Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

[Ciscovet]

Hey guys,
I just wanted to say hello from a future boat owner. I have always wanted a boat and never purchased one. But now I have the time and some resources to actually get one. I am taking an online boating class along with a CG class. I have minimal knowledge of boats but do have a lot of friends that are really into boats. I actually sea trialed a boat (2002 Bayliner 1950 for 6100) the other day and what a disappointment. The outdrive was very loud and the steering was super hard. So much so that even I noticed it.I of course was irritated because either this guy had minimal knowledge of bots (less then me) or he know about it and wasn't saying anything. In any case I did end up passing on that boat.
Now there are two boats that I am looking at. One is a 2000 Crownline 180 Bowrider w/ Trailer and the other one is a 2004 Campion 16'1" bowrider with a outboard 2004 Suzuki 4 stroke 70 hp. They are both selling for about the same price of 6000 to 6700 for the Campion. The owner of the crownline did explain that there was a soft spot on the floor. He said that it would be cheap to fix. According to this site, that seems to be the opposite of what I read. The Campion owner has no issues with his boat (aside from some crazy pink looking window tint) and is in high/dry storage near me.
The little information I have read on both these boats state that they are pretty good boats. ANything else I should look for? I am scheduled to meet the Campion owner this week. I will walk if I have any issues. After all I live in Florida and there are more boats here then trailers.

Regards,

Francsico

 

[mpdive]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Best advice I can give you is start off with a large pool of boats to look at. Craigslist is an excellent source, and with the economy bad, many are selling their boats. Start off by going to Mcdonald's and getting a sausage Mcmuffin with cheese and two hash browns. They are cheaper if you by two. Get a large coffee and hit the road. Look for the newest boat with the least hours on it that fit's your needs. From that point you start narrowing it down by condition and maintenance. Then you narrow it again by water test and then price. For your dollar amount, the market's wide open. Take your time and let someone who know's boats tag along. You will have to buy them an egg mcmuffin too.

 

[AviatorJim]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Spend a lot of time out on your friend's boats. They would love to have you if you have egg mcmuffins and split the gas. More time driving boats will let see how they feel. My boat is hard to steer when it is badly out of trim, and light as a feather to steer when it is in trim. And I have let friends drive mine and they fight it and I don't notice until I am back in the seat.

Or just get the one that looks fun and runs well. Like MP said, for $6K you have a lot of choices.
--Jim

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Sounds like you guys are hungry

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

What do guys think of this ebbtide?

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/boa/2582308969.html

 

[62 ROYAL SCOTT]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

HELL-O Ciscovet [#1] I would look a [ FRESH WATER BOAT&MOTOR ] [#2] ONE THAT SUITS YOUR NEEDS [#3]MAKE SURE YOU AUTO WILL PULL IT[#4] LOOK FOR THAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED.[#5] OR GET A CLASSIC ONE ,ONE THAT HAS SOME HISTORY TO IT. [ THAT'S WHAT I THINK ] DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE PLUG IN.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

The Ebbtide looks okay ... for some reason it seems expensive to me, but I can't quantify exactly why. Might be the market here in TN vs. FL - and that might be something to think of:

You've already got a good feel for how to look at a boat (walking away from the soft floor), so look at several boats in your area (even at the dealerships if you like) and get in your head what you like (amenities, power, accessories, etc.). Then, start the Egg McMuffin Craigslist tour - however, expand your search a little. If you're willing to make the drive, an area like Atlanta might offer a different price point on used boats. I live in TN, but bought my boat out of Indiana because the deal was the best one I found.

$6k is a great budget for a family boat, and a good one is out there for you. Take your time and wait for your pitch.

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Just an update on my quest for a boat.. What do you guys think of this larson 18 ft..

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/boa/2574812020.html

 

[JoLin]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

IMO, it's worth a closer look. The asking price isn't out of line (as a starting point) and it looks great in the pics.

Good luck- boat shopping is fun.

 

[oops!]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

i think thats a little expencive for a 2000 ob. i/o it would be on the money.

a soft floor is never cheap to fix.....NEVER....pro is over 2k....diy is 500-800 bux. and 40 hours

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Just an update on my quest for a boat.. What do you guys think of this larson 18 ft..

