a skiff. The drop on the inside walls is about 18" I have a few pics on my site I had put up for my brother to see and will be up for a ouple of days. Canopy is not shown but there is a sturdy one that comes with the boat.
http://belizewalkabout.blogspot.com/

I made an offer for the hull. Now I got to find me a good deal on a new motor.
I made a deal f

Do you still have to have your captains license ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lj056ao6GE

I guess that would be no !