Back with a new (to me) boat! -Almost

[chuckndiscs]

Hello all!

I have not been on here in quite awhile but have already followed up on some of my favorite forum posts! Good to see you all are still at it!

Today is one of the two best days of my boating experience (the other when I sell it...or so the saying goes! ): I am picking up my new (to me) boat! Its a 1969 Larson Valero 177 with a 100HP Mercury (I think 1968 or 1969). Yeah! Its also my birthday, so what a good day!

I think Im getting a steal on the boat and motor + trailer: I'm trading the gentlemen a 14 foot alumacraft fishing boat (no motor, no trailer)!!! Heck of a deal if you ask me! The 100HP motor runs, the boat floats, and I only found one rub mark on the fiberglass hull that will eventually need work and one soft spot in the floor. For the price I think Im getting a STEAL! The gentlemen said he knew I was but he said he was trying to help a younger family out and also new the boat was older and may have issues in the future.

So later today I will have my new (to me) boat! One question I have is: He said it was an anniversary year model, with all the bells and whistles. I can't find reference on the web to any anniversary edition for the 1969 Larson Valero out there... Is he mistaken or ?

Sure Ill be on here more as I learn to play with the boat and decide to do some repairing!

Thanks!

- Chuckndiscs

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Back with a new (to me) boat! -Almost

Its also my birthday, so what a good day!

Sorry, dont know much about the boat you're talking about, but wanted to at least say happy birthday! I noticed it because it is also mine! It is a good day!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Back with a new (to me) boat! -Almost

congrats on your new boat.

take everything a seller says with a grain of salt. they're likely lying to you. they want rid of their boat for some reason that they're not letting your in on.

check your transom out good. soft soles (floors) many times are hiding rotten stringers and transoms...

 

[archangelnot]

Re: Back with a new (to me) boat! -Almost

I don't see anything in the Larson Catelog for that year about it....

http://www.larsonboats.com/assets/pdf/archives/1969.pdf

But, who knows...

 

[chuckndiscs]

Re: Back with a new (to me) boat! -Almost

GOT THE BOAT!

It trailer-ed home fine, but I don't know if I "trust" the trailer yet... I got it up to 60 mph and the tires held but you know, its just something about a new "old" trailer that makes me not trust it for awhile in the begin-ing!

In the final tests before I trailer-ed it away the motor started up. Water cycled appropriately but there is a gas leak somewhere in the front (Its a Mercury 1000, likely a 1968). I will likely spend a little cash and have the motor tuned up, gas leak addressed, and generally cleaned up / looked over before I take it out Memorial Day weekend.

One question here: Whats a good price for a motor tune up, cleaning - check, and maybe a small repair on a gas line?

One other thing, the tilt didn't work. I think its a bad switch as the trim worked but tilt did not do anything (no motor running, nada). We couldn't get the motor tilted manually so I drove it home like I was 95 years old in my rusted Caddy! Ill have to dig into tilts a bit...(Can I do it manually - how?, switch replacement?)

Anyways, I'm glad the trailer functions and the motor runs. Now its for some cleaning, checking, and then in the water for some testing! YEAH!

 

[Bluegills Unlimited]

Re: Back with a new (to me) boat! -Almost

Yeah! Its also my birthday, so what a good day!

Happy birthday, congrats on the boat! Tuesday was my birthday, and I sold my old one!