1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

[drewmitch44]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

I just looked at that CL AD right before i came onto the forum tonight. Im in DE and check CL just about every day or so. Looks nice to me.

 

[thepotroast]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

It looks like the CL ad was pulled....so either he sold the boat or deleted the ad...maybe lowering the price?

Opps, never mind...he did repost it, new link:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/1081743486.html

 

[krakatoa]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

? BUT NEW/SHINEY oil = some bullsh*tter trying to hide a leaky seal with new oil.

This is why you will want to do the lower unit oil check after a trial run. If there is a leak, it will turn that shiny new oil into milkshake by the time you get back. Also, that is the time to do the compression test. Pull the ignition lanyard, crank for a few seconds with the gauge in and move on to the next cylinder. Just tested four motors helpin a buddy buy a used center console. That gauge got a workout!!
By the way, the boats we were looking at were all Pro Line center or dual consoles. All four had 150 Merc's. most readings were 125. He bought the rig with honest low mileage and the gauge read 140 psi; even in all 6 cylinders.

I agree too nice point ..... very interesting to catch up a smart a*s seller

 

[thepotroast]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Just saw this one posted on my CL (Wilmington, NC)....thought you may be interested: 1997 Glastron w/ 115 outboard.... $5k

http://wilmington.craigslist.org/boa/1093832052.html

 

[reelfishin]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

........

He even gave me great advice if I want to check out this boat, or the next one.
Example, Check lower oil ?
? Milky/Water = bad.
? Dirty/black = OK (EXPECT THIS if you know it's old oil),
? BUT NEW/SHINEY oil = some bullsh*tter trying to hide a leaky seal with new oil.

I never considered the bullsh*tter?

Jim

An old used car trick to hide a bad motor or bad headgasket was to put in used oil from another car and run the car through auction with a hole drilled in the radiator cap to let the pressure vent. This made the oil look 'normal' when someone checked it.
I'd expect the same tricks with outboards from an experienced scammer.
I don't assume anything, if I'm buying a supposedly running boat, it will mean a trip to the water with the seller, then a full check of the fluids and compression after it's been run and he's not had a chance to tamper with it.

Most boat owners however aren't that adept in covering things up, most simply don't know any better and what you see is what you get. If the guy wasn't sharp enough to cover the boat, when he indeed had the covers up in the garage, then it's not likely he did anything to the rest of the boat. Chances are that he feels something is wrong, and is about to fail, or he just can't afford to run it anymore with the high cost of gas.
Look around his yard, does he have a tow vehicle that would pull the boat? (Maybe he just downsized his vehicles to save gas and now can't tow the boat?). Is the rest of his things in disrepair, cars, house etc.? If the house and cars are a mess, then that pretty much explains the attitude towards the boat and maintenance. Many boaters look at a boat as a big toy, not as a mode of transportation or an investment. Those types tend to get tired of that new Toy pretty quick, and once the newness wears off, it gets neglected and abused.

 

[jdlough]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Just a little Bob's Marine update:

You know I passed on this boat. I then thought I bought a SeaSwirl 1850 DC, but it was contingent on starting and passing a motor test. After 1 month futzing with it, it didn't, so I passed on that too.

I found a '97 SeaSwirl 2100 DC w/175HP Johnson. I told him I'd buy it, contingent on the motor test. I told him about the last couple of buying-attempt-fiascoes, and pointed him to my boat buying threads on this site.

So, before the sea trial and motor test, he decided to bring it to his marina for a quick motor test - the folks who did all the maintenance on the boat. It turned out to be Bob's Marine!

So I called Bob, who remembered me. He did a little 'extra' checking of the boat for me, gave me the nice compression numbers, and totally recommended the boat and especially the motor. New tilt&trim ($1200), new H20 Pump, new power pack, new thermostat, new sensors, new controls, new dual batteries & switch, compression all 115-120, etc.

So I bought it Friday. DAMN, it's a powerful motor, and starts faster and easier than my car!

Next stop, iBoats, for Smart Tabs and other goodies.

I'm naming the boat "Eureka" (I found it!), because it's been a long search.

Thanks for all the advice, and the advice to come. Here's some pics of Eureka in her new home.

P.S., He didn't want to bring it Friday, due to bad weather. So, I emailed him pic #5. He filled it with 60 gals of gas, and brought it right over. I think that maybe made the difference!

Jim

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Great looking boat and nice find for the 59 Bens.

 

[jdlough]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Windors.... I just had a senior moment. I thought "You must be confused. I didn't trade an old Mercedes for this boat." Then I thought, "Oh."

Actually 60! One is kind of tucked under the left side of the pic.

That (and his kids) are what maybe got him to bring the boat out and launch it on a rotten day. (Otherwise a 2 week wait while our schedules got in sync)

His kids counted - "Dad! There's 60 100 dollar bills!"

He promised his daughter a new PINK kayak when he sold the boat. I hope she holds out for a really nice one.

Jim

 

[Nico2112]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

What a nice boat you got

Congrats!

Those Springfield bucket seats are really comfy. Did you get the cushions for them?

Cheers!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Hey, Jim...such a good ending to your quest. I think you are gonna love the layout of that boat. We just sold our KeyWest DC and were really happy with how functional it was over the years. Also, Seaswirl seems to be making a solid boat.
I chuckled at the Bens remark.....maybe thinking half a Triumph might work as well.....

 

[toddscreen]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Hey Jim I ended up buying that boat you are talking about the one in Delaware right. Nice and very fast boat.

 

[toddscreen]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

I bought that boat that you are talking about real nice boat had to fo some upholestry work but it is nice Todd. Boat is very fast.

