What one

[boats1]

i was wondering witch of these boats was better its my first boat and these are on craigslist.


19.5 bluefin spectrum for 1500



1975 19 FOOT SEA RAY for 700

1974 IMPERIAL 17.5'


thanx,
ryan

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: What one

um...

not a lot of info there. Could you link the ads. Also, how much time and money do you have for restoration?


Ian

 

[boats1]

Re: What one

Here the adds

Have a 1974 17.5' Imperial Bow Rider, has 120 HP Mercruiser straight 4 cyl. Would like to keep the trailer, boat, motor and outdrive 600.00. W/ trailer 1200.00


1987 aluminum hull bow-rider with lounge seats, sun pad at stern, seats 8. Great boat for cruising, skiing, and fishing. Fish finder, VHF radio with new Shakespear antenae, Ford 2.4L 4 cyl with flame arrester & brand new starter. OMC Cobra outdrive, well kept with new gimble bearing. Always winterized. Live well with separate bilge pump and cooler beneath bow seats. Needs new bilge pump and bellows. It's had the same owners since 1991 and has been very well cared for. New floor, carpet, and most upholstery in 2005.

Trailer is in excellent shape. Has new wiring, was recently wire-brushed and painted. Tires were new in 2006.





1975 19 foot sea ray.

Good condition for the year.

Newer interior and floor.

165hp inline six cylinder with merc. out drive.

single axle trailer with good tires.

Motor runs but water getting into the oil. I have a good complete engine that is included with the purchase of the boat if needed. I also have a spare good head for the boat that also goes with the boat. I bought all these parts because i don't know what is wrong with it. Spent more on the engine & head than my asking price for everything listed. Great easy project boat for a very good deal.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: What one

Without seeing any of the boats, I'd say none of them. Unless I was specifically looking for a restoration project as a hobby. As it'll cost more to make them usable then they will ever be worth.

1, He wants the same value for the boat and motor as the trailer...ei: the boat isn't worth much. Seriously could check compression on the motor and transom/floor on the boat.

2, Heh...ford 4 cyl, and omc outdrive...parts are available but getting very scarce.

3, "good project boat"...need I say more?

Ian

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What one

All depends on condition and how much you are willing to put into them. What has rot and what does not.

 

[cr2k]

Re: What one

And I wouldn't pay more then $300 for the trailer, unless new that's about what they go for anymore.

If you don't know enough about boats to look at one and KNOW what it needs, etc. you should take it to a reputable dealer/mechanic for an evaluation report.

There is so much more to boats then meet the eye. It is so easy to buy a boat that looks so nice and find out the drive is crap, or the engine block is cracked, coupler stripped, etc.

Asking someone which boat is right for you is a very vague question. We have no idea what you need or want in a boat.

If it's your first boat I would bite the bullet and go to a dealer and do some looking and asking. You might just be better off spending a little more up front and knowing you can put it in the water without major repairs.
And if you have priced the cost of a marine mechanic, just about everything is a major repair, cost wise, in this economy.

Things to think about: If you have small children a boat with high freeboard is much safer, If you fish think about the interior layout, can you get around?
If you are planning long trips, comfortable seating, ocean or rough water, deep vee. on and on.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What one

Ryan, here's the basics. For I/O boats you want to stick with Mercruiser or Volvo. Anything else is difficult to get parts and service for. The one exception being the Mercruiser 470 which was a problematic design. For outboards anything is fine except for Chrysler and Force, again because of parts support issues. On older fiberglass boats you need to check very carefully for rot in the wooden components of the hull. You want a solid deck and transom. ANY soft spots in the floor could be indicative of more serious rot in the underlying structure. Good luck. Feel free to keep posting boats for our opinions. Always tell us what motor/drive it's equipped with. The brand of boat doesn't matter much with used boats. It's all about how it was maintained.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: What one

Of the three boats, assuming the prices are similar, the aluminum spectrum with the OMC/Ford is by far the best.

Although I dont love OMC Cobras, I had one with this motor and it was excellent and reliable. Parts are available since the engine was so widely produced for other applications. Not super powerful (128hp) but adequate for an aluminum boat. The fact that he says it needs bellows is quite scary, because that could mean the bearings or coupler have been damaged. So you would have to provide a cushion of $500 or so in case you need an overhaul or swap for another used Cobra. The rest of the boat sounds good, and an aluminum boat is always easier to rehab then a glass if needed.

The merc 165 is a great motor but very old, and doing an engine swap is only easy for an experienced pro. Plus there could be endless other things wrong....

 

[Bluegills Unlimited]

Re: What one

Ryan, of the three, go with the Blue Fin. I bought a similar boat last year, and am very happy. Where are you located? EDIT