Boat searching: Lesson #1

[Jayb123]

I have learned a lot in a short time:

Boats always look much..much better on the computer than in person. Ive seen some dogs already. Gone to look at about 7 boats... all fail. I ask the guy does it have soft floors... the usual response is "no". Then when I get there and step inside the fist thing my foot lands in is a soft spot .

Or another one.... what size is you boat Sir.... It's a 16-17 footer. Unless my tape measure has 16" per foot... its a 19' boat .

Am I having bad luck... is it an omen to give up for now... or do others go thru this as well?

Hell its costing me $4.10/gallon gas to go look. Next time - I want to say "please save me the money and tell me all the bad points" then just maybe I'll come look

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

use google maps and go on one trip to look at a dozen or so at once with as few miles as possible

 

[Jayb123]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Good idea... only problem is the ones fitting my criteria that seem decent on the net... come up for sale so far and few between.

 

[mike64]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Keep the search up-- you'll find the boat you're looking for. One tip to finding that boat that's in good condition at a good price is to check out clist (or whatever online boat list you're checking) Every day, and act fast when a promising one shows up. The good deals will sell quickly. The boats that have been up for a week or more, or that you see get relisted, probably means lots of other people checked the boat out and didn't like what they saw. Or it's a decent boat but the owner wants too much for it. This isn't always true, but I bet the boat you end up buying will be one you got a chance to look at right after it got listed.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

yep.... when I'm shopping I look as many as 10 or 20 times a day..... hours and hours of searching for weeks or months...... look a LOT and buy a little

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Keep looking. The deals are out there, but you have to weed through the duds to find the gem. We drove 3 hours last summer to look at a boat. Pristeen condtion, low hours, perfect shape - were some of the adjectives the seller used when talking to him on the phone. I got there and it was terrible. Ripped seats, scratches and gouges, after market swim platform installed with drywall screws (not joking, it really was), and best of all, no skeg what-so-ever. All this on a $12K boat. I politely asked how old the pictures were that he sent me, he said oh they were when it was new.

A month later we found our boat in excellent condition, newer, better motor, cheaper than that one.

Be strong, keep up the search!

 

[lockedcj]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

My problem is that I don't have much money or patience. I can't stand waiting until I have enough money to buy what I really want and I end up buying a 'beater' and then spending all my time and money fixing it up. I don't borrow money unless it's an emergency so taking out a loan for a toy is out of the question.

The type of boat I'm looking for only comes up for sale about once a week around here. It's usually out of my price range and I don't waste the seller's time looking at it. On the very rare occasion that one comes up that's in decent shape and I could afford it, it's always sold before I call.

I recently learned a lesson when buying a rifle. I had been looking for well over two years and had not found what I wanted. I finally got tired of waiting and bought something that was close. The very next day, I found exactly what I wanted and it was $50 less than I had just paid for the other one. Now I'm stuck with both and trying to sell the one that was 'close'.

Lesson learned. Be patient, keep looking and you'll eventually find yourself in the right place at the right time with the cash in hand.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Consider the time and money you spend on shopping an investment. If it saves you from buying a pig in a poke, you'll be thousands ahead.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Lesson Number 2:

Once you make a purchase STOP looking for a while. I find myself doing this, and of course, the next day you always find what looks better. I have learned to hold off a few weeks/months before I even start poking around again (I am always looking at boats for sale), in fear that I think I will find something I "should" have purchased.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Lesson Number 2:

Once you make a purchase STOP looking for a while. I find myself doing this, and of course, the next day you always find what looks better. I have learned to hold off a few weeks/months before I even start poking around again (I am always looking at boats for sale), in fear that I think I will find something I "should" have purchased.

Yes, that one drives me totally nuts... whether its a boat or anything else... seems like a better deal can always be had the following day or week.

 

[mike64]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Lesson Number 2:

Once you make a purchase STOP looking for a while. I find myself doing this, and of course, the next day you always find what looks better. I have learned to hold off a few weeks/months before I even start poking around again (I am always looking at boats for sale), in fear that I think I will find something I "should" have purchased.

