Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

[stevetedder]

1978 winner runabout. Johnson 85hp motor, new battery, new starter, carbs just cleaned, new seats. Includes 2 gas tanks, and muffs to run out of water. $1250

What the ad didnt say is there are two putty filled holes in it or is this an easy fix in general? Not sure exactly where or how big as I was informed by e-mail (prob. on or near the keel) My question is "Should a couple of small holes filled with "putty?" be a deal breaker for this price?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

A few things come to mind......

Yes any repairs are fixable ......... I wonder what the deck and transom are like? If the flotation foam is soaked.

Can you water test it?

That 85 being a 1978 is a great motor but absolutely not as powerful as your current 90 ....... the 1978's were rated HP at the head and your 90 is rated at the prop.

I would ask for photos of the repair ....... it depends if it leaks....... if YOU want a tri-hull then it is not a deal breaker

Fiberglass repair can be done in a weekend.

Sounds like an okay deal and I would lowball him with an offer.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

A few things come to mind......

Yes any repairs are fixable ......... I wonder what the deck and transom are like? If the flotation foam is soaked.

Can you water test it?

That 85 being a 1978 is a great motor but absolutely not as powerful as your current 90 ....... the 1978's were rated HP at the head and your 90 is rated at the prop.

I would ask for photos of the repair ....... it depends if it leaks....... if YOU want a tri-hull then it is not a deal breaker

Fiberglass repair can be done in a weekend.

Sounds like an okay deal and I would lowball him with an offer.

What Bob said--
Ok deal IF you want a tri-hull
SO many things to concider buying a used boat

 

[stevetedder]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

You guys keep saying "If you want a tri-hull" I have never owned anything but a pontoon. I have read that different hulls have different characteristics,and what I had read kind of led me to believe it was kind of an in between a v hull and a flat bottom in pro con when considering things like ease of planeing, smoothness of ride, stability , and fuel consumption. Is there something really negative about a tri-hull that I am not aware of?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

Tri hulls tend to slap pretty hard in rough water, that's what I keep hearing about them, have never owned one though. I guess the trade off is at rest they are very stable like when people are moving around they don't rock about as much as a V hull.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

You guys keep saying "If you want a tri-hull" I have never owned anything but a pontoon. I have read that different hulls have different characteristics,and what I had read kind of led me to believe it was kind of an in between a v hull and a flat bottom in pro con when considering things like ease of planeing, smoothness of ride, stability , and fuel consumption. Is there something really negative about a tri-hull that I am not aware of?

Ease of planing-tri hull. Smoothness of ride-v hull, stability-tri hull (while stationary), Fuel consumption-size of motor.IMHO

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

Trihull's are good for the boater who prefers to fish more than cruise. There are plenty of trihulls out there to grab for low dollars. If you want a more solid hull, the Cobalts were thicker, but the trade off to that is its weight.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

Trihull's are good for the boater who prefers to fish more than cruise. .

I have to respectfully disagree. Our 69 Reveler was in use for years (umm, bought new and still goin) as a cruiser/ tuber / skiboat -- hardly ever saw a fishing pole. Great cruiser, plenty fast. BUT.... that is an I/O 155 / OMC and heavier than the OPs boat he is looking at

It will, however, knock yer teeth out in heavy chop at WOT!


I think one cannot paint with so large a brush as you are^^^.....

Steve- If the putty holes do not leak, then it is all good!- Can you post the pics of said patched holes? Sea trial possible???

 

[stevetedder]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

OK got a little more info, kind of scary though, received this e-mail from the guy and I still havent seen it in person.

"Just took it out today....the back end where the motor mounts is gonna have to be repaired ....so ill take 700.....that way whoever buys it can fix it up .....the motor ran great today though. ice had it about six months "

This is a 32 yr old boat and that sounds like a really bad place to have damage to me. First thing I think of is loosing the motor,but I havent seen it in person. The price started at 1450..Anyone think it is still worth looking at? (And I have no Idea who or what "ice" hes talking about.)

 

[Stachi]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

I would pass on this one .....sounds like the transom is rotted....big job to repair...

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

I would pass as well. Not because the repairs can't be done or the motor may be worth 5-600 but because it is a tri-hull. Don't get me wrong I loved my trihull, but they are not a desirable boat for a lot of people (really dated look). They are harder to get rid of than other boats. That said, they are great fishing boats, and great boats if you have kids. Mine could run all over the boat and hardly rock it or cause much of a comotion. They do ride like 1-ton trucks in chop though. Look through some resto threads and you can get an idea of the cost of floor and transom repair, it adds WAY up quick.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

A lot of good boats out there for under 2K, look to buy from older people that are giving up boating, not that they are any more intelligent, they tend to use the boats less and take better care of them then the younger generation.

I don't like tri-hulls, but I fish in the open ocean and they lift out of the water and slap down in the swells, whether I am moving or not. So it depends where you intend to boat because they are great on small lakes

I bought my boat with the full intention of having to spend a thousand dollars on repairs to the trailer, motor (tune-up can be as high as $400) plus the extra gear I need to carry like life vests, anchor and rope, flares, fire extinguisher, first aid kit. So far the additional hasn't surprised me. I also considered that if the '96 outboard was not very good or dies in a year, was I willing to replace it at a cost of 4-6 thousand.

You don't need to buy a boat with holes or transom issues

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

Bad transom? Pass on it...

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

Rotted transom and the guy didn't even know about it? Not gonna call him a complete shyster, since he was honest enough to point that out; but if he didn't know the transom was bad until just yesterday, then how long has that boat been sitting around without being run or maintained?

About your thread title...while we forum-folk may be able to find reasons to say "pass," no one but you can conscionably say "jump on it."

 

[stevetedder]

Re: Should I Pass/Jump on this one?

Thanks for the input everyone and I will take everyones advice and pass on this one. Good advice is sometimes hard to come by, thats why I like these forums so much. The people on here are some of the best Ive seen anywhere to help out and to give an honest opinion.
Thanks again for the good advice.