1st time boat owner

[Livelaughpens]

Hello,

I have been interested in buying a boat for some time now. I was looking on craigslist the other day and came across one. It is a 1979 sea sprite, with a trailer, for $500.

I have a few questions since I've never bought a boat before.

It is 35 years old but does that make a big difference?
Is it better to buy it from a private seller for cheaper, or a more expensive retail seller?
If I go to look at it, what exactly should I be looking for?

I think this would be a good, inexpensive starter boat to kind of test out and see if it is something I want to invest money in. But I need some help getting started

If you have any other questions, or tips, suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you very much!

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1st time boat owner

Hello,

I have been interested in buying a boat for some time now. I was looking on craigslist the other day and came across one. It is a 1979 sea sprite, with a trailer, for $500.

I have a few questions since I've never bought a boat before.

It is 35 years old but does that make a big difference?
Is it better to buy it from a private seller for cheaper, or a more expensive retail seller?
If I go to look at it, what exactly should I be looking for?

I think this would be a good, inexpensive starter boat to kind of test out and see if it is something I want to invest money in. But I need some help getting started

If you have any other questions, or tips, suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you very much!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Generally speakin', a 35 year old hull is gonna have Rotten stringers, 'n transom,...

Yer gonna be lookin' for the Rotten wood, 'n the over-all condition of the Motor,....

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1st time boat owner

for $500 would think it has a motor? If you've got some basic skills, and another $3000 to possibly put into it - go for it. I picked up my current 1979 boat for $1000, with motor running. I've put more than most would into it but I sold my other two boats and plan on this being my last one for many years to come.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: 1st time boat owner

I was curious what a Sea Sprite was so did a little searching. The ones I found were a tri-hull with 80 HP Mercs on them.

Yes, there's a very high likelihood of rotted wood, including the stringers, deck, and transom. One quick check of the transom (though certainly not all inclusive) is to push and pull hard on the bottom of the engine while watching where it fastens to the transom. There should not be even one tiny bit of movement of the transom or of the brackets that fasten to the transom, if there is it's a sure bet the wood inside the transom is rotten.

Also, look at the fiberglass along the top of the transom, both the front and back corners. If it's separated there it's because the wood inside has gotten wet, that too should be a deal breaker unless you're looking for a project.

Walk around inside the boat looking for any sign of softness. If there is that's an indication of large problems.

Check the compression on the engine. With the engine down have the seller drain a few drops of oil from the lower unit, make sure there's no water and that the oil isn't cloudy. Run the engine (though just running it on muffs in the driveway is no guarantee that it will run properly in the water). If at all possible go for a test drive (it would be worth it to offer to pay for gas).

I'm suspicious of any boat being sold for that low of a price, IMO it's likely a project boat (meaning it has most of the problems already mentioned). But you never know, sometimes there are true deals out there.

 

[Livelaughpens]

Re: 1st time boat owner

It has a 50 hp Johnson outboard. As well as a trolling motor.

When I asked him why he was selling it for such a low price, he said he had an injury and has a hard time getting it on and off the trailer. He also said that he bought it from a coworker 3 years ago and just wants his money back out of it.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1st time boat owner

I would suggest that a 1st time boat owner like this has no clue what stringers, decks and transoms are or that there is actually wood in a fiberglass boat. I may be wrong but this is what I'm reading by their questions.

Livelaughpens I would suggest looking for an aluminum boat as a 1st time try. When doing a low dollar/budget entry into boating this way is much safer in finding a boat that is going to be seaworthy. Old fiberglass boats can and do hide some very expensive repairs that someone with no experience with boats will most likely overlook or not even be aware they exsist.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1st time boat owner

It has a 50 hp Johnson outboard. As well as a trolling motor.

When I asked him why he was selling it for such a low price, he said he had an injury and has a hard time getting it on and off the trailer. He also said that he bought it from a coworker 3 years ago and just wants his money back out of it.