Yep! I just bought a boat that seemed like a pretty good deal, and I stopped checking craigslist for this very reason. Wasn't easy though- I had gotten so used to obsessively looking for boats I got CWS (Craigslist Withdrawal Syndrome) ;-)

 

[Shabah 182]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

It took me a long time to find my boat. I am very particular and stress about every ding and imperfection on my boat. Seems like everyone who writes an ad feels their boat is in "excellent condition". Can't tell you how many boats I went to see were left outside uncovered, filled with leaves, seaweedy lines in the anchor locker, old suntan lotion in the boat, empty beer cans etc, etc. On more than one occasion the pictures on Craigslist were NOT the actual boat, but that was not disclosed. Or, as someone else said, a picture from years ago was used. If the ad or owner refuse to send current photos...don't waste your time. Get a good feel on the phone and ask plenty of questions. The guy I bought my boat from was very honest and disclosed every little thing that was wrong....even a few things I may not have noticed. Find an owner who is fanatical about their boat if possible. They are out there!

 

[JB]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Lesson #3: Never ask if the "floor" is soft. Ask about transom or sole rot. That tells him that you know a thing or two about boats and his reply will tell you if he knows anything about boats. He is less likely to try to con you.

 

[Mike94551]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

All great points especially the one about jumping on the new listings if they seem like a good one. Last time I looked for a boat I took my sweet time getting around to go and check some out. Started noticing real quick that the ones I was most interested in were gone in no time. The ones that kept hanging around for me to leisurely go see were only going to sell if a real sucker came along. Once I started jumping on the ones that looked real good it didn't take long to find one that I am real happy with.

Good luck in your search!!!!

 

[Jayb123]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Lesson #3: Never ask if the "floor" is soft. Ask about transom or sole rot. That tells him that you know a thing or two about boats and his reply will tell you if he knows anything about boats. He is less likely to try to con you.

I tried the "google" school of boating JB..... but Im still unsure of what the "sole" is. I figured I would ask

I do however, know what the transom and stringers are only after reading some of the restoration threads here in Iboats .... but cant remember coming across what/where the sole might be.

 

[JB]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

The sole is the lowest horizontal surface in an open cockpit boat, jay. Other horizontal surfaces may be called decks.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

Not to be mean but I think I spotted the problem. Champaign taste on a beer budget.

I think we are all guilty of that at some point and hope against hope we can buy a $10K boat (whatever) for $2K and then are not happy with what a $2K boat looks like.

I LOL'ed at that one... funny part is its mostly true. I have so many time bought something hastily that this time (boat buying) im trying to be picky. I barely even have a *insert your favorite cheap beer here*.... beer budget... which is prob why I shouldnt even be looking but Im not giving up yet

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

I dunno about that quit shopping part.... If I find an even better deal than my wellcraft I'll snap it up too... LOL

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

I know exactly what you guys mean. When you guys talk about soft floor...is it the wood thats soft or some type of fiberglass? I am a new boater, and just bought a boat....luckily I didnt find any soft spots in the floor when I stepped in and walked around on mine....I still have lots of cleaning to do on my new to me boat....I did notice that they look much better online though.

 

[mike64]

Re: Boat searching: Lesson #1

I know exactly what you guys mean. When you guys talk about soft floor...is it the wood thats soft or some type of fiberglass? I am a new boater, and just bought a boat....luckily I didnt find any soft spots in the floor when I stepped in and walked around on mine....I still have lots of cleaning to do on my new to me boat....I did notice that they look much better online though.

Welcome...the floor, deck or sole of the boat, whatever you want to call it, is usually made of wood thinly covered in fiberglass. Fiberglass, being a combination of glass fibers and plastic resin, is waterproof. The soft spots are caused by rot in the wood when it's exposed to water because the glass layer got compromised. Many older glass boats use wood as a support structure in the deck, stringers and transom but didn't do a real good job of waterproofing the wood with fiberglass. If those boats are not well taken care of, rot will get into the wood and make you sad if you buy it without inspecting it well :-(

Unless you like a project ;-)