Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

[CrawPappy]

I maybe nuts but I have boat fever and really want a fishing boat before summer. I'm thinking a Lund Rebel or similar, 3-5K. I live in Montana and there aren't many boats like this around. But there are lots in MN, WI, etc. So am I nuts to buy one sight unseen off Craigslist and have it transported?

If I'm not totally bonkers-how do you make sure you don't get ripped off? And then can you recommend a shipping company, and do you have any idea what it may cost to say, ship a boat from MN to MT?

Any and all comments, tips, and jabs appreciated!

 

[oops!]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

yep.....yer nutz.

shipping is 3 bux a mile.

you can find an iboater in the area to check out the boat.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

Having just bought an old boat off Craig's list and having seen a lot of boats that looked good online and look like crap when I got there I would be vary careful buying sight unseen unless your planning on a restoration project. If you have found a boat that looks good you could consider hiring a local boat mechanic to go and look it over but that could get expensive if you see as many bad boats as I did in my search. If you do buy and need shipping you could try uship. I've never used them but they do advertise here on Iboats. Good luck on your search.

 

[oops!]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

by the way craw pappy...

welcome to iboats..

lots of guys here to help you find the exact boat you want.....hopefully a lot closer to you !

 

[BonairII]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

Do NOT buy a boat sight unseen. Either have an iboater look at it for you or find a local marine mechanic to look at it. Maybe you could contact a mechanic and offer him some cash to look at the boat "on the down low".

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

I live in Minneapolis and I can vouch for the fact that a lot of boats here in MN look nice in pics and are pretty lousy in person. If you see something down here.. it never hurts to post and ask if somebody can look at it for you. Billings in only 860 miles and 13 hours from here, it's a nice drive. There are a lot of boats a couple hours west of here.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

CrawPappy, I'm in the center of Wisconsin.
Would be happy to check out any local boats, if I can, around my work schedule.
Snap a few photos and point out any areas of concern for you.

I have shipped an outboard with uship, to MT.

I also have a former co-worker, that now works the oil fields in west ND.
He makes the trip home every 3 weeks to see the wife and kids.
He might be willing to tow it back to ND relatively cheaply.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

This one is about 90 miles from me, steering console and a 40.


http://eauclaire.craigslist.org/boa/2935006839.html



This one is about 40 miles from me, trailer is a bit rusty, but doesn't look too serious, only has a tiller 25 on it.

http://wausau.craigslist.org/boa/2936450766.html


My experience with this type of boat, is that the 25 is adequate with a light load. Marginal with a heavier load.

And, you are at elevation, which means loss of power.
I don't know what elevation you are at, but generally, anything above 5000' would require putting in a smaller jet in the carb. Pretty easy to do.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

Crawpappy I am in south east Wisconsin and could look over some boats for you but keep in mind my "expertise" is severely limited as I am pretty new to boating but I'm thinking a laymen look is better than no look. Plus if you post it up here before hand I'm sure the experts can advise what to look for.

 

[oops!]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

CrawPappy, I'm in the center of Wisconsin.
Would be happy to check out any local boats,

I have shipped an outboard with uship, to MT.
.

This one is about 90 miles from me, steering console and a 40.


http://eauclaire.craigslist.org/boa/2935006839.html



This one is about 40 miles from me, trailer is a bit rusty, but doesn't look too serious, only has a tiller 25 on it.

http://wausau.craigslist.org/boa/2936450766.html

.

Crawpappy I am in south east Wisconsin and could look over some boats for you

gawd i love this forum

absolute excellence.......way to go guys

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

I am just south of the epicenter of football. however when I bought my searay, I found it at Marine Max in St Louis for $5k less than similar boats locally. I found it on Craigslist, had the dealer send me about 3 dozen pictures, made a contingent offer and drove down to get it.

If you want, I can take a look at something for you around Manitowoc, Green Bay, and Sturgeon Bay.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

I have only been on the forum for a short time but have already received tremendous support and figured I should offer my help to try and return the favor. If there is one downside to this site it's that I have become hopelessly addicted and can't seem to get much accomplished in my real life lol.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

Hey Craw here is a real nice Islander in your neck of the woods. http://bozeman.craigslist.org/boa/2934946680.html

 

[CrawPappy]

Re: Am I nuts to buy a boat on Craigslist and have it transported?

Ahh sage advice, and generous offers of help! You guys are the best!

I think you guys can relate to boat fever, right? I gots it bad!

OK, so I'll continue my Craigslist searches and see if I can get a local iboater to check 'em out for me. Maybe with a local iboater to vouch I could do the deal and then get out when I can get out or get someone to bring it part way as Roscoe offered (by the way-awesome Roscoe-that could work, ask yer buddy about that).

THANKS!