Don't know what I got

[Cali_Boat_Guy]

Well I hope that's not the case but I am going to proceed with caution and be thorough on my checks and if it is the case then if it is a lot of rot then at least I got the trailer the trailer has brand new tires and rims on it and it's worth the $1,000 I paid

 

[Cali_Boat_Guy]

I agree the hull is the primary concern so start there. If the hull is okay then go to the engines and drives. I own a 1986 Sea Ray 270 and the hull is fine. The engines are in great shape. The drives are just okay but work well for their age. You will have maintenance and clean up to do. Yes, it's going to cost some money to get it going again. That said, ALL boats end up costing a good chunk of money one way or the other. Good luck! I hope it works out for you.

 

[Ptr.Torch]

(( I knew a Captain in the AirForce, who said, "the definition of a boat is: 'A hole in the water, into which one must throw a lot of money.' He was building his second sail boat at the time. He had lost the first one to a sand-bar collusion.))

 

[airshot]

Another popular saying is....the boat you get for free will cost you the most !

 

[bigblocksarefun]

Another popular saying is....the boat you get for free will cost you the most !

Absolutely.

 

[Mc Tool]

The two happiest days in your life , the day you buy a boat and the day you sell it .

 

[JimS123]

The two happiest days in your life , the day you buy a boat and the day you sell it .

Maybe for some of you. But not me.

Except for a classic woodie, every boat I ever bought was brand new. Then, customize it to make it my own. Then, maintain it to stay in pristine condition. Then, make family memories that last a lifetime.

That said, I have never had issues that I could have said it was a "hole in the water into which you pour money". Also, I never had to fix all the abortions done by a previous owner because he thought were improvements.

The only reason I ever sold a boat was to go bigger or better. I owned my last runabout for 35 years and as I watched the new owner drive her down the street I almost shed a tear.

 

[Mc Tool]

Maybe for some of you. But not me.

Except for a classic woodie, every boat I ever bought was brand new. Then, customize it to make it my own. Then, maintain it to stay in pristine condition. Then, make family memories that last a lifetime.

That said, I have never had issues that I could have said it was a "hole in the water into which you pour money". Also, I never had to fix all the abortions done by a previous owner because he thought were improvements.

The only reason I ever sold a boat was to go bigger or better. I owned my last runabout for 35 years and as I watched the new owner drive her down the street I almost shed a tear.

It just something that boaters say to each other as a bit of humour , but there is a bit of truth for some as they discover , one way or another , that they are not boat people , sell the boat to pay for the therapy they're going to need to rebuild family bonds after that experience .
I guess for those that the expense of a boat puts them close to the bread line even a yearly service is a big deal , let alone something being wrong . A lot of Kiwi boaters use their boats for recreation , as a life experience thing for the Kids as they grow and we put enough value on that that some families will commit a significant amount of available income to invest in that .
If one is capable of maintaining the boat / trailer and accessories oneself then your well in , but if you are faced with paying an expert to do all that it can seem like that bloody great hole in the water at times .

 

[JimS123]

It just something that boaters say to each other as a bit of humour , but there is a bit of truth for some as they discover , one way or another , that they are not boat people , sell the boat to pay for the therapy they're going to need to rebuild family bonds after that experience .
I guess for those that the expense of a boat puts them close to the bread line even a yearly service is a big deal , let alone something being wrong . A lot of Kiwi boaters use their boats for recreation , as a life experience thing for the Kids as they grow and we put enough value on that that some families will commit a significant amount of available income to invest in that .
If one is capable of maintaining the boat / trailer and accessories oneself then your well in , but if you are faced with paying an expert to do all that it can seem like that bloody great hole in the water at times .

Yes, "boat people". Aye, there's the rub.

Dad bought a little woodie with his part time job while going to High School. When he had to go off to WWII Grandpa took care of it while he was gone. After the war, marriage and kids, the boat was still there. My earliest recollection of life itself was sitting next to Grandpa at the helm.

When I was 13 hard times fell and the boat had to be sold. I was devastated. At age 19, and just after Grandma died, I asked Grandpa if I could build a boat in his garage. He helped along the way and got the first ride. The wood cost $165 and it was the best investment I ever made. The first date with my wife was in that very boat.

Long story short, now at age 75 there has been only a 6 year stretch that I didn't have a boat. My sons have boats of their own. We are not "boaters", we are "Boatmen".

Buy new and take care. Change oils, new sparkplugs, etc. You don't need an expensive mechanic and thus the cost is minimal. Boat People understand. If someone doesn't understand, they must simply be a guy with a second hand boat that can't handle a screwdriver.

 

[cyclops222]

A boat can / should become your close friend. You must depend on it in a life threating condition. Been there. Still have my old buddy every summer.

 

[tphoyt]

I bought my first boat when I was 10 with money I saved from mowing lawns around the neighborhood. I have had one ever since and don’t know what I would do without one.
Same goes for my dogs. It’s my therapy and money well spent.

 

[airshot]

I bought my first boat when I was 10 with money I saved from mowing lawns around the neighborhood. I have had one ever since and don’t know what I would do without one.
Same goes for my dogs. It’s my therapy and money well spent.

Same here, but most of my boats have been used...like new in many cases and a few that took serious work to make like new. Each has been an enjoyment to have. Owned numerous boats in my 60 plus years of boating and never been happy to see one go other than knowing I was getting another. As age creeps up, I am sure there might become a day when the boat must go....definitely not looking forward to that day !!

 

[cyclops222]

Ask someone who is level headed to drive & dock it.

 

[Ptr.Torch]

A boat is not like a car, and neither is a Jeep (4X4).
It occurs to me that they have one thing in common, well at least they do here in the wide open western states. You see, if you take a Jeep out wheeling, and you've driven about an hour or two into the wilderness, if it gets stuck or broken down, you can't just walk back in and get help. People die out there who are not prepared for the exposure to the elements, the distance back to civilization, or those who overestimate their driving skills.
Isn't boating sorta like that? If you take a boat out, if you break down, or get stuck (sandbar), or ... you can't jump out and walk back to the dock to get help. The same mind set has to be there for either one. Go prepared for just about anything. Don't just head out and hope it all goes well, Do the work ahead of time to inspect, repair, maintain, and prevent problems. And when you are out there, do not overestimate your abilities. Take it slow and be cautious when attempting something new or difficult. I believe if I approach this new boat adventure with the same thoughtfulness that I needed when I was Jeeping, that things will go well for me.