Buying 2002 360SE - What to look for?

[danville-doral]

Hi Folks

Looking at a 2002 Doral 360SE with only 75 hours. What questions should be asked? What do look for? Not much usage... but also not sure about maintenance.. I know it hasn't been hauled in 2 -3 years (San Francisco Bay..)

 

[TeamPCBeach]

Re: Buying 2002 360SE - What to look for?

Get a professional survey. We just bought a 1999 300SE and the surveyor identified a few items that we thought would be minor, but ended up being over $4,000! The seller agreed to fix everything, including a new AC unit. Our survey ran $17.50 a foot and included research on recently sold boats of the same brand and year. The surveyor then gave us a fair market value of our boat. Turned out great for us as we were already paying less than the value and the seller covered the additional items.

Generally the survey only covers an external inspection of the engine. You need an engine survey if you want the compression checked. We passed on this since our boat ran well during the sea test and there was no smoke from either engine.

This was our first purchase of anything bigger than a 20' open runabout and our surveyor was great about showing us how to operate things on the boat and giving us maintenance tips.

I would also get all the maintenance records you can. 75 hours is really low for a 10 year old boat. If they didn't use it, I would really wonder if they maintained it.

Good luck!

 

[BSAFlash]

Re: Buying 2002 360SE - What to look for?

Spend the money, get a proper survey done.
I had a survey done on my boat a few years ago (I bought it new) and it was quite a revelation. (I have forwarded it to Doral).
Knowing what is wrong before it breaks can save you a fortune, equally spending a few hundred on a survey and walking away is much cheaper than buying a lemon and being forced to spend big on repairs.

10 years is the end of the hull warranty so it deserves a thorough investigation, engines don't like being left unused, seals and hoses dry out electrics corrode and oil drains away from everything above the sump.
If the boat has stern drives the fluid should be changed annually. A vessel that has only done 75 hours may not have had a change since new? The first service on the engines is usually around 50 hours, the second is another 100 hours, has the owner held off due to low use?

A vessel with such low useage may still have some teething problems that would usually have been sorted under warranty so check everything properly.
If the survey come up well and you purchase the boat, service and change fluids in everything, don't take a chance with old fluids and hoses. Factor these costs when negotiating and you should be fine.

It might be the best purchase of your life and a few well spent dollars should ensure it's not the worst.

 

[doral sucks]

Re: Buying 2002 360SE - What to look for?

Don't buy from a worthless company like doral. There are much better quality boats out there. They are nice until they break and doral turns their back on you. We have a 2005 elegante and have not had a summer without major problems.

 

[BSAFlash]

Re: Buying 2002 360SE - What to look for?

The pitfalls of buying secondhand without a survey?

 

[Doral-Canvas]

Re: Buying 2002 360SE - What to look for?

Hi Danville,
Did you wind up purchasing the 2002 Doral 360SE? That's a nice boat for sure!
Curious to see how you made out....