Need your opinions guys please!

[Watercanuck]

Hey guys,<br /><br />Ok here is the situation... <br /><br />Two weeks ago I bought a 1984 20' Tempest Cuddy for $6000... Its now on land because of a rotted hull and a blown piston... Estimated cost of repair by marine mechanics $5000 to $7000 (Canadian)...<br /><br />I also have a 1989 15' Bayliner Capri Bowrider with a 50hp outboard that was rebuilt in the fall.<br /><br />The reason why I bought the 20' Tempest Cuddy with a 3.8L OMC Sterndrive was because the 15' bowrider was too small for me to take anymore than one other person with me on the boat. I tried taking two friends with me fishing and we could have been passed by a canoe... LMAO...<br /><br />Here is the big question... Should I sell the bayliner and invest the money into fixing the 20' Cuddy or should I sell the Cuddy and invest the money into a bigger outboard for the bayliner? Better yet should I sell them both and buy a new 20'(ish) cuddy?<br /><br />Is there any other opions you would suggest?<br /><br />I am so stressed out over this... $6000 and two weeks and I have a dry landed boat and no money to fix it...

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

sell both and look for a 18-20' center console. much more room than a 20' cuddy if fishing is your game.<br /><br />sorry about the problems. if it doesn't hurt too much, please tell your story of the boat and purchase (why you skipped a survey, etc) so others can learn.

 

[JB]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

What Mattttt said.

 

[Watercanuck]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

Hey Matt,<br /><br />Well I skipped a survey because I didn't even know what a survey was... I am new to boating... My 15' was insured under my household insurance so they didnt mention anything about a survey.. Then when I bought this 20' Cuddy it too was insured under my household insurance...<br /><br />When problems started happening my marine mechanic told me it would never pass a survey and I asked what that was an he then explained... This next boat I purchase I will surely be getting a survey done AND a mechanical inspection.<br /><br />Thanks for your advice.<br /><br />John

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

john- again, sorry to hear about you problems. it's good for others to hear it, so thank you for sharing.<br /><br />a survey is always a good thing to do, but when buying a relatively cheaper boat, people often skip them. don't get me wrong- i have purchased two boats and both were bought without a survey. but i minimzed my risk- i spent countless hours and trips to inspect and explore the boat. i brought along several knowldegable friends to do the same. i reviewed service records, insisted on water test, etc. if done correctly, you can avoid a survey on certain boats.<br /><br />good luck, hope it works out for you.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

John...you might be better off to sell the 15' and invest some money into the Tempest. You can't expect to get your $6k back in that condition. You may be able to drop in another motor and if you do some of the hull work yourself you might be able to lower your costs significantly. I had the same boat 1984 20' cuddy but had a 5.0 ltr and that thing would go like stink.

 

[Watercanuck]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

Hey Bob,<br /><br />I found a marina up by Casino Rama that said they would rebuild for $3000 but everyone is telling me not to do that because the outdrive will still be an OMC which is a worthless motor if the outdrive should break...<br /><br />The hull work I might be able to do if I can find someone to assist me for a case of beer and lunch but the motor being an OMC is what concerns me.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

JOHN ..listen an listen close.. <br /><br />go to a salty ole harbor bar.. buy everone a round.. <br /><br />now you'll have 20 'new' friends with boats to take you fishin'..<br /><br />believe me it's better, cheaper, an less upkeep..<br /><br />don't buy-the-boat,, have friends-WITH-the-boats..

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

John;<br /><br />Before you spend another $1.00 determine what the 84 20' boat would be worth. The outdrives were week in the lower unit. motors where no problem.<br /><br />Lower unit repair is likely to be 1500.00<br /><br />The way the boat is now would likely only bring salvage if you sell it. Dry rot in the floors may or may not be a big deal as it depend on the location. Make sure the stringers are ok.<br /><br />Do not simply fiberglass over dry rotted wood. replace the wood then fiberglass. Working with fiberglass is easy. As for the Bayliner - you may want to sell it now just to insure you focus on the other problem.

 

[tommays]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

small claims court<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[txswinner]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

John, Everyone hates lawyers and the word sue but in US now would be a good time. If the former owner sold this to you knowing the problems existed he should not be allowed to walk away after fraudaluently taking your money. Hope legal action avails itself to you in Canada.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

John...your kind of in an immposible situation here, dammed if you and dammed if you don't. I know a lot of folks will trash the OMC stringers but I'm sure there a few on here that have some kind words for them. Short of going the legal route already mentioned here or the rebuild route, the other option would be to trade up but that opens a moral delima, do you want to do to others as they have done to you?<br /><br />ps...which marina by the casino did you go to as I'm at Ojibway Bay which is part of the reservation.

 

[salty87]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

close the transom opening and go with an outboard?

 

[Watercanuck]

Re: Need your opinions guys please!

Hey Bob I honestly dont remember, I'd have to look through my notes to find the marina with the guy named Hardy.<br /><br />Here is some photos of my two boats.<br /><br />1989 Bayliner Bowrider<br />

<br /><br />1984 Tempest Cuddy<br />

<br /><br />I love the 84 Cuddy. It is so hard to let her go... I just feel like I'm backed into a corner and cant move...<br /><br />John