First boat questions

[taildragger21]

Hey guys.. This is my first post here so excuse my iggnorance. My wife and I have been looking into boat ownership. We have found a 94' celebrity 19' bowrider. It has a mercruiser 5.0 v8 and alpha one outdrive. The boat was bought new by the couple that currently owns it. The interior has been redone a couple of years ago. The paint on the hull is faded a little. The only thing that bothers me is they say they have let it set the last several years.I know leting anything set can be the worst enemy of somthing. However it still looks solid and they took it to a mechanic to have it gone though last year and took it out a few times last year no problems. I can buy it around 3200.00-3500.00. What do you guys think and is there anything I should know?? I hear celebrity is out of production but here they were quality boats. Will replacement parts be impossible to find?? This would be my first boat and I just don't like jumping in to somthing I know nothing about. I always here about the "best two days of a boat owner" I wanted to get into it with out a BIG expense. Hence me looking into cheaper older ones. But dont want some ones problems either and a "moneypit".Any advice??Thanks!!

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: First boat questions

There's always a chance you are buying somebody elses headache when you buy a used boat..

Wouldnt worry about replacement parts. None of your parts are particularly specific to Celebrity.

Thats a nice size engine for a 19' boat.

Sounds to me anyway like a decent price for a '94 boat.

See if you can find a friend that knows boats to go look at with you. Try very hard to get a sea trial...run it for an hour or more at all speeds....let it rest make sure it starts again...shifts well, forward and reverse....run the heck out of it for as long as they will let you. Watch temperature during your runs for any variation. Check engine oil for water before your start and after your long run. Check outdrive for water before and after. Invest in a compression tester and research how to do a compression test...its simple to do and a very useful tool and the seller will think you are the most knowledgeable guy in the world (and your wife will be impressed too!!) If after a lengthy sea trial all runs well your chances of getting a POS right out of the box are much lower.

Of course there is always the professional survey but I'm too cheap to blow $300 bucks on every boat I look at.

Good luck with your search....you're going to have tons of fun with whatever boat you find.....great quality time between you and your wife.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: First boat questions

A sea trial is a great idea, and should be a must for any boat purchase. The advice given in the previous post is great. Also, check the bilge area on your return and check to see if the bilge pump is running during the sea trial. If there's water in the bilge, beware.

Then, get it checked over by a pro if the sea trial turns out OK. It costs a bit, but it's worth it.

You should actually be encouraged that they had it checked last year and used it at least a few times. I'll pursue this. The price is good. If everything checks out, it could be a great first boat.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: First boat questions

In addition to the above(all great advise) check the deck(floor) for any real soft spots. Was the interior just showing its age or was it left out uncovered. Check over the condition of the trailer as best you can does it need 4 new tires and no spare etc. That seems to be a pretty decent price to me as well. The hull may be out of production but its the power train you are most concerned with, you cant go wrong with that merc setup. Not much you could buy for just that hull from the mfg(if they were still around) anyway so if its a good solid boat don't let that hold you back. Get any and all service recipts the owners may have, ask tons of questions and see how they respond. I too don't like things sitting for long periods of time but if its been a freshwater boat its whole life that would be a big plus. There may be a few thigs you would need to do anyways if purchased just for your piece of mind. New impeller, possibly bellows, fluid change on all systems, etc. Thats all stuff any boat owner incurs as part of the hobby. It is/was a great boat in its day and if has been cared for at all will serve you many hours of quality time on the water. Good luck with it or any other boat you look at..

 

[cr2k]

Re: First boat questions

Also a good thing to check the drive (upper) bellows. Raise the drive a little and turn port and starboard and check for holes, stiffness and cracking. If so you will need to replace. This is not a big issue unless it has holes in it, but it sounds like it may not have been changed for a long time. Regular maint. is to pull the drive and check engine alignment, lube u-joint and drive shaft spines.
So if yo are planning a hard summer of use it would be something to do even if you bought it. If you find oil in the bellows it probably needs an input seal, again no big deal. If you find rust, well it may need u-joints and a gimbal bearing.

These are a few potentially moderate price things to be aware of.

Also ask when the Impeller was changed last. (good for about 2 years run or stored) This is what pumps the cooling water. About $200 +/- including parts.

For my area that is a good price even if it needs a few things.

 

[mike343]

Re: First boat questions

Unless you can do all or part of it yourself, be prepared to spend $700-1000 (depending on location) at the shop to do a complete "annual maintenance" as recommended by Merc. Any thing less is a big risk for an old engine that has been sitting around.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: First boat questions

That sounds like a nice boat. However being that they had the interior re-done in a 94 kinda sounds like it has sat outside uncovered.