 

[toddscreen]

Re: 1999 Glastron GS180...Opinions????

Re: 1999 Glastron GS180...Opinions????

I have this exact boat but a 1998 model. As far as I know there were no changes from 1998 to 1999.
This this is fantastic!!!!
Extremely roomy inside, very stable and very dry!

Boat rides like a Cadilac. This past weekend we covered about 100 miles in it with 4 people and a lab we were not cramped or overloaded, with that 150 it should really move. It is great to ski behind, the wide rear puts out a nice wake for tubes and other watersports.
All around a great package and if that motor checks out a good fair price, you probably can get them a bit lower if you try.

If you have any questions about it and characteristics I will be glad to try to help.

I bought that boat 99 csx carlson with the 150 on back where can I get the exact vinyl material I am doing some upholestry work and the white is not exactly white look cream white the boat is fast and stable. I went up to get it from western maryland and I love it.

 

[jdlough]

Re: 1999 Glastron GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Re: 1999 Glastron GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

I gotta ask, how much $?

And, aside from vinyl totally shot, and the bouncy gas tank cover hatch, the boat looked unused.

You DID note the gas tank cover hatch bounciness, right? Any concerns or new discoveries about that?

And they gave you the boat cover in great condition that they kept in the attic?

Actually, I really was flipping a coin over this boat. I just didn't want to futz with replacing the vinyl, and it was maybe a bit smaller than I was looking for.

BUT, with new vinyl, and fixing/research into that bouncy tank hatch, you may have found yourself a nice find. That motor looked brand new. And with the 150HP Johnson I totally believe that that thing is stupidly fast.

The previous owners were maybe not the best boat maintainers, but I did feel that they were honest.

A big plus for you in Western Maryland is that this boat was not bottom painted for our nasty Eastern Maryland barnacles.

Congrats, and I'd like to hear more.

Have fun tubing and fishing and etc....

Jim

 

[H8tank]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

That seaswirl is an awesome looking boat!

 

[toddscreen]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Jim,
My email address is ...removed... I do not use this very much this site very much so please email me and maybe answer a few questions for me. I wanted to tell the previous owner off for not covering the boat up. But he was about 6 foot 10. I called him and he wanted 4,500 for it but I bought the boat for 3,900. He gave me the brand new covers. My first project was to get the storage locker in the floor to drain. I removed the large spongey gas tank cover. I drilled a hole from the storage area under the fuel tank and to the back of the boat then I forced a 3/4 inch piece of copper pipe through the hole that I drilled. That solved the drainage issue. Under the tank cover there was a hotched 4x4 post laid on its side that supports the fiberglass cover that needed replaced. I replaced it and added one behind it about a foot or two back for extra support now the floor is solid. I also put carpet on the floor and snapped it in. I changed the lower unit oil. I had the front and rear seats redone along with the bow back cushions. I cleaned waxed and polished the boat all summer and I have it looking real good. I do not think he used it much. The boat flies and rides and handles great. I focused mainly on the interior and I am going to have the impellor and themostats changed before using it next year. I used it about 7 times last summer and I really love it. I wish he would have at least bought a 100 dollar walmart cover for it because I did a lot of work to the interior. It was mainly the cheap vinyl stuff that was sewn to the other vinyl that went bad. But I had the same pattern and material color design when I had it redone. I had a hard time finding the exact material but I did find it in florida plum, magenta and an off white. I also took the power winch off it seemed like it was operating slow and weak and I was popping a lot of fuses. I use the boat here in Hagerstown, Md and I am going to take it up Deep Creek Lake next summer. The 150 pushes the boat along real nice. It is very comfortable and fast. It gets up quick and trims out nice. How much was he willing to sell it for when you looked at it and when did you look at it? Was he firm on his price? I bought it around May. He told me he had it wrapped every winter except last year. He must not have covered it up at all in the summer months. I will send you some pictures if you email me. I love the boat just wish he would have covered it. But I was able to get it for a good price what do you think? Looks like you got yourself a sweet boat too though. Todd.

 

[toddscreen]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

EDIT: Todd - please read the posting guidelines. Personal contact information is not allowed in the forums. Use the PM system.

 

[jdlough]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Todd,

Back in March I think the guy said he'd take about $5500 for it. And yep, he was about 6'10". I walked away from that boat politely.

It sounds like you fixed it up nice. $3900 seems like an excellent price for that boat. I just wanted to get out on the water asap, and didn't want to deal with fixing it up.

Post some pics of the boat with its makeover here. Just resize your pics to under 100kb and click on "manage attachments" below to upload them right here.

Jim

 

[toddscreen]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

ok Ill do that in a few days

 

[kaferhaus]

Re: 1999 Glastron (fake) GS180...Opinions? (Now with Follow-up!!!)

Looks like this thread ended up making two guys happy!

Hope you got a good deal on the upholstery work! That has been a deal killer for me on several boats I've looked at.... boats otherwise in good shape with strong engines but with the interior having been severely neglected.

The marine upholstery shops around here have outrageous prices... a buddy had a pontoon boat that he bought "cheap" because the seats were all spit... he thought he'd spend a few hundred more and get them recovered and end up with a nice family boat at a great price.. He bought it before talking to me about it and just as I told him after he called wanting to know who to take the seats too..... almost cheaper to buy new seats than have them recovered.

His "bargain" is gonna end up costing him more than just buying a nice boat that needed nothing and he'd have been using it already instead of waiting a month or more to get the seats re-done.


I think the fellow that ended up with the original boat that started the thread is going to end up making out real well in this case..... not a lot of vynil on that boat. Like I said two guys ended up happy!