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/boa/2574812020.html

As an outboard guy, I'd definitely take a look at that one. Price seems about a grand too high for me but it also looks to be in very very nice condition. Only you can judge the value based on what else is available for sale in your area. Nice boat.

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Thanks guys...

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

SO the saga continues...
I have been learning a lot these past couple of days. Mainly about risers and manifolds, basic maintanance and such. Also what people will pass as "a clean" boat. How people view their boats value as compared with real life. So far I have looked at three boats. The first was the 2002 bayliner 1950 with the loud outdrive. Yesterday I looked at a 1995 18ft sea ray with a v8. Boat looked ok but he wanted 7k for it and there was some rusting around the manifold. Also if your going to sell your boat why not clean it up. There was dirt and leaves in the engine compartment.
I also saw a 1999 bayliner for 4500 and it was super dirty. Original owner that never changed and parts. The engine had some corrosion and leaking around the temp thermostat. I noticed that the wood on the inside part of the center storage compartment was cracked.
So this weekend I will go out and look at this larson. It looks beautiful on the pics and has an outdrive. I'm also holding out for a great deal on a 2002 bayliner that supposedly is in mint condition but I can't meet up with these people until next week. In any case here is the ad for the larson. He wants 6k and Nada doesn't list it with a motor. So what do you guys think about the price.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/boa/2574812020.html

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

One thing to be aware of with that Larson is that it has a 2-stroke outboard.

That is not necessairily bad, but the main disadvantage of the old-school (by "old-school" I mean before high-pressure direct injection like Mercury's Optimax and Evinrude's E-TEC) is high fuel consumption compared to 4 stroke outboards and I/Os.

If or how much this will matter to you depends on a lot of factors. Depending on how you use the boat and where you go, it may not be a factor or it may be a huge issue.

I got rid of my last bigwater fishing boat specifically because of this fuel consumption issue. I was running a 150 HP Ocean Pro and fuel mileage was just terrible. I run on the Mississippi and Great Lakes and I was lucky to average 2-3 MPG even at best cruise speeds. That engine sucked down gas like it was going out of style.

That meant that I could easily go through most of a 42 gallon tank in a single day such that basic safety demanded that I had to refuel the boat before going out again. Obviously, this also meant buying oil in gallons and by the case. It was not uncommon to spend $200 or more on a single weekend, especially if I had to fill up at marinas at nearly $5 a gal.

Again, how much this impacts you will vary depending on how you use the boat. For day trip use on local lakes, it may not be an issue at all.

BTW, there are also advantages to the old school 2 strokes. If fed a diet of good quality oil, they are tremendously durable machines that can last decades. Maintainance is simple and can usually be done by the owner.

This doesn't mean the Larson isn't worth a look, just wanted you to know the pros/cons of a 2 stroke outboard.

Grouse

 

[Philster]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Even on a well-maintained salt-water boat, the risers and manifolds don't last past five years (ok, MAYBE, but you cannot bank on it). On an older I/O that has seen salt water, unless the seller hands you a work order showing they were recently replaced and the boat is in stellar condition, you should plan on replacing them. That needs to be in the budget. It is expensive preventative maintenance. Unlike an automobile, the exhaust system failing on a boat can destroy the engine. It fails internally.

You could buy the boat and pull/inspect the exhaust and then decide, but have someone knowledgeable around.

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: Boating newbie-- looking at a couple of boats

Hey guys,
So after much looking around, I found a perfect boat. Its a 2001 18ft searay and it was in immaculate condition. It only has 205 hours on the meter. What was so impressive about this boat is how well maintained it was. There was no rips or tears on the cushions. The engine looked brand new with a new manifold and riser. It was so clean it was impressive. The boat even has the original manual, fire extinguisher and paperwork. The seller was fantastic and had no problems answering any questions. Today I, my friend(big boat guy), and the seller went out to sea trial the boat. He spent a lot of time showing me the basics. After that we went out and drove the boat around. My friend looked for any problems and there wasn't any. I just got her into the marina this afternoon.

The only sad part of this experience is that I found another seller that was selling his sea ray in very good condition for 2k under what I have seen. I didn't want to get into changing things since this is my first boat. But its almost criminal to see how cheap he is selling that boat for.