Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

[dls322]

Hi guys, need your advice. I see a bass buggy pontoon everyday when i drive to work. I finally decided to stop in and ask the owner about it. It's an 18' pontoon with the matching trailer, i think it's an 86. It's rough but it think it has potential.
He said it was his dad's. They used it out near pittsburgh, obviously in fresh water. I finally convinced him to sell it. I don't know what to offer though. The floors are shot...it's been parked unconvered for 12 years....last registration was 1998. I walked on it and it's very squishy, almost went through....there are even plants growing on the floor! There is no interior besides the console and it's very, very ratty.
The steering still turns. The trailer is rusty but looks solid. It has a rotten tire. The boat has a bimni but it's ripped. It also has an evinrude 75 hp on the back with power trim. I took the cover off an it looks great. He said his dad had the lower end rebuilt and they pulled tubes with no problem. I have no idea if it runs. It has no fuel tank or battery but the wires look good.
Pontoons look great, but i'm no expert. Should i be concerned that they are sitting on the trailer for so long? Could they rot where the pontoon touches the trailer? It's not a scissor trailer is a regular one.

He has a title for both the boat and trailer.

Any ideas on a fair price??
Any ideas on what i should watch out for?

Looking for a cheap project to work on.
Thanks!!!!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

You need to put your location in your profile. What area of the continent will reflect price. A $500 boat in Georgia will fetch $2500 in the northwest. A picture would be a great help as well to determine value .

 

[dls322]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

I live outside of Reading, PA.

Updated my profile...thanks for the suggestion.

Raining today, will try to get some pics tomorrow. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thnaks

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

No problem with the pontoons sitting on the trailer for a long time. Of course the bunks will probably need replacing.

I'll take a shot based on your description:

Boat - $400
Trailer - $300
Engine - $500 if you hear it run. $100 if not.

Just remember that you could easily put 3 to 5 grand into the boat, 500 into the trailer and 500 to 3 grand in the motor.

Unless you would enjoy this challenge of doing the work yourself, I would wait for one that requires less work.

 

[cuzzx]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

The above post is close , but I bought a 20ft with trailer and running motor for $2000.

What would you give nowing that everthing will need to be rebuilt.
The motor will need work, foot about $300 and if the pistons are stuck, motor. Then offer him half that price.

 

[dls322]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

great advice.... thanks for the feedback. I am putting this one on the back burner. I might be buying a 28' tomorrow.....he's holding it for me but i don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.
do you think my 2004 f150 with 5.4 v8 and trans cooler will be ok to pull a 28'?
It's the fx4 package with the lower gears and it's a super crew.

Thanks guys, you rock

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

great advice.... thanks for the feedback. I am putting this one on the back burner. I might be buying a 28' tomorrow.....he's holding it for me but i don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.
do you think my 2004 f150 with 5.4 v8 and trans cooler will be ok to pull a 28'?
It's the fx4 package with the lower gears and it's a super crew.

Thanks guys, you rock

Its a 28' what? Pontoon? Bow rider? ocean going yacht?
We need more info.
That being said, NO. Your 1/2 ton truck will not SAFELY handle a 28 foot boat and trailer. The trailer is going to be around 1000#, and the boat could be upwards of 6500# or more depending on make, model, and construction. Add in the rest of your gear and your looking at a heavy duty 3/4 ton or better a 1 ton truck.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

Its a 28' what? Pontoon? Bow rider? ocean going yacht?
We need more info.
That being said, NO. Your 1/2 ton truck will not SAFELY handle a 28 foot boat and trailer. The trailer is going to be around 1000#, and the boat could be upwards of 6500# or more depending on make, model, and construction. Add in the rest of your gear and your looking at a heavy duty 3/4 ton or better a 1 ton truck.

If it's a pontoon boat, I'd say no problem, providing it has a tandem axle trailer with working brakes

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

If it's a pontoon boat, I'd say no problem, providing it has a tandem axle trailer with working brakes

Maybe, but your pushing the limits of the truck and towing ability of the driver. That is not, in my experience, ever a good idea.

 

[dls322]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

It's a 28' pontoon with a double axle trailer.
I plan on takin it easy. Over-drive OFF. Any recomendations would be appreciated. I've towed bigger trailers at the fire department but never my own and i'm taking this one over 2 hours north.

Thanks guys!
-Dave

 

[lmuss53]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

That truck is rated to tow about 6K. The boat and trailer probably weigh somewhere around half of that. I would not hesitate to tow a 28 foot pontoon with a good roadworthy F-150. I know a guy who tows a 32 foot Tracker Party Hut every week with an early 2000's F-150.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

The bass buggy..... Calculate your cost of materials to rebuild this boat, there is may be a lot of hidden damage, plus I'd bet the couches are shot.

If the trailer has surge brakes, it will probably need the entire brake system replaced.

Your time means something too.

A new bassbuggy w/o the trailer is less than $10K now.


The 28 footer, check your cargo capacity against the hitch weight keeping in mind that people in the truck are cargo too. Then check your towing capacity against the weight of the loaded trailer. Tranny cooler might be needed if you don't have one.

Good luck!

 

[dls322]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

You'll have no trouble pulling a 28' barge with your F150. Just don't be in too big a hurry to get where you're going and don't plan on passing too many gas stations.

 

[dls322]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

Back to the drawing board, the 28' was a heap....guess he sent fuzzy photos for a reason.

I'm going to talk to the owner of the bass buggy after work. Going to offer him $800 and see if he bites. Will try to get some pics.

Is it hard to take the console off of the boat? The floors are beyond shot, so i need to replace them all. Does the steering disconnect? Any suggestions?

Thanks and have a great weekend!

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

Is it hard to take the console off of the boat? The floors are beyond shot, so i need to replace them all. Does the steering disconnect? Any suggestions?

Sir, with all due respect, you are asking questions that make me doubt your ability to undertake the monumental job facing you.

But to answer your questions, it is not hard to take the console off the boat. The hard part is removing everything mounted to and connected to the console. And I assume you'll have to put on a new one that is not likely to be exactly like the one you removed.

The steering disconnects fairly easily. Remove the steering wheel and closely examine the mechanics. Once you remove the steering nut, pull hard on the wheel and tap the center shaft with a hammer. Hopefully you won't need a wheel pulley.

My only suggestion is to make sure you are willing and able, both mentally and finacially, to complete this project.

If so, you'll find a wealth of readily available information here.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

It is indeed a very big job unless you know what you are doing. If this is your first experience with this kind of project I suggest you surf the web and read on how others did it until about the 4th of July. Then you can start working on the boat.

Having said all that, I think $800 is about the right offer.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Found an neglected Bass Buggy...what should I offer?

Imuss has a very valid point, you would essentially have to build a boat, to redo the deck you have to completely dissasemble the boat which can be a real bear, you have to pull console, rails ect.

Also look in to what your final cost will be, pontoon furniture is really salty as is marine ply wood, I could see easily being $2000 just for those 2 items.

If you enjoy doing things like this and you have the wallet by all means get it just be aware that it is a very big project but if you aren't pretty mechanically inclined I would pass.

I have rebuilt 3 boats from the hull up and it is a big complicated job, just be sure of what you are getting into