Buying boat sight unseen?

[matt167]

Well, MBS kicking in again, and I've been scanning Ebay and CL for inexpensive boats that won't take much to get running.. Found what I know is a Wellcraft V20 bowrider of an unknown year. It has a 165 Mercruiser 6cyl and has the old Mercruiser trim switches so it's mid-late 70's at best.. Winterized now, but is said to run good. Trim works and it does turn over ( have vids of both working ).. It's said to be solid, but I expect it may need something. Windshield fits tight in the center and it has a full mooring cover so it's promising... Now for the real question. owner does not know much about it. It has been used in the salt a bit, but I'll only use it in freshwater.. Has a nice trailer under it, and I know I can get it for less than $1k + transport costs. Should I go for it or wait it out? I know that the V20 hull is desirable, but I just want a boat that floats and runs safely with little work needed?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

but I just want a boat that floats and runs safely with little work needed?

Ayuh,.... What do ya think the odds are on that,..??...

With a 35 year old boat, 'n motor, with an owner that knows Nothin' 'bout it,..??

You'd probably do better goin' to a Casino,...

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

Run Forrest, Run! Beware--Every boat or engine sold on Craigslist ran when put into storage. Unless it was a freeby, I would want to put my hands on it before buying.

I don't know if 1000 bucks is chump change or beer money to you but it is a lot to me. It is not a good bet. I would just as soon go to Atlantic City and give it to the casinos.

Bondo--You just beat me with the casino comment. I was writing as you were posting. LOL

 

[ssoper]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

Ayuh,.... What do ya think the odds are on that,..??...

With a 35 year old boat, 'n motor, with an owner that knows Nothin' 'bout it,..??

You'd probably do better goin' to a Casino,...

+1 ^

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

BYW: I am building up a mad on a boat advertised on CL. It is a vintage Glastron GT 150 with no title and only a bill of sale. The guy wants 750 with a non-running engine. If it doesn't sell soon, I will offer him 300 as is and go pick it up. BUT, I am expecting a boat that needs work and am also discounting for the fuss and bother of trying to register a non-titled boat in PA. That's a gamble I am willing to take. So, 300 is chump change to me LOL

 

[matt167]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

Yea, think I'm going to wait it out.. I will find something closer. Had a chance to buy a 22' Islander a month ago, but it was missing the outdrive and engine was untested. Came close, but I don't want another big project.

There was a V20 bowrider OB close by, but it had a 125 Force for $1,500

 

[matt167]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

BYW: I am building up a mad on a boat advertised on CL. It is a vintage Glastron GT 150 with no title and only a bill of sale. The guy wants 750 with a non-running engine. If it doesn't sell soon, I will offer him 300 as is and go pick it up. BUT, I am expecting a boat that needs work and am also discounting for the fuss and bother of trying to register a non-titled boat in PA. That's a gamble I am willing to take. So, 300 is chump change to me LOL

Just need a friend in NY to register it in his/ her name and then 'sell' it to you.. Non titled boats are easy to get registered. 3 forms needed and one of them filled out by the PO. DMV will make a registration for it. Only downfall is it takes 3 months to get a transferable registration in place of the non transferrable you get from the DMV office

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

there are some boats that can be bought sight unseen but a i/o bowrider isn't one of them.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

ayuh,.... What do ya think the odds are on that,..??...

With a 35 year old boat, 'n motor, with an owner that knows nothin' 'bout it,..??

You'd probably do better goin' to a casino,...

probably???

 

[agallant80]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

I did this with a new boat and have done it with cars but on a used boat I would say no way unless the price was so low that I would not mind loosing the money or could part it out to recover my funds.

 

[matt167]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

I know I could recover 1/2 the cost in the trailer, and probably the other 1/2 in parts. It's a got a custom fit mooring cover/ convertible top, and bow cover which for a V20 has to be in somewhat of demand. BUT the more and more I read back thru the conversations I have had with the guy, he's covering something up. I don't think he has ever had the boat in the water, I think he blatently lied about where the boat was during Hurricane sandy as he said it was safe in a parking lot, but was unsure about saltwater use but said it had barnacles so it must have been in the salt.. FWIW, the asking price was $750 for boat and trailer, but I'm going to put a little more $$ togther and get something better

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

I guess it depends on the boat.

The 1988 Alumacraft Classic I bought in late fall of 2012 had been listed on CL for over a month. Had some very nice clear pictures and was advertised as not running but I had a very good idea of what it was and what was needed and what it would cost to get running. So I emailed the ad and made an offer sight-unseen and never heard back from the guy. A few weeks later I had the wife email to try and make contact which he did respond to and had figured out we were together emailing him. He then responded that he couldn't believe my offer so he didn't respond to it.

We finally talked on the phone and I made the same cash offer and that if it was as I suspected the condition to be in true I would take it for the amount of my offer. I got a deal with no surprises, he got a fair price and we were both happy.

My whole point in this deal was I didn't want to drive 3 hours then have to try and haggle with the seller. I had a very good idea what he had and I knew what it was worth and what I was willing to pay for it. If I'd had found it to not be as I suspected then I'd have turned around and left empty handed and chalked it up as a nice day trip and would have kept looking.

BTW the wife and I did stop for a very nice dinner on our 3.5 hour drive back pulling that boat. I paid about 40% of what that boat would have been worth if it had a running engine on it.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

I have done this a few times. The biggest was an $18,000 used boat. I like the Casino comment because it's is a gamble, but if you cover your rear and play the odds you can win. To make my decision I had about 5 photos, and a couple phone calls and texts with the owner.

I had two outs, the motor was still under warranty (or so claimed by the owner) and my retired step father that I paid to pick it up got to look it over before taking delivery, although he doesn't know anything about boats and I would have been out the money I paid him for the 12 hour each way drive.

All said and done there were a couple minor issues but for the most part the boats was as described and I was happy with the deal.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

For the record, I wouldn't have done this with a glass boat.

 

[matt167]

Re: Buying boat sight unseen?

Well, running to Turningstone actually was an idea before I even brought up this thread, but I don't really gamble.. Last time I played a scratcher and one anything, I was running low on gas and stopped for gas when I realized my walet was not with me. Had $1 in my pocket and bought a dollar scratcher. Won $7 which got me enough gas to get home.


a 40% discount on an Alumacraft is something that I would have jumped on also..