Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

[Chef Shawn]

Hello Everyone,
Went and looked at at 23' Sea Ray Cuddie Cabin, 1978 Edition. Well it looked pretty good for it's age, normal interior issues, but I'm concerned about the (and excuse me if my labels aren't correct) stringers/engine mounts (IE the motor to wood to fiberglass mounts) They seemed solid, I used a crow bar to move the engine a little, but they are 30+ years old and expensive to replace, AND I have no idea how to do it. One thread suggested digging into them with a screwdriver to see if the wood was rotten, however the owner didn't seem to like me playing with my crowbar, so I think that is out of the question, lol. Approx. life span of the wood? There is no obvious sign or rot or splintering like I said, the boat is in decent shape otherwise. Other things I should be looking for other things on a boat this old....?

 

[Watermann]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

Soft spots in the decking and peel back the carpeting to see if there are double deck boards. Either will indicate rot. With that age of boat I would expect it to be rotten even if 10 years newer.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

Other things I should be looking for other things on a boat this old....?

Have you considered hiring a professional hull surveyor to do this for you?

Mark

 

[Chef Shawn]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

Well I took much of your advice, and luckily the owner was nice enough to let me 'pound' around a little bit. The 'owner' I thought I met on the first visit, was just a friend of the family. The real owner gave me a full history on the boat (it was his dads, who had passed), was nice enough to un-winterize it and start it up for me, plenty of validated receipts. It's old, but has a ton of character and potential. I'm not a fancy guy, and little elbow grease, some stain for the wood and a new bimini and my wife and I will be riding in style. Probably have to break down and throw a re-man motor in there in a year or two, but that's OK. Our first boat where we have a place to "snuggle", lol. Moving on up, 23' from 16.5'. It doesn't sound like alot, but it's like going from a 2 bedroom apartment to a 4 room farm house for us!! Come on Spring!!!!

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

Our first boat where we have a place to "snuggle". Moving on up, 23' from 16.5'. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's like going from a 2 bedroom apartment to a 4 room farm house for us!!

Ha! And just like most of us here, you will find out very quickly (1-2 years at best) that the devil, also known as two-foot-itis...will strike again, and you'll be looking at 30 foot cabin cruisers! A cuddy is a great transition from a bow rider both in terms of size and learning curve, but you will really start to ache for the amenities of a real cabin boat after your first season staying overnight in a cuddy. There's nothing quite like having the room to stand up while changing clothes, preparing meals, using the head or taking a shower. We'll be here for you when you catch the disease again!

 

[Chef Shawn]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

Thanks Capt. Seville!!!! Wife is the one that told me to buy a bigger boat! Maybe when she gets tired of the port-a-potty I will hear those Blessed Words Again..."Shawn, we need a bigger boat. I need a place to poop in peace..." lol

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

getting buddies to pull alongside and offer her a beer while her head is poking out the hatch is a sure way to hasten the bigger boat discussion... LOL

 

[Chef Shawn]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

getting buddies to pull alongside and offer her a beer while her head is poking out the hatch is a sure way to hasten the bigger boat discussion... Lol

bahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!

 

[Chef Shawn]

Re: Help -How to check an OLD BOAT- stringers/engine mounts, other big deal-breakers

Went for the second look today, boat fired right up, everything works except the hydraulics and trim tabs. Never dealt with trim tabs before, they appeared to be electric, so maybe a fuse or wiring problem there. I could hear the hydraulic pump working, just no movement in the rams. Couldn't access the pump and it was raining so I called it a day. Boat hasn't been in the water since '09. I guess the only way to find out is to get back to the pump, top off the oil and see what happens, unless you guys have any tricks up your sleeve???