Buying a used boat

[stingray165ss]

Hey guys I am in the process of searching for a new boat, I was in an accident last weekend pulling my boat home from the lake and unfortunately the insurance company decided the boat was a total loss. So now comes the fun part of finding a new boat. I have around $5000-$6000 to spend. I really want to get something that i will enjoy and not have to work on constantly or worry about rot. At any certain year did boat manufactures start producing boats without wood stringers and wood deck,transoms etc. Rot is the biggest thing i am worried about. Right now i have found a 1994 Maxum 1800 Sr with the mercruiser 4.3 V6 mercruiser outdrive and stainless steel prop. would something like this be a good choice? If anyone has any suggestion on makes and models i should look into i would love to borrow some of your knowledge. I want to make sure that i make a good sound investment that will last my family for years to come.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buying a used boat

1994 Maxum 1800 is a dressed up Bayliner 185 - it is all wood under the covers. What year boats have no wood is entirely dependent on the brand of the boat.

 

[stingray165ss]

Re: Buying a used boat

Thank you for the quick reply, I have heard that about the maxum, I have heard about bayliner also so i suppose that would not be a good choice! Do you have any examples of makes and years that might be in my price range where they stopped using wood?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buying a used boat

Thank you for the quick reply, I have heard that about the maxum, I have heard about bayliner also so i suppose that would not be a good choice! Do you have any examples of makes and years that might be in my price range where they stopped using wood?

Nothing wrong with a Bayliner - I own one. You just have to carefully check out any boat you buy. 5-6K doesn't buy much, I suspect that the only non wood containing boat you are going to find is going to be aluminum.

 

[stingray165ss]

Re: Buying a used boat

Nothing wrong with a Bayliner - I own one. You just have to carefully check out any boat you buy. 5-6K doesn't buy much, I suspect that the only non wood containing boat you are going to find is going to be aluminum.

I am definitely open to a bayliner i have heard good and bad things, how would i know what to look for as far as rot on a boat without drilling into the floor and transom?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buying a used boat

I am definitely open to a bayliner i have heard good and bad things, how would i know what to look for as far as rot on a boat without drilling into the floor and transom?

Look for soft spots in the floor, open up the ski locker and poke around underneath, take the engine cover off and poke around at all the wood you can get to through there. Generally the upholstery will be all messed up in a boat that has been wet, if it has new upholstery or carpet then check extra close.

 

[stingray165ss]

Re: Buying a used boat

ok thank you so much

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Buying a used boat

I believe Maxum at one point went "sans wood" (that's French). Your budget is tough, because it will put you into the older boats and many had not made the switch yet . . .

Got any money buried in the back yard or stuffed into a matress?

You will either have to find a good boat with wood, or verify the brand and years that went without wood. There is a lot of hearsay about the use of wood. Some manufacturers advertise no wood in the stringers, but then have wood elsewhere in the structure. So, you really have to check things out.

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Buying a used boat

Whats you location? I have seen a few nice boats around here in you range.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Buying a used boat

What was your last boat? Pretty much any boat can rot someplace if it's neglected. I had a 86 Sea Ray Seville and it was solid as a rock but it is all how they are maintained. Park it under a tree for a few years uncovered and it will be junk.

BTW, What exactly happened when you were pulling the boat? just curious.

LK

 

[airshot]

Re: Buying a used boat

Go with an aluminium hull, no rot and a leaky rivet is easy to repair. Less weight so greater fuel savings.

 

[stingray165ss]

Re: Buying a used boat

@tpenfield I am having to use the money i have saved back to get into that price range, insurance is giving me $3000 for my boat which is a 87 Stingray 165ss. I hate that it happened because i had it running good and it was in decent shape. I think i have found a nice maxum and a nice celebrity i will try and post some links so you guys can check them out and give me your opinions.@Dawgslife i am about 30 Min south of atlanta. I would be willing to drive a couple hours for the right boat, the maxum i am interested in is about 2 hours away. @Alwhite I had a guy pull out in front of me and i didn't have time to stop so i ended up t-boning him and the boat starboard side ended up against the passenger side of my vehicle.
here is the link to the maxum Used 1994 Maxum 1800 Sr, Eatonton, Ga - 31024 - BoatTrader.com
here is the link to the Celebrity ( it is the second ad listed) Access Coweta :: Recreational Vehicles

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Buying a used boat

1987 Chaparral 20'

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: Buying a used boat

1987 Chaparral 20'

ok so the chap said "full restoration, new upholstery" hmmmm last i checked resto meant more than new upholstery. that would be sprucing up in my opinion. but it looked like a nice boat and had the 5.0 vs 4.3 either is a good engine but the 5.0 has more ponies also a thirstier engine.

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Buying a used boat

ok so the chap said "full restoration, new upholstery" hmmmm last i checked resto meant more than new upholstery. that would be sprucing up in my opinion. but it looked like a nice boat and had the 5.0 vs 4.3 either is a good engine but the 5.0 has more ponies also a thirstier engine.

That 87 was on my short list, when I was looking. There is a real nice Chapp down the road from my house. It is in great same also and just had major service. I think its a 88 187. I think they are asking 3500-4000 for it.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Buying a used boat

Maxum= out of business
Celebrity = out of Business

Good luck in your search/budget range. you will need it....

 

[stingray165ss]

Re: Buying a used boat

I like that chap. It just looks like a heavy boat and all I have to pull it is a 2002 jeep wrangler or nissan murano. What do y'all think of the maxum?

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Buying a used boat

All used boats condition is dependent upon the care that was, or was not provided by previous owners, so it's critical to inspect any used boat to ensure you don't get a rotting mess. At your price point, you will be looking at boats that are good candidates for abuse, there really is no way around this, and it is your job to inspect or pay an expert via a survey. Sounds like you know what to look for, floor, stringers transom, and then you have your power plant too. If you take your time and do this methodically, you should be good to go. Avoid any impulse buys.

 

[jkust]

Re: Buying a used boat

Where freshwater is concerned, there aren't bad boats, just lazy owners. In a boat, the qualities of wood are actually a good thing. Of course along with the good comes the potential downside being rot that lazy owners bring about. The Maxum looks good but pics just aren't enough really for us to advise.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buying a used boat

Maxum= out of business
Celebrity = out of Business

Good luck in your search/budget range. you will need it....

Maxum = Bayliner - not out of business, they just stopped painting bayliners a different color and putting a different sticker on them The parts are as available as any other old boat.