2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

[JoshInFL]

I can't wait to buy my first boat. This pontoon shopping has gone from fun to educational to when does it end! Lol. But, since I am shopping for a new family toy, things could be worse.

One boat I have found is a 2005 Crest Sport 22. Owned by an older couple who wintered in FL. The boat/motor shows only 59.5 hours. While the interior is nearly perfect, it's obviously not new by the "dock rash" and what appears to be pretty poor wash downs after salt water. Nothing major by any means, but looks worse than the interior.

It has not been used since last June with the exception of a Christmas boat parade in the local town. It has a 60hp Yamaha 2 stroke motor. I am aware that the boat is underpowered. The carbs were cleaned last June and there is documentation, but that was a year ago.

The boat comes with a dual axle trailer, but a couple of the hubs show obvious rust and again, it looks like poor wash down.

The asking price on the boat is $12,900. It books out on NADA for about that. I offered $10,500 today with a sea trial required before even a deposit. They said they would get back to me on Monday. I don't expect a positive response to my offer, so I'm looking for advise on my next offer, or if I should stay away from this "deal". What should I ask the dealer to do to the motor? Compression test? Re-Clean the carbs?

I know the boat is solid, but if I have to replace the motor, then I could buy a new 20' Sweetwater with a Yamaha 4stroke for the same price as my deal and have a warranty on the whole package.

Thanks, in advance for any advice and I look forward to any responses.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

That sounds like it is right in there price wise, if you come up to the middle you are at 11,500 and with only 59 hours on the engine that seems to be a pretty good deal.

Unless the engine was completely beat on I don't see much to go wrong in that few hours but of coarse have it looked at as well as the tubes, if they have sat on a trailer after being in salt water the problems arise where the bunks and tubes meet so worth looking at.

If you take the boat to a marina and tell them to check the engine they will know what to look for, sounds like a pretty decent boat.

Looking for a boat is a proscess, take your time and the right boat will find you, the last thing you want to do is get impatient, eventually you will se one and know that is the boat.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

IMHO, I would stick to the $10,500. It is a buyers market so there are, or soon will be, many more for your consideration.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

Is the trailer galvanized? If it is painted and used in salt with poor washdowns I would be a bit concerned. I am not sure what signs you are seeing as poor washdowns.

 

[JoshInFL]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

Thanks for the responses. To answer the trailer question, it is galvanized. The reason I suspect poor washdowns is that on every aluminum surface, including the toons, cross members under the deck, fencing and trailer there is salt corrosion. While it is nowhere near bad enough to effect the integrity of any of those parts, it seems to me to be alot more than I would expect on a boat that only has 59.5 hours and was garage kept...or so I'm told. Also, on the trailer, I clearly see rust in two of the four hubs. The other two still have the grease caps on the hubs.

In all honesty, I am pretty confident in the boat, but I am a first time buyer. This purchase has been quite a while in the making and we have always planned on buying new. But, if we can find that low hour, well kept used boat, it will free us up to upgrade, repower or do many other things without having the long term loan that comes with new. I am pretty handy, but I only think I know what I am looking at. That is why I am turning to owners with much more knowledge and experience with potential issues for advice.

Here is a little more information for consideration. The dealer has made the shopping/buying process less than easy and painless. If I can get an answer to a question, it is rarely the same answer twice in a row. I now understand that the boat has been sitting at this place since June of last year. Why to both of those statements? Their excuse is that it was priced wrong. Good answer for a few months, but not a year in FL. Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks again for your help. And I have pics, if that would help.

I just re-read my post. While there are 59.5 hours on the motor, the boat could have been in the water for ten times that amount, I guess. But still...rusty hubs? But then again, they are six years old. I'm just paranoid because it's not new. Bought my wife a Captain's hat for Mother's Day... she was mildly amused...

 

[rrhodes]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

Pics would help out. Make sure you take a sea trial.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

Too many unknowns. I would bypass this boat and keep looking.

 

[passingwindII]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

i picked up a 22 party craft 05 with 06 yam 90hp low hrs no trailer. $5000 deals are out there gl

 

[rrhodes]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

Too many unknowns. I would bypass this boat and keep looking.

My concern is improper washdown + Trailer + Salt Water = Possible pin holes in the logs where it sits on the trailer.

I would be very afraid to drop over $10k without having a complete survey done.

 

[JoshInFL]

Re: 2005 Crest? For a First Time Buyer

Thanks for the replies. Salesman called today. They countered my offer of $10,500 with $11,500, tax and tag and sea trial before signing any papers. I was going to go back and agree to the price, with the conditions that the fuel system be cleaned, inspect/replace fuel lines, carbs cleaned, compression check, fluids changed, impeller inspected/changed, trailer hubs inspected and repacked, toons pressure tested and a boat history check...all documented and to my satisfaction, then, after sea trial, I will sign a contract.

I spoke to several dealers/service businesses in the local area of the boat today. They said that the people at the dealer where the boat is are "a bunch of clowns". They said that they are not bad people or out to rip anyone off, but that their knowledge is in RV's not boats. They also said that the boats that they have are all consignments (except this one) and so it is not unusual that they have very little knowledge of its history. They also said that they felt there was no need for them to survey the boat and if I just had the carbs cleaned, I would be fine. Business must be great because I was trying to have the boat surveyed. So, I put the above list together and will send it tomorrow.

I don't know if they have the capacity to test the toons other than when on the sea trial..."yep, she's sinking alright"... so is there anything I can do other than a visual inspection? That post has me concerned.

I also found another ad with different pictures for the boat. It, like every other ad has errors and the pics are dated even earlier than when they told me they got the boat.

Here is what I think the story is, based on the new, old pics I saw today, my visual inspection and the bits and pieces from the dealership. The boat was owned by older people who never used it. They decided they wanted an RV. The put the boat up for sale on consignment in March of 2010. By June, 2010, the boat had not sold and the dealer really wanted to sell an RV, so they took it in trade. The owner of the dealership then used it a few times...summer, Christmas boat parade...whatever. He didn't bother to washdown the boat or trailer very well. Why should he...not his boat, plus, that is what he pays guys to do on Monday (the boat appears cleaner in the old pics I found today). They put ads up for the boat. Every ad is full of errors. Some have it listed as a much higher model Crest and priced accordingly. Others have it as a completely different manufacturer as well as model. I've seen three different ads with three different makes/models for the same boat. None of them correct. People either had no interest in it because of how it was priced or they came to see a high end performance model and found a different boat. They lowered the price a couple of weeks ago...still have it listed as a performance boat...and I found it.

Thanks again for the responses. I have to upload pics to ImageShack or something to post them, I guess. Also, where does one find those deals on used boats? I have searched hi and low and the only used I find in FL are 100 years old and beat. That's why this one seemed so good.