Re: decent boat for $3000-4000?
You're in line. You'd probably be looking at late 80's to early 90's bowriders with 3.0 Mercruisers. They're everywhere. And many have hidden structural problems. Be very careful as it's quite difficult to see such hidden rot, but I'm sure you can find what you're looking for in that price range.<br /><br />My 1992 Rinker 18 footer with a 3.0 Mercruiser was bought for $3K 2 years ago. Has a fair amount of sun cracked vinyl and scuffs/scratches and faded gelcoat. Also some minor mechanical problems that I handled myself for reasonable cash. I'm satisfied with the purchase overall.<br /><br />Likewise, the OTHER 92 Rinker 18 footer I bought for $3,600 1 year before that looked better on the surface, but became quite the project. I jumped the gun and made the mistake of trusting my own ability to assess a boat. In the process I ended up learning how to replace engine mounts, stringers, and a portion of the transom. Wonderfully educational, but a bit expensive and was more of a project than I was hoping to get. <br /><br />But in the end it helped me to understand EXACTLY where to look to find my next boat, which was significantly more solid. Lots of time-bombs out there in your price range, but also lots of functional rides. Good luck in your search! If you can wait till fall, that's when the REAL deals pop up from people who are getting out of the sport and don't want the expense and hassle of winterizing...
