Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

[Ki Ki]

1994 Bayliner Capri 14' with a 35 horsepower Mariner from 1988. Great shape and runs great. Comes with trailer and cover.

1989/90 Winner Alpha II Bass Boat 15' with a 40 HP Mercury, around the same year engine. This boat is a few hundred more dollars than the Bayliner. Also comes with fish finder, cover, trailer.

Both boats run great, two different style of boats. My MAIN concern is which boat will likely be a better quality boat and last longer if well maintained, assuming they both run well. Both are oil injected.

Your advice regarding these two boats will likely lead to my purchase this week! The Winner is $500 more.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

What kind of use, what kind of water do you plan to use the boat on?

 

[agallant80]

Re: Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

Its more about how well it was taken care of rather than age. I would check the both of them out pretty closley look for some of the following

Soft spots on Transom
Soft Floor
Any sign of water intrusion in to hull
Any visiable rot
Trailer condition
Motor condition

The first boat I bought was a 1978 Glastron 19 foot. I did not know much about boats, the motor was filled with auto parts, the floor was soft (so soft it has 1/4 plywood laid over it then recarpeted) did not think it was a big deal. The boat was total junk because I was not looking at the right things.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

35HP sounds awful small for the Bayliner, original would have been a 50HP

 

[DAN M VAGOS]

Re: Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

I have a 89 capri 15' with a force 50 also 89 and i love my little boat. It trailers great its fast enough for me and its great for bay fishing and pond fishing or just sitting and simming. I have redone the floors and have seen how its made and I think the build is nice but my boat was not abused.

 

[Ki Ki]

Re: Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

Can anyone identify the year and horsepower of this motor?
http://images.craigslist.org/3r23Ke3H45G65r35q9d6m2ac195a53b0015c7.jpg
serial number:
0d264773

 

[Ki Ki]

Re: Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

The boats will be for inland lakes fresh water. Both really well taken care of. Within $500 of each other, the Bass Boat has more accessories.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Help me decide my boat purchase! Between two boats....

Well, the HP is pretty obvious - 40HP