75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

[1kwik72]

When I was a teenager growing up at the lake, a friend of the family had a mid 70's Century Arabian. It had a 454 with a V-drive. The sound of that boat just idling at the dock was impressive to say the least. From the first time I saw that boat, I wanted one...heck, I wanted it! So now that I'm in a position to actually make it happen, I've started looking for them. And the thing is, you don't really know what you're getting when you buy a used boat. I'm pretty meticulous by nature so I think that finding a project and doing the boat myself is the best way to get exactly what I want. At least I know that it'll be done right!

So I've been looking nation wide for months now for just the right boat/deal. Interestingly enough, this week I found one...and it's 3 miles from my shop. But it's a project for sure. The guy was asking $5K for it so I expected that it would be a decent boat, ready to run but maybe in need of some cosmetics. Yeah...it's way worse than that. He's telling me how he bought it last summer, ran it for "30 seconds" in the yard on a hose, and that's the last time it ran. So I ask the obvious, when did you winterize? Blank stare...what do you mean? Nuff said, pull the stick, milk. The freeze plugs are pushed out, no visible cracks on the block, but I'm assuming it's bad. So I'm assuming complete engine. With water in the block, even if the block is'nt cracked, I'm assuming the crank/rods have rust issues. I have no idea about the transmission, but let's assume it's no good, just to be safe. He also told me the gas was bad...more fun!

Then I climb around and poke here and there with the screwdriver. Yep, the transom is soft, so is the top edge of the stringers at least 6" from the transom. I already noticed that the interior side panel's wood backing panels are rotten. The floor seems solid, no soft spots, but I've seen enough threads here to know better than to assume they're okay. So I'm assuming complete gut and rebuild job structurally.

Also, although everything is present and cosmetically restorable, someone painted the boat red from the hull/deck joint down. It was originally burnt orange and that's the color I want it to be again. I have no idea if it can be stripped or not...I'm assuming it would be more cost effective to paint it the correct color?

Now I'm realistic, I'm not thinking I'll ever get my money back from this project. But I still want to get some opinions from other fellow boat junkies as to whether this is insane or not...even by boat nut standards. I THINK I can get the boat and the lousy (I'd be selling it) trailer for about $1000. If it was just any runabout I'd say $100 at the most. And while I know some people who aren't boat junkies would say RUN. NOW!!! I kinda really want the boat.

Here are some pics-
Soft spot at transom and stringer port side


more soft spots starboard side


Soft transom over all


The interior looks restorable, but much of this wood is soft and the interior fabric is brittle.


Nasty red paint


No idea what the primer is about


Anyway, this is the possible candidate for restoration. Whatchathink?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

Even if it's THE ONE boat you've been looking for, nothing in your quite in depth inspection & description suggest that this is a $1K boat.

motor bad
inboard transmission bad
trailer bad
transom bad
interior vinyl bad
interior bad
deck bad
hull (painted?) not good
exterior transom skin (primered?? why??) not good

Certainly not a probuy list ^^^

If money isn't a concern, sure, it can be rehab'd. But you are definitely correct, you'll never recoup the costs.

If the Admiral is all in too, go for it. Have no illusions that you will be boating this season w/out MAJOR effort.

It's close, it's the boat you've been looking for, it's 'only' $1k ...
Its also a MAJOR PROJECT that will require a great deal of time, effort & money.

 

[1kwik72]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

Even if it's THE ONE boat you've been looking for, nothing in your quite in depth inspection & description suggest that this is a $1K boat.

motor bad
inboard transmission bad
trailer bad
transom bad
interior vinyl bad
interior bad
deck bad
hull (painted?) not good
exterior transom skin (primered?? why??) not good

Certainly not a probuy list ^^^

If money isn't a concern, sure, it can be rehab'd. But you are definitely correct, you'll never recoup the costs.

If the Admiral is all in too, go for it. Have no illusions that you will be boating this season w/out MAJOR effort.

It's close, it's the boat you've been looking for, it's 'only' $1k ...
Its also a MAJOR PROJECT that will require a great deal of time, effort & money.

And this is the kind of input I'm looking for. If it's not worth $1000 is it worth anything? I just found a few others for less than $5K and they supposedly run good and if the pictures are accurate they look WAY better.

The admiral doesn't bother me about this kind of stuff...Yeah, she's a keeper.

We already have a great boat for the summer. If I end up with this boat I'm thinking several years before it would ever see water.

But it's a in pretty lousy shape...it's a shame what some people allow to happen to boats sometimes.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

What is it REALLY worth to you? Because you will get as many 'values' as there are iboat members. From maybe $1k paid to the seller to not accepting GETTING paid $1k by the seller to haul it off.

I think I'd risk upsetting the seller & make an offer that's low, really low. Try & do it in front of his Admiral. Cheap shot, but they listed it for $5k, and it's CLEARLY not a $5k boat. Anyone who would list it for that is a tool, and I'd have no problem treating them as such.

But it's not my THE ONE. Can you live w/ paying $500 for it, knowing that it's taken a good long while to find 1, and knowing that out there somewhere there's a $1k Century Arabian that IS in better shape/has a good motor/isn't trashed? Just a matter of waiting (how long?) and watching (where?).....

Leave a LOW offer ($250 or LESS) and your #. A few more people that show up looking for a water ready $5k boat and his Admiral should be calling & offering to pay you to take it away. Far, far away.

