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 !

Marelco has yamaha and Johnny is the guy to talk to.

Nice looking skiff, but that is a flat bottom boat and not a vee. The vee on a boat is measured on the back and not the front. I definitely would not go three miles out in that boat. In fact I would rarely go outside the reef.

Cheers,
Carlos

but B. Traven (mis)quotes aside, one would. Well, legally.

Frankly I don't know what BPA would do in the event they found an operator (and most particularly a non resident operator), without one. Fine? Shakedown? Impound? Curious minds would like to know.

My thank's also to Elbert and Carlos for the education.

thanks all. Sorry for any confusion as I'm asking these questions. I have never seen much of a V on the transom of a boat so one comment above confuses me. Mostly on skiffs I've seen modifications of this the V hull design which always starts at the bow. I'm a novice which is why I respect everyones input and appreciate your help. But my limited experience reflects that a "V-hull" helps a ride in rough water as "the pointed bow slices forward and the "V"-shaped bottom softens the up-and-down movement of the boat."

The deadrise in a skiff is not going be near as pronounced as a "deep V" and even in a deep V (deap-water boat) the V typically turns into a pad at the transom, or at least that has been my obersvations. So I'm a lil confused why you'd call a skiff like this a flat bottom boat but I'm sure someone can help educate me.

When i talk about going out about three miles, i may have caused some confusion since most of you are on the Cayes. I'm talking about only going from the mainland. I wouldn't get out past the barrier reef at all in a skiff like this. We have lots of small reefs and small Cayes right around here, some small Cayes/reefs about 3 miles out -- thats plenty of room for me to fish and dive and play, without getting myself into deep water trouble. Sorry for the confusion about the reef.

for those concerned about licenses -- yes, i do EVERYTHING by the book, and as a fulltime resident that gives me piece of mind at night...

Well, this helps me sleep too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHDA5nHlDrQ&feature=relmfu

thank you all for your help with info. I am a stong believer in getting knowledge from those that have already gained it -- when i can...

Good on ya Doc, and best wishes with the aquisition.

Doc

This is an execellent boat if you are staying inside the reef.

If you look at the lofting of the boat on the top left of the following webpage, you will notice that the angle of the Vee is measured at the back of the boat. The Panga that you are looking at has a flat bottom in the middle stern. This makes for a more fuel efficient boat. The "mexican panga's" or "skiffs" are great boats. There only lacking is that in rough weather they can be a little bumpy due to the flat bottom.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/deep-v-hull.htm

Cheers,
Carlos

Looks like a "hot" item................lolol