Ragin Cajun Question

[bigj1972]

Hi...I'm going to look at either a 1985 or 86 Ragin Cajun Tournament BB with an 85hp Evinrude this evening and I can't find much info on these boats other than they are no longer in business. If sound, is this a good boat for a first time buyer or should I pass. Money looks like around 2200 for b/m/t. Thank you for any help.

 

[hl&s]

I had a 89 Cajun bass boat with a 89 Johnson 88 Spcl for about a year and a half and then sold it to one of my friends. It's tough as a tank, hull and transom still solid and the engine runs great. 52 MPH on GPS with one person, loaded. Still fish out of it about once a week.

Like you said, they are out of business and info is hard to come buy. There was a Cajun Club on the net last year where you might find more specifics about the one you're interested in. Try Google.

Give it a good water trial and look for any weaknesses in boat or motor, like any used boat.

 

[NRG]

There is a dedicated forum for Cajun boats over at Bass Boat Central here is the link to the forum on Cajun
http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=36

Just make sure the floor and transom and solid .. cause if the transom is bad your looking at 2000 - 3000 to get fixed
and the floor could run you 800 - 1800 to get it fixed ...
Boats in the 80s thru early 90s have lots of issues with rot.. so be careful

 

[bigj1972]

Thanks for the info guys...I was wanting to buy a BB from the mid to late 80's for the price, which you get what you pay for, but since I have the cash and have the patience, I wanted to pick the best of several I've seen. I undersand the advantages and disadvantages between Alum. and glass. But boat designs in glass vary alot. So if I went with the "fancy" ones, I'm not sure about which is best to have. I mean if one has no wood, but cracks and then you have to repair both glass and foam..I dunno. I guess I just need some good construction articles. I always thought Rangers was the best, cuz Billy D. stood on one with the sides cut out when I was growing up. But I don't know for a life long investment and something I wanna do myself if glass-n-wood is better or glass-comp or just get a H. Gorrilla Alum. or built in tank vs external. I guess I'm trying to be to picky. But thanks guys, I just want to pick your more experienced brains. Especially if anybody works at a restoration center. I am a gearhead, but that runs on asphalt.
Thanks again

 

[NRG]

None of the Glass boats that Im aware of went wood free until late 90s and most didnt go wood free until after 2002, Bullet still uses wood.
Some are a mix of wood and composite materials.

Aluminum boats ( welded ) are generally the least maintenance between glass and alum boats .. but alum boats dont ride as smooth in choppy water.

All composite boats and all foam filled are pricey to repair if they do break . Foam filled boats are generally top and bottom epoxied / glued together so if they break very hard to get into the broken or de-laminated area to make repairs.

Basically buy a boat just have it checked thoroughly for potential probs .. though no one can give you a guarantee that there is no rot in a boat .. but can give you a pretty good indication of if you may be facing any immediate problems.
Same goes for the engine

Boats break ... b.o.a.t = break out another thousand