1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

[bunker108]

Ok everyone...I am over the little glasser I was looking at. I have moved on to this one. It is an 18' 1973 SS with a 115 Merc on the back. The hull is scratched...from the not so hot looking trailer, but looks solid. The interior was done years ago and the Merc has low hours on it. It is gonna need some workd but is lake ready and usable as it sits. So what do you think? Fair price. Anything will seem like too much after reading about the 76 SS for 100 bucks!

Thanks again everyone. I don't even own one yet but I am hooked! I might make an offer on this one Tuesday.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

what is his asking price ? That is a very nice 18 ft Super Sport

 

[bunker108]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

He wants about $2000...not sure how negotiable he is.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

$1500 would probably be fair. Heck of a nice project though! (I may be a bit biased )

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

I agree with EZ.... $2000 seems a lil steep (sorry but im a bottom feeder ) You would be amazed what some rusto could do to that trailer . Sweet 18' though....

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

Re: 1973 Super Sport...possible purchase

West coast guy here. $ 2000 for a 18 SS in the condition its in with a great looking trailer. The boat is really clean. Ready for the water . A quick coat of paint on trailer and boat and your like new. Offer less but take the $2000 with . you would spend way more than that to fix it up if needed and be without a boat while doing it. I do not like older Merc motors but they are strong runners. If Motor is good to go BUY IT.------------------- Pugetsound

 

[bunker108]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Well, I bought it. We settled at $1700.

Still a little nervous about boat ownership, but what a great relatively inexpensive hobby. I am excited to start cleaning, scrubbing and waxing and getting the family out on the water.

I am ok at spinning wrenches so I look forward to working on the SS. I hope that she proves to be a solid and dependable boat.

I will post more pictures tomorrow after I pick her up.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Congrats!

There is no easier to own boat on the planet than an outboard SS. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

I don't much about those Merc tower 'o powers though so you might want to post up in the Merc forum for info on that.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Very cool... congrats bunker..... Thats a good price since you got it for $1700. Hey $300 off is like a 15% savings. Did you give him some sort of coupon.... lol

 

[KellyC]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Congradulations on the boat there bunker, that will be a good boat for ya I bet. I will say that you have a small problem in your plan though, boating is NOT an inexpensive hobby as I am sure most here will tell you. It is just cheaper going this way is all, with a starcraft and all. Happy and safe boating to you bud.

 

[jbing81]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

but what a great relatively inexpensive hobby.

How come I didn't get the memo?!? Lol

 

[bunker108]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Ok...ok...but I did say "relatively" inexpensive. Hey, 1700 bucks to get me on the water, not too bad. Heck I paid $200 to rent a crappy boat on fathers day. The thing wouldn't stay running and it I had to keep feeding it ether to get it fired up again. It was a disaster of a boat but we had a great day and my 4 year old boy caught a fish. I decided then and there that if I was going to cruise a lake on a crappy boat...it would be my own boat. I am already ahead of the game because this SS is nicer than that excuse for a pontoon boat that I rented.

I just hope to get a few uneventful trips without a catastrophic failure this season.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Even if your not into a full resto yet.... I am sure you can get many more than a few trips if you take even decent care of it... plus pride of ownership . Then .... when you zoom by the guy with the boat rental on your way to your fav fishing hole you can chuckle at the guy who is sitting there trying to fig out why his rented pontoon boat wont run.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

I think you got a pretty good price on that. I paid $1800 for my 74, it's a 21 ft. I've only got about $3000 in it now, and still have to get a top. Did somebody say inexpensive hobby? I might be talked into selling a certain bridge. It is a really nice looking boat tho, and shouldn't take too much work. I think I'd run it this summer, and then decide what it needs. Oh wait, I think I said that on mine too. Congrats and welcome aboard.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Congrats man, great lookin rig!!

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Welcome bunker, great looking boat. Looks almost identical to my 72 SS except is has that thingy that EZ talks about hanging off the back lol.
Glen

 

[bunker108]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Well I got her home. It is a really clean boat. That old Merc fired right up and both gears engaged. She is missing but idles and revs...who knows how old that gas is. The water stream seems a little weak running on earmuffs though the impeller was done last year.

Also I was planning on splashing her as is but... I am going to get it off the trailer first. The trailer needs to be gone through and I am going to sand and paint the hull while its off. The interior is nice so I won't paint the rest of the boat until I decide to tear it all down.

She needs some little things but overall a solid boat.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

....The water stream seems a little weak running on earmuffs though the impeller was done last year....

Im not a mechanic... but even though the impeller was changed you might wanna check it again, cause if the motor was even started dry sometimes the soft rubber impellers lose a fin and it may be stuck in the inlet/outlet somewhere. Might be the cheapest and easiest thing to check.... other than a clog at the end of the line.

Ya my trailer looked like yours..... its a wonder what some sandpaper, rusto and a few new shiny bolts will do . If I dont say it.... one of the other guys might beat me to it sooo..... "Let the fun begin" ...

 

[bunker108]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

I am going to start tearing into the trailer tomorrow after work. I need to take some measurments for a new bunk set up to replace the rollers. I want to go with two 8' 2X6 bunks...sound good?


The trailer and the hull will be painted white. The hull might get a blue stripe on top. The trailer work and paint prep are very straight forward and I am not too worried about those projects. The boat is not going to get flipped. I am just going to pull it off the trailer and spray the hull and the trailer.

I am crossing my fingers on the old Merc though. She fired right up although she was missing a bit, sounded good even on old gas. I am going to do the impeller just beacause, but I am not sure about the water pump. The carbs were wet but I am hoping that I overloaded them with my enthusiastic use of the choke button. There is a local guy who will do the carb work, so I am not sure if I want to attempt it.

I want to have this done by mid-August and will try to stay close to my budget of $1500.

The trouble spots on the hull...these are going to take some work. Those are not just scratches...they are gouges. That is gonna require some filler.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1973 Super Sport...I bought it!

Here's my trailer setup. Very happy with it. 2x4's. Not sure the length.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2352.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2353.jpg