Boat newbie looking for advice

Tubingluvr

Tubingluvr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
426
Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

That is a very nice looking Four Winns, but as with any boat make sure you check out the deck,stringers and transom very good, and of coarse never buy a boat without a sea trial.
I know alot of these guys like their tinny's but have never understood that whole thing.....have always been a glass man myself....nothing more beautiful than that shiny fiberglass

Just Saying:)
 
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Pete1burn

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jul 11, 2011
Messages
88
Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Can anyone shed some light on how to check a transom and stringers when the deck is on the boat? Not sure how you would be able to see under the deck.
 
Jeremy90bay

Jeremy90bay

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 3, 2009
Messages
277
Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Pete, I was thinking the same thing. Im in the market for a new boat but everybody says check the stringers transom and deck before you buy. Im sure if I show up with my drill and ask if I can drill into the transom and stringers they will kick me off the property. How do you check these with the boat intact?
 
Woodonglass

Woodonglass

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Dec 29, 2009
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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Typically, Gentlemen, when inspecting a boat for purchase, you would check the transom for and FlEX by moving the motor up and down or the out drive. Stringers ARE not typically capable of being check but a WEAK floor or soft spots WOULD be a good indication of problems below. SOOOOO getting up into the boat and really checking in all the crooks and crevices for soft spots is a MUST. You'd be surprised how many people NEVER get IN the boat.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

ANY soft spots on the deck are usually bad news. So check carefully. For the transom you kinda have to go with your gut. Get as good a look at it as you can from inside the boat. Look for loose or drippy rusty looking fasteners and things like that.

That Four Winns could be OK if it doesn't have an OMC powerplant.
 
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Pete1burn

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jul 11, 2011
Messages
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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with the OMC engines? The other two they are selling or have sold have/had OMCs.
 
Woodonglass

Woodonglass

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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Went out of business on 02', Parts hard to find! Some third party starting to supply but still NOT easy to come by.
 
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Outback Jack

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 23, 2010
Messages
267
Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Woodonglass said:
Typically, Gentlemen, when inspecting a boat for purchase, you would check the transom for and FlEX by moving the motor up and down or the out drive. Stringers ARE not typically capable of being check but a WEAK floor or soft spots WOULD be a good indication of problems below. SOOOOO getting up into the boat and really checking in all the crooks and crevices for soft spots is a MUST. You'd be surprised how many people NEVER get IN the boat.
Click to expand...

Even doing all that you can't be guaranteed it to be perfect . For sure any sign of a soft spot almost guarantee yourself a stringer job from what I have been reading here. I know my deck was as solid as can be and I had other people check it out too. People could not believe how solid of a boat I had. There can be many monsters hidden under the plywood. If I never started to check the boat out by unbolting a seat and and pulling up the carpet to find wet foam from not sealed foam fill holes from the manufacturer. I probably would have never found any problems because I know it would have been a few years before the floor got soft.
 
kfa4303

kfa4303

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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Wrong with OMC? Lots of folks here love OMC (Johnson/Evinrude/Gale) motors, actually.?. Especially, older, vintage models, for which there are still a surprisingly good selection of parts, many available right here at iboats and other sites. Plus, they're very easy to work on and if you get a cool 50's era Johnson or Evinrude you'll have the coolest looking motor on the water, which is really all that matters :)
 
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Pete1burn

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jul 11, 2011
Messages
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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

So I talked to the dealership yesterday. He said there was some work done to the deck, just replacing a small section of the deck under the ski locker (still have to look up what that is) but that they checked the stringers when they had it up and everything checked out just fine. He said the engine had a tune up as well. The upholstery is in great condition but could use a good cleaning, but the boat is structurally sound and ready to go. I'll probably drive up there next week to take a look at it.

I wish I could bring someone more knowledgeable with me. I don't want to spend $4k on a boat plus $1k for gear and registration etc just to find out it has the same issues. I've been doing a lot of searching online on how to check out a used boat before purchasing, but that doesn't replace experience.

I'm assuming most dealerships won't warranty a used boat. I'm trying to think of all of the questions I want to ask before I make the two hour drive up there. I also asked for more pictures.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

kfa4303 said:
Wrong with OMC? Lots of folks here love OMC (Johnson/Evinrude/Gale) motors, actually.?. Especially, older, vintage models, for which there are still a surprisingly good selection of parts, many available right here at iboats and other sites. Plus, they're very easy to work on and if you get a cool 50's era Johnson or Evinrude you'll have the coolest looking motor on the water, which is really all that matters :)
Click to expand...

OMC Sterndrives, not outboards. Bombardier acquired the outboard business and has been doing a great job maintaining parts support. The stern drive side was put out to pasture.

Stick with Mercruiser or Volvo Penta for I/O's (possible exception being the Merc 470 which was a 3.7 four-cylinder that was problematic and has some NLA parts).
 
Woodonglass

Woodonglass

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25,932
Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

I THOUGHT that's ^^^^^what I kinda said...:rolleyes::cool:
Thanks for clearing it up cuz I don't think he was getting IT!!!
 
kfa4303

kfa4303

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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

doh! thanks ezmobee. that makes way more sense :)
 
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Pete1burn

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jul 11, 2011
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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

So I suppose I should stay away. Pity. Looks like a nice boat for the price.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: Boat newbie looking for advice

Yeah. OMC is why the nice price.
 
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