Re: doral tri-hull
Mid-80's fiberglass boats are prone to rot like nearly anything else. Make sure you're structurally sound - good transom, good floor, no visible rotting wood, no standing water that shouldn't be there. Make sure the OB is running right too. You need to be able to run it, at least - get it on the water or to a mechanic even better.
Tri-hulls are love or hate - you love 'em, or ya' hate 'em. I happen to love 'em. They're a great platform for swimming off of, fishing off of and they're not bad as a ski boat either. The downfall is rough water. Depending on the hull, they can slam around on choppy water and be very uncomfortable. Coming through the 80's there were a few different things that I would look for - some of the 16's would be lighter hulls rated only to handle about 60HP. They would move along okay, but I always thought they felt rickety. I liked the power of the heavier boats that were rated more toward 100HP. They typically had better seating, and (obviously) more power.
Some of the tri's have three sponsons (the hulls) the same size. That's a true tri-hull. Many more had a bigger center sponson (deeper) and smaller (more shallow) outboards. Those are called modified or "cathedral" hulls. The latter are what I have always had - I think they handle the water better, and have a more comfortable ride.
Don't worry about the brand. Doral tri-hulls were nothing to write home about, but well cared for ANY boat is a good boat. Look at the condition, and make sure you feel the price fits what you're buying.
