Considering this boat, worth it?

[scipper77]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

Check the compression on the motor. There is no point to putting a new carb on a motor with bad compression. From what I have read the motor is the only good part of the boat other than the asking price. I'm pretty sure that a motor with bad compression would have starting issues, and not idle well at the proper rpm's. Perhaps the idle is set at 1500 because of bad compression.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

Wow thanks for all the responses guys. this forum is great.

i thought it could be compression, but driving it, the boat seemed to be pulling hard. But then again that wont tell much. my only problem is that im a college student and i have limited funds. So i really dont have much money to spend, but then again i need to spend the money now to make sure what im buying is on good condition. What is an average price to run compression?

sorry for all the questions, im a newbie to this area

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

It idle's at 1500? Sometimes a mechanic will set the idle high like that to mask/ameliorate a bad valve or other issues.

A soft spot on the floor does not mean that only the floor needs to be replaced. More often than not, there has been water intrusion into the foam below the floor...and you may very well see structural deficiencies related to rotten stringers.

But; you don't expect to get a new boat for $1000. Sounds like it might be a good deal if the compression checks out OK.

Chuck

 

[scipper77]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

$30 for a compression gauge. I have seen a link to the mercruiser procedure for doing the compression test, If someone knows the link please help.

Doing a compression test is easy. For specifics on how to do it try posting in the engine section. If you are not able to do the compression test yourself then I strongly recommend that you do not buy the boat as you will need to do things more advanced than the compression test to get this thing running right.

Don't worry though as I said compression test is simple.

 

[kkr26]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

offer 500 and you will have all winter to fix and tinker on it. You can always find a cheap carb kit. The floor will have to be fixed but if it is not bad I would bet it can wait

 

[tmh]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

Lots of fun buying a boat with "issues" - what can you expect for $1k!?!? You're doing the right thing going into it with both eyes open.

Pay a mechanic $75 to check the engine and outdrive including compression. Why? Because if it checks out OK you can't lose! The engine, if OK plus the drive can be sold as parts for more than $1k plus I assume you get a trailer?

Don't expect an easy AND proper floor fix. However, if the damage isn't too bad, you can do a spot fix, shore up and rotting stringers and run the boat a few years for cheap. Then maybe you have the $$$ and time to fix it OR maybe you want another boat. Of course, if you want a project, tear it out, rip out the wet foam, replace any rotted stringers and replace the deck (LOTS of threads on this in the repair forum.....LOTS). Problem is, if the interior is in rough shape you still have a pretty crappy boat (nothing wrong with that, btw) that maybe isn't worth the time and $$$ to fix "right". Upholstery is expensive.

Oh, one last thing - make sure the transom is not all rotted out or you're looking at a much bigger job!

Good luck.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

thanks guys for all the help. i think i will take it to someone and have them look at it, and do the compression test. im sure in the long run this will be worth it. ill keep you guys posted on the progress as it comes along.


Thanks again !

Brian

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

if i buy the boat i plan on addind stabilizer. changing oil and drive oil fogging engine and draining/anti freeze. then storing it until cold goes through. thats it for the engine. and maybe tinkering with the floor.

I think you should search and read some of the threads on replacing the flooring and stringers before you decide to buy the boat. You need to get an understanding of how much is involved in replacing the floor. Your comment about "tinkering with the floor" sounds like you think it's a small job. From what I've read here it could involve a lot of hours of work. After doing some research, if you still decide that you're willing to put that much into it then get him down on the price and go for it.

As for me I'd rather look for something with a good floor. There's a lot of deals to be had on good boats now.

Good luck!

 

[BigJ08]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I think that there are better deals to be had on a boat in this price range (craiglist). At least in my area(central florida), $1k will buy you something in better shape than this. If you do want it, just make sure you understand the work that has to be done, this site is a great resource. Just my $0.02.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I think you should search and read some of the threads on replacing the flooring and stringers before you decide to buy the boat. You need to get an understanding of how much is involved in replacing the floor. Your comment about "tinkering with the floor" sounds like you think it's a small job. From what I've read here it could involve a lot of hours of work. After doing some research, if you still decide that you're willing to put that much into it then get him down on the price and go for it.

As for me I'd rather look for something with a good floor. There's a lot of deals to be had on good boats now.

Good luck!

i deff. agree with you on the floor situation. and i took it to the guy today, he looked at the transom and floors. he said that the transom was solid, but that the floor needed to be redone at some point, he also said that the one stringer would probably need to be replaced. And both manifolds had been cracked and JB welded.

He said that i could get away with the flooring for 2-3 seasons before it became a concern.

he then said that if i didnt want it he would buy it from me for 1000 right then.

tomorrow the compression test will be done. and i will base my decision off of that.

i wouldnt mind paying 1000 dolalrs for a boat that functions for 2-3 seasons. i will just float it till it dies.

