Re: Good price?
Doesn't sound like a bad price, nor a steal, if condition is good, especially since you said that your test-drive went well. However, you say you're new to boats you have no idea what to look for, so be very cautious. You can find general pricing for boats at
www.nada.com, but the condition of the boat and motor is much more critical than actual price. If you have a problem with the motor that requires rebuild or replacement you're looking at adding a very fast $2,000 to $5,000 that you'll have to add. It would be very smart to pay a marina to give it a once-over before you agree to buy it. That motor is getting pretty old for a 2 stroke, so a compression test would be tops on my list, as well as checking for the cleanliness and any sign of water in the gear oil. Aluminum boats don't hide much in terms of structural problems, but you still want to make sure the transom still looks straight and strong, any rivets aren't showing signs of leakage or seeping, and walk every inch of the floor looking for soft spots. By paying a mechanic for a thorough check of condition, you're only risking a couple hundred bucks at most instead of thousands.
