First, pics:
1978 Sleekcraft Aristocrat. 350 small block. Unknown lower unit (anybody ID that for me if you can, it would help a lot!)
Guy contacted me about it, because I put an ad looking for a "cool" boat. He bought it for $1200, with an extra bravo one lower unit. The previous owner did nothing to the thing. The owner before THAT, had the engine rebuilt, installed, but could not figure out the firing order, and gave up. Yes, it DOES RUN, the guy had it running 2 weeks ago, and one of the exhaust manifolds was leaking, so he spent $200 on another used set, and a marine alternator. Beat looking, but supposedly pretty fresh engine.
The interior is shot. The gauges are beat, the floor is soft in between the tunnels, the seats are intact but the vinyl is extremely hard, and the steering and shift cables are inoperable. The stringer along the keel of the boat is rotten. Not sure if that is structural or what?
The exterior is extremely glossy, and will buff out no problem. The deck is firm. There are small, hairline cracks between the hull and the cap on the left side. The stern has a massive crack right above the transom... this initially worried me, but I drilled a small hole in the transom from the inside, and it seems very rigid. I also pulled the bolts out of the trim tabs, and the wood was "okay". I'm guessing that the crack is from TOWING innertubes or something, because the fiberglass above the transom, but below the towing hook, is very thin. That makes sense to me, and would explain the crack.
The stern drive is what I am concerned with. Why did the PO have a Bravo one? How much power can the current stern drive handle? I know for SURE it needs new bellows. Any idea on pricing for those? Also, pricing for the steering/shift cables? If the lower unit turns out to be garbage, how much is a replacement?
Definitely LOVE the style of the boat. LOVE it. It's a little ratty, but I've restored boats before, so not scared of it either. Guy is asking $1000obo. I'm thinking that is a steal. Thoughts? Experiences? Ideas?
Currently the plan is to throw plywood over the floor, bolt in the seats after a good scrubbing, and sort out the mechanical stuff before tackling the floor/fiberglassing the thing. Seem like a good idea?
1978 Sleekcraft Aristocrat. 350 small block. Unknown lower unit (anybody ID that for me if you can, it would help a lot!)
Guy contacted me about it, because I put an ad looking for a "cool" boat. He bought it for $1200, with an extra bravo one lower unit. The previous owner did nothing to the thing. The owner before THAT, had the engine rebuilt, installed, but could not figure out the firing order, and gave up. Yes, it DOES RUN, the guy had it running 2 weeks ago, and one of the exhaust manifolds was leaking, so he spent $200 on another used set, and a marine alternator. Beat looking, but supposedly pretty fresh engine.
The interior is shot. The gauges are beat, the floor is soft in between the tunnels, the seats are intact but the vinyl is extremely hard, and the steering and shift cables are inoperable. The stringer along the keel of the boat is rotten. Not sure if that is structural or what?
The exterior is extremely glossy, and will buff out no problem. The deck is firm. There are small, hairline cracks between the hull and the cap on the left side. The stern has a massive crack right above the transom... this initially worried me, but I drilled a small hole in the transom from the inside, and it seems very rigid. I also pulled the bolts out of the trim tabs, and the wood was "okay". I'm guessing that the crack is from TOWING innertubes or something, because the fiberglass above the transom, but below the towing hook, is very thin. That makes sense to me, and would explain the crack.
The stern drive is what I am concerned with. Why did the PO have a Bravo one? How much power can the current stern drive handle? I know for SURE it needs new bellows. Any idea on pricing for those? Also, pricing for the steering/shift cables? If the lower unit turns out to be garbage, how much is a replacement?
Definitely LOVE the style of the boat. LOVE it. It's a little ratty, but I've restored boats before, so not scared of it either. Guy is asking $1000obo. I'm thinking that is a steal. Thoughts? Experiences? Ideas?
Currently the plan is to throw plywood over the floor, bolt in the seats after a good scrubbing, and sort out the mechanical stuff before tackling the floor/fiberglassing the thing. Seem like a good idea?
