Hawaii boats? (Honolulu, Hilo, Kaneohe: for sale, renting, how much)

[DonnieG]

Moving to hawaii and have searched or should i say scoured the internet for a website or company specializing in boat sells. Seems that there are very few 23-28ft center console or W/A fishing boats there.
Can anyone help recommend a company for new/used boats there on any of the islands or a local website/magazine that primarily focuses on boat sales?

I've noticed that some boats there seem underpriced and some seem way over priced to where you kinda chuckle at the asking price.

Are 1-5 yr old fishing boats hard to come across there??
Not looking for yachts or sailboats.

Would it be worth considering making the purchase on the mainland in california and having it shipped there?

Are there any regulations on boat/trailer length for towing on the roads in hawaii? Thought i read something about that but not sure.

Guys, any info would be greatly appreciated. Have to have a boat where ever i may roam!

Thanks!

[hotzcatz]

Find a place to keep it before you buy a boat. Many of the harbors have years long waiting lists if you want a slip to keep the boat in. I think there is also a waiting list for a parking spot on the hard for a boat in the harbor, too. It is also hard to find a house with a big enough yard to park a boat in.

There are bulletin boards in each of the harbors which lists boats for sale. Also in the laundromat area at the end of the fuel dock in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. There is a boat sales magazine which is usually around the docks, too. A lot of boats are also listed on Craig's List these days.

In most places, as soon as you launch and leave the harbor you are out in open ocean. Folks like Boston Whalers, Force and Ali'i boats for fishing boats. A lot of folks day fishing like the smaller 18' to 24' boats since they are easier to launch and easier to find a parking place for. A Boston Whaler "Montauk" is a nice one, especially with a bimini top to keep the sun off. Most folks have an outboard or inboard/outboard as well as a "kicker" (small transom mounted 10-20 HP motor) just in case something happens to the main motor. It's a big ocean out there.

[DonnieG]

Thanks Hotzcatz,,,Well I just sold my 22 foot century bay boat last october and this is near the size of a montauk/dauntless. More so the dauntless. I don't think that a boat of this size is what i am looking for, for Hawaii. I have a 26ft glacier bay canyon runner that i just sold this week to a fella locally, and believe that a boat similar to size will do just fine there. I've grown up fishing the gulf of mexico and we have a heavy chop here w/ little seperation b/w the waves. Im definitely going to purchase a twin outboard boat, it's a must for offshore fishing anywhere.

What is the name of the magazine you mentioned? Are boats plentiful there? Should i ship a mainland purchase? Do you think that shipping a mainland purchase would save me money via quality of purchase and rate? I will be renting a home there for the first year or 2, it is paid for through my company so i will have very little expense there and don't mind splurging a tad. But id like to keep my boat next to me for pampering purposes.

Any boat of mine is my "mistress"! LOL

Are there any trailering regulations?

[mdand3boys]

Which island are you moving to? The answer may elicit additional responses.

[hotzcatz]

Check Craig's List to see some of what's available.

There is a boat sales place in Kailua on Oahu - Windward Boats, I think it is called. I mostly kept track of sailboats and ones which stayed in the water since I had a slip in the Ala Wai at the time. It can take years, though, to get a slip there.

Ala Wai Yacht sales, mostly bigger boats, but they would probably have some smaller boats, too.
Ala Wai Yacht Brokerage (Honolulu, HI)

Windward boats - They have Boston Whalers as well as Sea Squirrels - Windward Boats : Boat, Marine Engine and Trailer Dealer : Kailua, Hawaii

If you get a house at Hawaii Kai, some of them have docks in back of them. I think there's a boat sales place over there, but I never really kept track of the smaller power boats.

[DonnieG]

Nice. Oahu....not sure where yet but i honestly would like to live outside of the bigger cities. Like a little peace when not at work. It's not till January. Just trying to do some research. I'm starting to think that i should have kept my glacier bay and shipped it. I'm near New Orleans and 3k for shipping would probably have saved the headache. Just nervous about my boat "on" another boat.

[HankDfrmSD]

I don't know whether or not you can find a boat the size you want that is trailerable, but I think that's what you should look for, since the comments about slips are right on. If you call Windward Boat tel 808 263 6030, they can probably give you information about what sizes are trailerable.

Assuming that you can find something trailerable, your next task is to figure where you will live that is reasonably close to where you can launch. There are really not that many choices. Here's a list that looks pretty complete to me. I have a 16' boat that I keep in my carport in Kailua, and, unless you belong to the Kaneohe Yacht club, the nearest public launch ramp is in Heeia - unless you have military privleges-there is one on the Kaneohe Marine Base.

http://tinyurl.com/m8fz2e

Here is another source for launch ramp locations:

Small Boat Harbors on Oahu

The "Official Web Sites" and telephone numbers would probably give you more detailed information than you are likely to find here, but you never know.

Hank

[DonnieG]

Thanks! This is the kind of information that im looking for. Any local insight is greatly appreciated. I trailered my glacier around sesonaly and left it in slip for summer months so towing 26ft boat wouldn't be a problem. Finding a boat is my concern.

Has anyone or does anyone know someone who has shipped a boat to hawaii and if so about how much it cost? Thanks

Donnie

[hotzcatz]

Finding a boat in Hawaii isn't that much of a problem. Finding a place to keep a boat is a HUGE problem.

There are no seasonal slips, you either have one or you don't. There isn't any seasonal flux of boats going into and out of marinas so there's not a lot of boats changing slips or parking spots.

[nwcountrygal]

Horizon just gave a quote for a 19ft boat Seattle to Hilo - in 20 ft container. $4600 to ship WTF?Why so much more than a car? Anyone done this? Still waiting on Matson.