Need your opinion on this boat

[duramax07tmd]

Im new to the site and i have a few questions. I dont know a whole lot about boats and i have been wanting a little bass boat to got to the lake with on the weekends to fish. I am thinking about buying this boat but i do not know much about it. Could anyone tell me if it is worth my time getting this boat. The owner said it is a 14 or 16 foot Cajun boat. I think mastercraft made this boat but im not sure. It has a 70hp johnson. The boat is a 1981. Im not sure what year the motor is. I went and looked at it this weekend and it looks like it is in pretty good shape for an 81. I took pictures of it so if you could tell me what you think. I have no clue what it is worth. He told me to make him an offer. He has not given me a price on it.

I took pictures of the boat, motor serial number and boat serial number.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

Problem is those pics don't show anything important.
The critical stuff is beneath the deck and the transom itself, it could be a nice $1000 boat or a $200 project boat.

You gotta pull hatches and start digging below deck to find out.
If you find soft wood its a gut job.
Rugs on open boats don't help if its left uncovered.

Probably the wrong forum too.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

It looks like a nice boat, but check it over real good, and be sure to take it to the lake for a couple of hours of "real water testing", which should tell you more than anything else about it. Good looking boat!

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

The best times owning my first boat was buying it than parting with it. I didn't know what to look for and still could use experience removing blinders off my eyes when buying 2nd, 3rd, and 4th boat.

IMHO...

Have a reputable mechanic check the motor out and find a friend that knows boats to look over the vessel. They won't have blinders on like you.

Be sure to agree with the seller what stays with the boat, like anchor, rope, bumpers, fire extinguisher, flares, whistle, PFDs, etc. Just because it's there when you looked before, it may not be there after you buy the rig.

fyi...wellsc1

 

[duramax07tmd]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

So what would you think this boat would be worth if everything checked out ok and was up to par?

Thanks for all of the help and replies!

 

[apaseman]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

He didn't even give you a rough price? I wouldn't go over $1,500 for it myself. Of course, I may get flamed, not sure

It doesn't have decent electronics on it, the trolling motor looks old as well, so i'm guessing that given time, you'll dump another $350 (used) to replace those two things.

But like others have said, at the very least take it out on the water for a few hours or take it to a mechanic. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

Welcome to iboats!

The engine is also a 1981 FYI and the lower unit does not appear abused based on the skeg and prop. Yes I agree with the above and more digging is needed.

Boat values tend to get inflated during the summer by as much as 33% ........ are you near salt water? If it has been run in salt water the value goes down.

Craiglist and your local paper are good for figuring values in your area. Based on the boat registration I think you are in NC.

Just a word of caution ... take a look at these Cajun threads in our restoration section ....they are newer and "looked good"

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=363827&highlight=cajun

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=352934&highlight=cajun

I guess it is deceiving with the construction methods.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

I'd pay for what the motor is worth and nothing for the boat.

 

[rosser1]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

no more than 1,000.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

Those motors are about as good as they get in that era. Great motors. Reliable, Powerful, Light etc. If it had power trim it would be a lot more convenient. Even without it, the motor could probably fetch $1000+ if it has good strong compression and it is overall in good shape with no salt water use.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

Welcome to iboats!

Strange that the owner doesn't doesn't know the length of the boat. But since it's rated for 70 HP I would say 16'. I had a 14' 1981 HydraSports bass boat and it was rated for only 50 HP.

If that interior is original, there is a fair chance that the bones (sole, transom, stringers) are solid, but verifying that is what will determine the value.

Trailer looks good, but you'll need to make sure of that too.

 

[duramax07tmd]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

Thanks guys for all of your help. Like i said i just want something to mess around with. No he has not told me a price on it. But i will see if i can check it out some more. If anyone can think of anything else please share!

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

Thanks guys for all of your help. Like i said i just want something to mess around with. No he has not told me a price on it. But i will see if i can check it out some more. If anyone can think of anything else please share!

You need to determine if it's enough boat for you even if it's just something to "mess" with. Sit in it, take some rods, tackles, pfd's, cooler, stuff you would normally take with you and load them in the boat. You will find that a 16 footer is not very fishable and you might hate it.

 

[Bpiatt]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

Its easily worth 1500. The motor will sell alone for 12-1500.

 

[spudshaft]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

I agree. Being a bass boat in NC, I bet he wants $2500+

 

[apaseman]

Re: Need your opinion on this boat

$2,500? Wow. You can buy a brand new 18 foot tracker with an 80 hp with better electronics and storage and what not for $8,000. Seems $2,500+ for that boat is kinda steep, but I guess markets are different.