30' Salt Shaker - The Hull Truth

althek · 02-03-2007, 03:45 PM

I wonder if anyone has any experience with the 30' Salt Shaker boats. I understand that they use the Blackfin 29 hull as the basis for their boat. I am concerned about the sea keeping quality of the boat with outboards on a bracket, specifically in a following sea. There have been a couple of these boats for sale here in New England for two years or more, with no apparent takers. That worries me if I get one and decide to resell. The configuration of a large center console with a small cuddy and and a tower is what I'm looking for. These boats seem to be one of the few that can be set up this way reasonably. Any comments? Thanks for your input.

parker · 02-03-2007, 04:49 PM

I was never on one, but they sure look pretty. However, I did see the Shaltshaker the delaminated two seasons ago on the way back from the canyon. The boat did make it back but the hull just came apart. Photos were posted on the net on another site. Scary site to see.

fillet of soul · 02-04-2007, 01:31 AM

Salt Shaker bought the Blackfin 29 mold the 30 CC isn't based on the 29 Blackfin hull.

topcontender · 02-04-2007, 11:46 AM

There is one I know of in New England. I believe it is a 2001 with a tower powered with 250 OX66's. My friend walked over and started to rock the boat using the tower and it appeared to list back and forth considerably due to the extra weight of the tower. The boats appear to be finished well and all metals powdercoated. The engines are also factory painted to match the boats as well I believe.

fillet of soul · 02-04-2007, 01:19 PM

When I went to the Miami boat show in 2002 I thought it was the best looking boat in it's class. The powder coating, the matching color on the motors, and the TTop construction where awesome. I beleive before he manufactured boats he made towers for the larger Top Tier yachts, I beleive he still makes them. I took the boat for a sea trial in the Long Island Sound and I thought the boat bounced a little more than expected in confused 2-3 ft seas, but I didn't sea trial any other boats that day to sea how they would handle the same conditions. I've seen a beautiful looking maroon one for sale in Mass. for several years I don't know why it hasn't sold the asking price is on the high end. I know President Bush owned one for what it's worth.

wiser · 02-04-2007, 04:26 PM

The boat seems antiquated. Saltshaker marine has been showing that boat for a decade, like it's a new design. If you buy one, your going to own it for a long time. Just my observation.

jaccoserv · 02-04-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

althek - 2/3/2007 2:45 PM

I wonder if anyone has any experience with the 30' Salt Shaker boats. I understand that they use the Blackfin 29 hull as the basis for their boat. I am concerned about the sea keeping quality of the boat with outboards on a bracket, specifically in a following sea. There have been a couple of these boats for sale here in New England for two years or more, with no apparent takers. That worries me if I get one and decide to resell. The configuration of a large center console with a small cuddy and and a tower is what I'm looking for. These boats seem to be one of the few that can be set up this way reasonably. Any comments? Thanks for your input.

The boat is acyally based on an old Cary hull. The whole package is looking very long in the tooth. At one point they were building the Salt Shaker 300, which was based on the 29 BF, however, this boat was an inboard flybridge or Combi boat.

As far as them building towers for the top tier sportfish boats, I think you are mistaken, you'd be hard-pressed to find a top-tier boat without a Pipewelders or Bausch top. They do have a metal shop but are pretty much relegated to the occasional Tee top or leaning post. They pretty much established the trend of painting/powdercoating rails and painting outboards. They were also probably the first production company to put a tower on a CC boat.

althek · 02-06-2007, 10:58 AM

Thanks for your input. I just sold a Blackfin/Cary 28, and thought the Salt Shaker might be a good replacement. Maybe I should go with something more conventional.

Mako 25 · 02-06-2007, 11:04 AM

They are very wert boats. I like them in the Florida Keys but not on the western side of the Gulf. Our side of the gulf is very choppy. Their quality is great. Salt Shaker made a very nice boat in their 30'.