Re: 19?? 21' Model ???
I bought my first big boat 5 yrs ago. 1986 21' cheiftain, looks about like the boat you are looking at but the cuddy cabin is much taller other wise the boats look very similar. I would agree yours is a 70 vintage maybe late 60's. I would cross reference the engine serial number and find out just how old the engine/outdrive is. You could have anything from a good motor/outdrive to junk. Test run it check for water leaks and check outdrive oil for water, check oil pressure. Check transmon for wood rot with a large needle, poke around also poke around the floor.
My boat looked similar on the outside and I payed $4600 in oregon 5 yrs. ago.
I started by replacing all fuel lines and I found out the floor had rott under one of the fuel tanks, both fuel tanks had water in them (alum. tanks) so I cleaned the tanks and all was fine with the fuel tanks. So I decided to replace the floor and found the cabin wall was rotted at the bottom. So I also replaced the cabine wall. I also replaced the seat supports.
Transom did not look real good but I ran it for 2 yrs then replaced the transom. Replaced all the outdrive boots, hoses, new manifold, outdrive water pump, bilge pump, batteries, front motor mount (wood and weak).
Check the transom at the top corners mine was leaking from rain water at the top and rotted the transom.
2 yrs ago I lost a timing gear on the engine (chevy "iron duke" 4 cylinder 140hp mercruiser) I found out the engine/outdrive was a 1971 merc. 140 and not a 1986 vintage. Last year the outdrive went out rust in the upper gears. The engine block cylindes looked poor and was already bored .030 was not good looking so I replaced it with a whole new 140hp engine, replaced outdrive with sei106 new outdrive. I have a freshwater cooling kit so the engine block has antifreeze in it.
And the boat trailer is overloaded.
My trailer is also overloaded rated at 3500lbs, boat weight is 4100 on the axles hooked to the truck. Boat weight is full of fishing gear, and a 25 hp kicker. I noticed you have a single axle trailer. I just reinforced my trailer and plan to add new 3500lb axles with brakes next year.
I like the boat, I go ocean fishing throughout the summer and it does a good job, I just cannot go as fast as those fiberglass guys in rough weather. Boat is too light and shallow ved. But that is ok it does good on fuel and towes easily behind my truck.
I would say if you are willing and able to do boat work your self look it over good for wood rot, engine issues, outdrive issues and if all looks good I would say it is worth $3000 ish, but expect some work from time to time. I ran my boat 100+ hours this year alone so some of my problem would not have shown up for years for some who only run the main engine 10-20 hrs a year.