If it runs, buy it. At that price you can do a lot especially on a little boat like that. You gotta start somewhere and $500 is a good place to start...

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: 1st time boat owner

You don't say where exactly you are, but if you're in the east, especially the northeast, be very careful of Sandy-damaged boats. Thousands of boats were sunk, either totally or partially, during the super-storm last year and are bering sold on Criagslist and elsewhere. Buying one of them can be a barrel of trouble. Spend some money and have the boat, engine, and trailer checked out by a marine mechanic. Otherwise, you may be throwing your money away. Hy

 

[Livelaughpens]

Re: 1st time boat owner

You don't say where exactly you are, but if you're in the east, especially the northeast, be very careful of Sandy-damaged boats. Thousands of boats were sunk, either totally or partially, during the super-storm last year and are bering sold on Criagslist and elsewhere. Buying one of them can be a barrel of trouble. Spend some money and have the boat, engine, and trailer checked out by a marine mechanic. Otherwise, you may be throwing your money away. Hy

I am from western Pennsylvania. Thankfully, we were effected too much from Sandy.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 1st time boat owner

read this: http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topic...help-buying-boat-buyers-checklist-635170.html

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 1st time boat owner

If it runs, buy it. At that price you can do a lot especially on a little boat like that. You gotta start somewhere and $500 is a good place to start...

I agree--but you have to be ready to dump the boat, not dump money into the boat. If you get one season out of it, it's worth it.

But here is where you might go wrong, when you said "I think this would be a good, inexpensive starter boat to kind of test out." If it is not reliable, no, it's not a good starter and it' snot inexpensive. $500 is a down payment, if you plan to do any work at all on it.

A running 50 is worth $500. A decent trailer is worth $500. A solid open hull CC is worth $500.

 

[airshot]

Re: 1st time boat owner

I have to agree with another poster, for your first boat go aluminium!! Much easier to work on, less to go wrong and always have a resale value. Rivets are much easier to replace than stringers at a whole lot less cost. Alu, also takes less HP to make it plane so you will save some fuel money and they are cheaper to insure. Here is another important factor to consider.....what happens if you strike something in the water at high speed? Glass boats will shatter and sink, alum boats will dent but generally stay together, ask me how I know...also ask your insurance adjuster about what I just mentioned. My vote is aluminium hull all the way unless you plan on getting into big water or ocean going.

Airshot

 

[Livelaughpens]

Re: 1st time boat owner

I plan on just taking it out on the rivers, my boyfriend plans to fish off of it, and just enjoy the sunshine.

Thank you all for your help so far. It has been very useful and insightful.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: 1st time boat owner

How much do you think a 35 year old Yugo would sell for knowing there hidden expenses?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1st time boat owner

Hello,

I have been interested in buying a boat for some time now. I was looking on craigslist the other day and came across one. It is a 1979 sea sprite, with a trailer, for $500.

Post the add here and we'll give it a once over for ya.... maybe we can spot something you didn't.

The odds are against it BUT who knows it COULD be ok.....

The biggest issues are the very likely transom and stringer rot but there are ways to get a real good idea of it's condition

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: 1st time boat owner

It's gotta be this one...https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/4225499598.html

Here is it's sterndrive sister...1979 sea sprite

 

[airshot]

Re: 1st time boat owner

Look at the gouges in the keel area, you know this baby has soaked up a lot of water, "new carpet" a quick way to cover up a lot of sin in the floor. Bet that floor is as springy as a diving board. Yep....definetly run don't walk away..

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1st time boat owner

it's neglected and rotten

cheap home cover job on the seats... side bolsters wavy (rotten) new carpet covering a likely "new" floor cover up

She's dead...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1st time boat owner

Go look at this one and be looking for a better motor in the future
12 ft aluminum boat and motor

 

[Livelaughpens]

Re: 1st time boat owner

Yes, this is the ad and the boat.