Mirrocraft 16' Runabout - Worth It??

[LaqueRatt]

I kind of like this boat, but it would take some work. A bit scarred and dented, maybe even a patch. Interior looks gutted to me. Is it structurally sound? Pretty much hate the interior, but the boat has good lines and the price seems right. Anybody have a picture of what a 1986 model is supposed to look like inside?

 

[Tinhead1986]

I bought an identical boat to that in april for $750 only difference was it’s a 14 footer . $750 got me a Boat,trailer and a 42 hp mercury. I wouldn’t pay more then $1500 looks to be in decent shape and you could always add extra supports in the hull if your worried

 

[LaqueRatt]

What about seating? This looks like some tossed together crap to me. Any pics of your boat? Does it look like structural parts are missing?

 

[LDUBS]

Seems they made some open models. Might be structure is provided by those wide box gunnels.

I'm probably all wet, but that boat style just seems older than 1986. I admit it is the windshield style that makes me think that. Don't get me wrong, I like the boat.

Best I could find is a 1980 brochure in this thread: 1980 Mirrocraft Catalog

Just for the fun of it below that are some pics of '60 & '61 models.

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[LaqueRatt]

Now that say that, I agree. That boat looks much older to me too! The guy who owns it isn't too savvy I don't think. He's been trying to sell it since spring and started off asking big money for it. Now it seems he just wants it gone. Funny a boat like this only has two seats though. It also has a big wooden box aft in front of the transom that looks like could serve for seating, but currently it's just carpeted.

 

[Tinhead1986]

I will

What about seating? This looks like some tossed together crap to me. Any pics of your boat? Does it look like structural parts are missing?

I will probably get a lot of hate for posting these pictures but i decided to cut the front open . Lots of spray foam looking stuff under the front closed bow portion. there wasn’t any special side supports like you would see with some boats . Mine just had your normal ribs on the bottom


You can see what mine had for seats also

 

[LaqueRatt]

Interesting! Thanks for posting pics. This seems to be a bit of an oddball boat, but I kinda like it.

 

[Weldorthemagnificent]

Agree older than 86 not that it matters. Boat like this is a blank canvas for whatever a handy guy can imagine.

 

[LaqueRatt]

Is it so weird nobody would ever buy it if wanted to move up to a better boat?

 

[MrGiggles]

I've been looking for one like that to stick a jet ski powerplant in, would be loads of fun to cruise around in with 50-80hp pushing it. I've never seen one like it for sale around me.

I would agree that it is kind of an oddball, it's not set up well for fishing and not really big enough to do any heavy duty towing. However, I'm sure there are a good number of folks around that would love to have something like that just to cruise around a small private lake or something.

 

[thill]

I had a 1957 Crestliner that was gutted like that, and I added a platform front and back, and it became a great fishing boat. Very thick aluminum, it was very sturdy, even without a lot of bunks.

 

[Tinhead1986]

I had a 1957 Crestliner that was gutted like that, and I added a platform front and back, and it became a great fishing boat. Very thick aluminum, it was very sturdy, even without a lot of bunks.

That’s what my plan was i even bought two sheets of diamond plate and the Aluminum angle . I quickly realized i was over my head and sold it for $350 keeping the trailer and buying a new G3 1036 jon boat . Hopefully i don’t regret that decision

 

[thill]

$350 for a solid 16' shell isn't bad, for the right person.

1036 is a very small boat... I hope it works out for you!

 

[Tinhead1986]

$350 for a solid 16' shell isn't bad, for the right person.

1036 is a very small boat... I hope it works out for you!

was actually a 14ft and i’m trying to sell the 1036 now or trade for a 14 ft aluminum with bench seats

 

[mbullen]

If built after 1972, it will have the federal HIN tag on the transom that would verify it's production date.
If the tag is absent, it's older than 1972 or one should at least see where the permanently attached tag was removed.

for what it's worth, the lapstrake screams 60s to me.

 

[thill]

was actually a 14ft and i’m trying to sell the 1036 now or trade for a 14 ft aluminum with bench seats

Sounds like a good move.