Just my $0.02, and you didn't even have to pay that much for it :watermelon: Yep, worth AT LEAST twice what you paid



In case you were wondering, the Arabian's seller would have attempted to charge you 250,000 times more for the same advice. $5k :faint2:

 

[greenbush future]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

Boats in that rough of condition are better suited for a doner boat, strictly for parts. Trailer may be worth a 1-200. but it will cost $ to take the boat to the land fill. I'd keep looking.

 

[Ned L]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

As much as a Century Arabian is a great boat, There is not much to work with here, adn even for free you would have a long expensive path before you are on the water. I expect you can do a lot better for $5K.

 

[1kwik72]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

I started looking more last night. Although they are a two day trip to get, there are a few other Arabians out there for $5k or less that are supposedly good running boats.

Yesterday the guy said, "Make me an offer"...my reply was, "I'm afraid you'll say yes!"

Much of this is what I already knew...I just was trying to verify what I thought was the case. I told him the boat might not be worth anything...maybe as a parts boat. I hate to see that happen but when you leave a boat uncovered for years this is what happens.

My neighbors across the street boat a boat two years ago. Nice little bow rider. It sits uncovered in their back yard. It's already falling apart nasty.

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

As much as I really like Arabians and older boats in general, being realistic regarding condition as well as ones time and money into restoring something as far gone as this seems to be, looking around and spending a bit more for something in much better condition would alleviate a lot of aggregation. I could see problems just compounding and before you know it, the boating season is over and still not on the water.

Almost 2 years ago, I bought a '73 Silverline for $1500 that had been babied and covered all of it's life. Original great condition upholstery, clean motor, no soft spots on the floor or deck, and the gelcoat still shines. Other than some initial PM, I was on the water in a few days of purchase.
I then had time and money to do some extra things to it as I went along such as install a swim platform, new Faria gauges as most were original and a couple didn't work, and an electronic ignition.
No problems kept me off of the water when I wanted to go which is not bad for a 41 year old boat.
You will find one.

 

[1kwik72]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

Yeah, I'm leaning the same way. My problem is that old boats cars airplanes etc. talk to me. Not in a psychotic kind of way, but with regard to the potential of what they used to be before some moron let them fall into utter disrepair. I know that I could restore this boat, but I'm pretty sure that it's not worth the effort.

 

[1kwik72]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

Reality is setting in for the guy that owns the Arabian. He texts me yesterday saying he'll take $1000. I nicely explained that I couldn't do that, but I did tell him I might give him a couple hundred for it. So here's his reply and then mine...I thought it was humorous.
This is after much back and forth and it's been very civil and straightforward...

Him- "No problem if you can't do that it's fine. I'll just let it sit here before I give it away. I'll probably torch it."

Me- "Okay, I understand that you're frustrated. It's your boat, if you think the best thing to do is burn it in your back yard then I'm not sure what else to say. I guess enjoy the $1800 bonfire...But if you do decide that a few hundred dollars is better than going to jail for arson then maybe we could talk about me taking the boat off your hands."

So far I haven't heard back from him. But he rents the house he's in and he has 3 boats in the yard. He messed up by telling me that the landlord wants all but one gone asap...I figure he'll drop the price locally to see if he can get $1K for it before he lets me have it.

At this point I couldn't care less. I'd give him $200. But that's about it.
Anyway, I laughed at my reply and thought is was somewhat humorous.

 

[bvetter]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

That's funny.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

$200.00 is kinda on the high side IMO
Lots of work getting rid of the boat to sell the trailer.

 

[1kwik72]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

I know...and I know he's the reason the boat is junk. If I don't get it I'm sure someone that knows nothing about boats is going to get hosed by this guy. And it's not my mission to spare people from lousy boat experiences.

My biz partner just sent him a text asking about it. He is now saying $1000 cash, he says he doesn't know if it runs or not but he's saying it's solid. So he's a $&%?! in my opinion. I showed him that it was cracked on the block and that the transom and stringers were soft.

I just found an 85 Resorter that looks pretty nice for $5000. No trailer. But it's water ready and lift stored on a fresh water lake. Just reinforces the fact that $200 is too much for his boat.

Now I'm afraid he's going to call me back and say he'll take $200.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

If he calls you back, tell he he misunderstood, you said..."If he gave YOU $200 bucks you'd come haul it off for him!!!!":laugh:

 

[1kwik72]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

hahaha! He would lose his mind!

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

$200 is what the trailer is worth give or take so it's value is there then its a free boat. 454 motors a readily available as are blocks so getting one and combining the marine specifics or just using it if your going with fresh water will be fine and cheap. I see that boat as a $5k boat restored and thats about what i think it will cost maybe a little more to restore it. As far as the paint goes you might be able to sand it back down to the gel and it would be fine. I know that has been done in some cases with some friends boats. I would go for it. i bought the SIII Conqueror for more and the trailer wasn't even worth the $200.

 

[marksa1458]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

I'm restoring this same boat. I searched for one of these Arabians forever and think they are about the coolest boats on the water. All in the eye of the restorer. I do agree that you'd never make any money on the restoration

 

[1kwik72]

Re: 75' Century Arabian Possible project boat

Yeah, I'd never even thought that I'd break even.

Time is on my side. Who knows though, he might be dumb enough to burn it....