First time boat buyer, in need of wisdom and guidance from you beautiful people

[SuperEnzo]

Hi, this is my first post on this forum so let me give a little introduction. So I live in Rochester, New York; 3 minutes from Lake Ontario. Boats are everywhere around me but I've never thought to own one. I have an extensive knowledge with small engines (motorcycles, jet skis, atvs) and I have what I would call a decent set of skills. Ive rebuilt all sorts of those motors- dealing with crank failures, thrown rods, cracked cases all that kind of fun stuff! I'm versed in 2 and 4 stroke motors as well. I have experience with motors and all those toys. However, I do not have experience with boats!

So can you give me some advice on weather or not I can handle a boat? I want a used, small (14-16ft), open bow aluminum with an outboard. I have a boat picked out that I am going to go look at over the weekend. Ive don't a lot of research on boats and the repairs that go with them- like floor replacements and transom repairs. I mean, isn't the motor the most complicated piece on a small boat like this? I have woodworking experience and I can cut plywood so I think I could handle stuff like that. If some thing breaks, I can fix it. I can do all my own work which would keep my costs low and in the area I live, outboard motors are everywhere.

I am going to go check out the boat this weekend, what do you guys think? It is a 1981 Sylvan 14 foot Sportster
I think this boat would be perfect for me, small and aluminum just like I want. What do you think?

Thanks,
Enzo

 

[kmarine]

I understand that you would like to start small, the boat you are talking about is good for two people to go fishing in calm water. If you are looking to do more than that there are some considerations. how do you plan to use the boat. As a great lakes boater I recommend 18 to 20 ft minimum. Not only will you have more space, the boat handles much better. These are among the most popular size boats and will accommodate more horsepower and offer more options to bring friends. Most people who buy boats find they should have gone a bit larger. It really depends on how you plan to use the boat and how often. If your talking used cost will not be much different. Boats are easy to buy and hard to sell. Look on line and check out all options before you fall in love

 

[Tnstratofam]

I agree if it's you and one more person then a 14 footer has enough room to fish from. Any more people than that, and I'd recommend an 18 footer. That's a good size for an all purpose craft. You can make do with a 16 ( I do ), but it can still be crowded with 3. 4 is difficult to say the least. The boat you listed isn't necessarily a bad deal, but like all boats it's not always what you see that costs the most money. You're on the right track though an aluminum boat is certainly the way to go for a first boat. Easier to repair the structure over a glass boat, and generally cheaper to repair. Good luck on your search.

 

[thumpar]

Personally the engine is the easy part to work on for me. The manuals are all available online for free. A couple things about that boat, first he says it won't crank and suggests it might be a battery issue. Always think the worst when you read something like that. The second is that I would not take a boat that small on a big lake. You will get beat up bad. I had a 16.5' boat and got beat up sometimes even on small lakes. The 20' is about minimum I would ever go now.

 

[laurentide]

I'll second what Kmarine, instrafoam, and thumpar said ^^. Also, I believe that parts support for Chrysler outboards is spotty at best, and you'd have to be prepared for lots of NLA parts.

Ontario is huge and potentially dangerous in a boat that size unless you have the luxury of really picking your days. I'd keep looking...18' should be the minimum. Aluminum boats are great for fresh water and are cheap to rebuild. I'd look for Johnson/Evinrude power made in the last 30 or so years. Good luck!

 

[roffey]

I have cut my teeth on lake Ontario, it is a huge body of water that can blow up into large swells in no time. I had a 26 foot Wellcraft that would take waves over the bow, it was fun but in a 14 footer no so much. I was once told for lake Ontario you need a minimum of 18 feet. I currently have a 20 footer and will not go out in big swells. Problem with this time of year is the water hardness and you will not be able to take it out for a test, I wonder if the seller knows that and picked this time of year just for that reason.

Having said all that I do know people who take 14 footers out on lake Ontario regularly. I bet a 35 hp on a 14 foot aluminum would skip right along.

 

[airshot]

I will just second what all the rest have said, their advice is right on the money......

 

[pckeen]

If you can handle all those toys, you should have no difficulty handling a boat. I agree with the advice above. You can take a 14' on Lake Ontario, but you'll want to stay close to shore.

In terms of that boat and motor, as I'm sure you know well, the 'won't crank' may be a minor issue, or a major problem.....Buyer beware. If you've read some of the aluminum resto threads here, you'll have a good sense of what you are getting into.

 

[robert graham]

That 33 year old boat doesn't look too promising to me....but if you like it then at least take it for a sea trial before you consider buying it....it needs to start up and run at idle, mid-range, wide open throttle....Best to look around, research and study this boat- buying thing before to put out your money and to try and make boating a safe and pleasant experience for you and your family. Be aware of the learning curve...

 

[SuperEnzo]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I really appreciate it!

So the consensus is that is too small? I should have explained, I do not plan on venturing out far into lake ontario, in fact I'm very inexperienced with boating and I am afraid of going out there in the deep. If anyone is familiar with Rochester, I live by irondequoit bay and that will primarily be where I boat(which is very enclosed and away from the open water), that and many of the tiny tiny lakes/ponds and rivers around me. I want the boat for fishing and won't be doing tubing or anything and I feel like a small boat would be more manageable for me, seeing as this is my first boat. This will be a bay boat.