 

[Godfirst]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

Well like the sang goes you get what you pay for. Good luck

 

[scipper77]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I think $1000 for a good engine and out drive is a good deal in the sense that you can use the boat for a couple of seasons and then sell it to recoup most if not all of your money. In a way I'm a little jealous of this situation in that this boat is good enough to get you into boating, but crappy enough that you can tear out the floor and stringers and not have much at stake if you find out that you are in over your head and want to abandon the project. the lessons you learn trying to refit this boat just may be of more value to you than the boat itself.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I think $1000 for a good engine and out drive is a good deal in the sense that you can use the boat for a couple of seasons and then sell it to recoup most if not all of your money. In a way I'm a little jealous of this situation in that this boat is good enough to get you into boating, but crappy enough that you can tear out the floor and stringers and not have much at stake if you find out that you are in over your head and want to abandon the project. the lessons you learn trying to refit this boat just may be of more value to you than the boat itself.

very true. but the way i look at it is as mentioned above. its only 1000 dollars. if i can spend 1000 and use the boat for 2-3 seasons without any major mantaince, then i figure why not? Also im sure i can sell the boat for half of what i bought it for after im finished, given that i take care of the motor and drive.

im still waiting to hear back on the compression test. so when i get results i will post here to see what everony thinks

 

[BigJ08]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I also think $1k is a good price for a good motor and outdrive, but it sounds like this one could need a bit of work to make it work right for even the 2-3 seasons that you want to use it for. I am probably overly cautious when it comes to these things, because one of my biggest fears is being stranded out on the lake or bay. Whatever you decide I hope you make the right repairs for it to be a safe, reliable, and most of all fun boat.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I also think $1k is a good price for a good motor and outdrive, but it sounds like this one could need a bit of work to make it work right for even the 2-3 seasons that you want to use it for. I am probably overly cautious when it comes to these things, because one of my biggest fears is being stranded out on the lake or bay. Whatever you decide I hope you make the right repairs for it to be a safe, reliable, and most of all fun boat.

well the compression test came back good on the motor. Did not get the exact numbers but he said that everything was fine. so im gonna probably go ahead and get the boat.

 

[BigJ08]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I would get specific compression numbers if possible, unless you really trust this mechanic. Other than that, go for it and have fun.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I would get specific compression numbers if possible, unless you really trust this mechanic. Other than that, go for it and have fun.

Well here is the new situation. i gound a 1994 bayliner with a 3.0 mercruiser alpha drive, just looking at the boat it looks much better. the upholstery is not scratched.. etc, he wants 1600. the only thing is that he bought it at a charity auction and has not ran it in the water, and canot tell me anything about its history. Also it has a soft spot on the rear floor.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

sounds like the same set of problems for $600 more.

What I hate about buying something like this at this kind of a price is that the seller never has any idea if the boat runs (Hmmmm...). unless you are a mechanic all you are qualified to do is get ripped off buying a boat in this situation. I would rather buy the boat knowing that there is a specific problem making the cheap price the right price for the boat than buy the boat with the problems that the seller may or may not be aware of. there is just no upside to this.

I guess that as I get older I get more and more conservative and I'm not that old yet.

Bottom line, do you want to pay $600 more for a boat where the seller has set him self up to not be responcible for any engine problems, or pay $1000 for a boat that has good compression and engine problems that you are aware of. It's your decision, but I think you know which way I would go.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

sounds like the same set of problems for $600 more.

What I hate about buying something like this at this kind of a price is that the seller never has any idea if the boat runs (Hmmmm...). unless you are a mechanic all you are qualified to do is get ripped off buying a boat in this situation. I would rather buy the boat knowing that there is a specific problem making the cheap price the right price for the boat than buy the boat with the problems that the seller may or may not be aware of. there is just no upside to this.

I guess that as I get older I get more and more conservative and I'm not that old yet.

Bottom line, do you want to pay $600 more for a boat where the seller has set him self up to not be responcible for any engine problems, or pay $1000 for a boat that has good compression and engine problems that you are aware of. It's your decision, but I think you know which way I would go.

i deff. agree. so i have decided to pass on that offer and i have offered 900 for the dixie, which he accepted so i have now acquired a new boat. i think over all the bayliner looked alot better and the interrior is much nicer, but i dont know how it runs and dont have the money or time to pay someone to check it out. not to mention it is 45 mins from where i stay. and i allready got the thumbs up from the mechanic on the dixie so ill goahead and to that

 

[scipper77]

Re: Considering this boat, worth it?

I think you made the right decision given the facts you presented.

I hope you enjoy the boat and look forward to hearing about you getting the motor to run properly. Trust me you will feel so good when you open up the throttle on that boat and instead of bogging down it surges ahead. just make sure that you listen to the guys on this site so you can pinpoint the root of the problem instead of just throwing parts and $$ into it with no improvement.