So do you think that boat would be too small for like 3 or 4 people? Thats all that I want to carry on board. It is an open bow and it has two swivel seats and a bench seat in the back.

My haggling skills are pretty good actually and Im not an impulse buyer, if its junk when I go look then Ill pass. I think i could get the boat and everything for somewhere around $400. I know for a fact that there are a ton of boats around me for sale and I can wait a while longer, Ive waited this long!

thanks for all the advice! keep it coming please! I love talking about boats and hearing all the opinions!

 

[Teamster]

I agree with what the others have said,......

I wouldn't want anything less the 18 feet on the Great Lakes,...Near shore or off shore,..

Especially if you want to go out with 3-4 people,..

The engine is the expensive part,...

Even if you can do the work yourself buy something with available parts,....

Chrysler outboard parts can be tough to come by,....

 

[Jeep Man]

Welcome aboard Enzo. My opinion will differ from most of the rest. I feel a 16' will be perfect for your needs. As you stated you do not plan on going out on the lake, but primarily a protected bay and other small lakes and ponds. I am presently rebuilding a boat very similiar to the one your looking at. BUT, this may not be the boat for you. The Chrysler motor would be a deal breaker for me. Parts are getting scarce. Personally, 16' is a good size for small lakes. You will however, quickly realize the benefit of a wider deeper boat. Ideally, a deep wide semi V hull would be perfect, but I doubt you will find one for cheap.

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard Enzo - my suggestions are gonna' be a little off trail too.

A 16' can work in shore on the Great Lakes. A 16' wouldn't be awful for three or four to fish from. And a Chrysler outboard wouldn't totally freak me out. But that 16' with that Chrysler outboard does kinda' creep me out. Motor looks kinda' looks rough and the boat doesn't look altogether well cared for ... even the ad is a little shakey (would you shed 75% of an item's value to sell it quick?).

Sounds like you're a little more interested in fishing than much else - up your budget to about $3,500 at a low end. Start looking for a center console boat or dual console aluminum boat - likeTHIS, THIS or THIS boat). I think you may be much happier in that kind of scenario.

 

[SuperEnzo]

Thank you again for all of the advice! I imagine it can be annoying answering these kinds of questions for newbies.

So is everyone agreeing that I shouldn't touch this boat? I mean it is an aluminum hull and so super cheap that I would be okay If I realized that the boat was a bust.
Do you think I should just pass?

Either way I want to go see it so I can look it over and tell you my findings, pictures only fill you in on so much.

-Enzo

 

[Illinoid]

I don't know what the hull is worth but you could take over a set of muffs and a battery and see if the Chrysler runs. Around here you can pick up a good used J/E motor for about a grand and probably a few more bills to rig it.

 

[64osby]

http://rochester.craigslist.org/boa/4712459668.html A great style boat for big water.

http://rochester.craigslist.org/boa/4788465895.html A nice style boat, but if they really used PT Pressure Treated do not buy it

 

[steelespike]

Assuming it is indeed a sound running setup $500 may be tempting.
I do hesitate on the Chrysler.A decent motor with a poor reputation. Chrysler bought West Bend circa: 1965 and became Force circa 1984.
A simple 2 stroke outboard, With a dwindling part supply. Check here for routine cooling,ignition and fuel system parts and for the
more common Evinrude/ Johnson parts dating back to the 50s.
A lean towards a bare bones 18 footer with a tiller 25 to 50 hp.

 

[thumpar]

It wouldn't hurt to look. The more boats you look at the more you will have an idea of what is out there and at what price. Take a battery with you, put some muffs on it and see if it will start. If it still won't crank I would run at that point. For what you describe your needs are it might work but still a little small. 3 people might be OK but I think 4 might get crowded. Keep in mind that the cheapest boats usually end up being the most expensive. My last boat (in my sig) was $2600 and was a 25 year old boat but in great shape. The only thing I had to do to it was normal items. I took good care of it and got $100 more than what I paid for it 7 years after buying. Those are the kind of boats to find. You pay a little more but it ends up cheaper in the long run.

 

[southkogs]

I mean it is an aluminum hull and so super cheap that I would be okay If I realized that the boat was a bust.
Do you think I should just pass?

... a point well made: let me augment what I wrote earlier.

This boat is on the small end of something that may work for you. In other words, I think you'll like something a bit bigger by what you describe. HOWEVER - it is cheap enough that, if you can risk the $500 and still go for something else a little later if you need to, this boat might be worth the gamble if the motor runs and the boat floats.

I think ultimately you need a slightly bigger boat though.

 

[dozerII]

A 14 footer is just too small for fishing with any more than 2 people, you could take 4 people just for a cruise and it would seem real tight for room. 16 open bow can fish 3 people comfortably 4 is pushing it if your trolling. Like everyone has said the Chrysler O/B is a real problem for parts and the previous owner has already said there are problems.