Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

[NeverEnough02]

I am going to look at the boat this weekend. It has a total of 180 hours. I asked about the motor in the motor section of this forum but I would like to know about the hull itself. Its a 23' bowrider and I know Chris Craft is know for high quality and decent hull design. What can you guys tell me? The thing looks new inside and out in the pictures. It is at a car dealership and the owner of the dealership has the previous boat owner's contact info for me along with all of his paperwork. The dealership owner admits he does not know a lot about boats but he wants it gone and is offering it at a great deal! He had the boat owner (who is a boat mechanic) take him out on the water before he accepted the trade. Everything works fine. Now, What do I have to worry about that does not involve the motor (feel free to comment on the motor in my other post)? Is the hull going to have any soft spots at this age? It is located in Miami, FL and lived on Key Biscayne its entire life. What questions should I bring to the owner? This could be my first boat if things check out ok for the most part. Any help would be great. Even if i dont make a move on this boat, I am sure I will learn a lot!

 

[KCook]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

Don't let the Chris-Craft name fool you into paying to much. For price comparisons use similar boats by Regal and Sea Ray. The C-C, if anything, should have a little lower price.

Kelly Cook
Chris-Craft survivor

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

take a rubber mallot, tap the transom. good wood sounds like a rap, bad sounds like a thud. walk all over the deck, feel for soft spots. i disagree with KCook on the value, although i do have a 99 230 chris craft deckboat.

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

Based on pictures its a great deal regaurdless of brand. He wants $5500. If the hull and electronics are all good it would be a steal. He had the boat owner take him out on the water before trading it in so I am assuming the electircal is good. Where should I be hitting the transom? Only the deck will have soft spots?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

all over the transom, what motor?

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

5.8 Volvo/Penta

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

great combo!!! find out when these items were last serviced. outdrive, bellows, gimbal bearing.

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

After reading some of the stories in my motor thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1586926#post1586926
I may hire a mechanic to check out the operational side of things for me!
It is exactly what I was looking for with a bigger motor than I was wishing for.
I hope it pans out to be something that is worth buying.

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

I looked at the boat on monday. I can see why the guy is desperatly trying to get rid of the boat. He specializes in exotic cars like lambos. merecedes, dodge vipers ect.. He took the boat in trade and gave the boat owner 11 grand. It has been sitting in the lot for about 2 months now and they dont expect anyone to come buy the boat on impulse at this point. It looks a bit silly on their lot. We started the motor and it ran very very smooth for a 351 in a boat. Not a bit of smoke and the oil looked great. I was not able to check the lower unit since its on a lot and I have never done it before. I want to have a surveyor come out and look at it depending on your guys opinions from here. What I did find on the boat (I am not sure if its a big deal or if it is minor) were a bunch on little cracks where the boat had bumped against things. A few on the tip of the nose, a few under the water ski storage hole, and some on the rear tip. It looks like it had fiberglass work done where the floor meets the sides of the boat interior. There was unfinished fiberglass. I am not sure if it was covered by chris craft at one point or if it was a repair. It runs along both sides of the interior. There are a few cover snaps that broke off but its an easy fix for me. The floor had one soft spot that I took a picture of (not that you can see the softness but more of the location that anything. It is right in front of the ski storage area were I can reach my hand under to the bottom of the soft spot. It seems like an easy fix. Otherwise the boat is in great shap. It will clean up to look like new with little effort. O ya, it looks like the prop needs to be reworked or replaced. They must have hit somthing small and sharp. I posted pictures on the motor link in my last post.

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

Tash, I did get the owners phone number. I am going to call and ask those questions tomorrow before I spend the $300-500 on a survey.

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

Tash, I did get the owners phone number. I am going to call and ask those questions tomorrow before I spend the $300-500 on a survey.

A "survey" on a 23" boat shouldn't run you $300-$500 unless they're pulling the out drive.

I like the style of those boats - if hours are actual and the boat is in good shape, I'd say it's a steal...

Now this is a salt water boat - so replacement of the manifolds at least once or twice is probably mandated... Ask about receipts / boat records.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

Can we see pics of the whole boat?

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

http://www.auction123.com/showroom/...e/332424.html?showroom_dealer=6340&wait=false

That is the link to the boat. Let me know if it works for you. Are these cracks a major issue? My searches on the forums have not turned up much usefull info since pictures are usually not included.

The motor forum strongly recommends having the out drive pulled to check for alignment, bearing wear, ect... I am planning to spend some money on the boat and do a lot of the work myself. I just do not want to spend 2 grand on parts alone.

 

[tmh]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

The ad says the engine "runs rough".....any more to say on that? That is a big deal because the #1 thing you buy on a used boat is the engine! It also sounds like you may have more work to do on the deck (also maybe foam under deck if it's there and wet). Have a mechanic check the engine/drive out for you and do a quick review of the transom and general structure.

Assuming the engine is or could easily be running well, all the cosmetic stuff can be handled either with a little work or maybe a bit more. But I'd buy it for up to maybe $8k with that engine (running well) and what appearsto be excellent fabric interior for the age! Vinyl and engines are the two things you can't fix yourself and make it look right for anything less than a LOT of money! if they are good, go for it!

 

[kcolney]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

$5500 is chump change for a high end car dealer ( hell thats an oil change w tune up for some cars on that lot)

I dont want to say for $5500 thats a steal but that is a great price ?????
beware and be cautious something is fishy, These guys know motors and with the internet they can look up NADA just as easy as you can. why would he give an 11k trade in on it and then sell it for $5500? would you do that?

the boats I've been looking at around 23-26 bow riders are all at least around the 8k mark with the volvo engine. You have the trailer, engine and it looks in better than average....pretty good for the photos.

Since he is a car dealer have him draw up a contract that lets you put $2-3oo down, take it off the lot and get a survey on the boat. Almost all dealers of used cars have a way to let you get an independent review of the vehicle ( pre purchase inspection) i think they call it.

Final purchase depends on good survey report...use a credit card for the holding payment and you get the best of the deal.

If he wont let you do that then walk away quick.

this is worth spending a few $$$ on a survey to see if it is a great deal or
you are getting hosed

good luck

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

Good looking boat. Survey for sure. The sterndrive looks worse that what I'm used to here but that's probably because of the salt water it's been into.

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Info on 1995 Chris Craft Concept 23

Thanks for the replys. I tried to keep the engine details in my motor post. The mechanic that checked it out for them when it was traded in in december says the injector harness was against the motor and wore threw some wires. Compression tested out great but he did not get the lower down enough to check the oil. The ECM, plugs and wires are new. The boat says 9000 cash on the side. Its listed online as 7000 and hes willing to go 5500. He will let a surveyer take the boat off the lot. I am looking for one now. Most people in the motor forum are weary because the 5.8 EFI parts are nearly impossible to find. Even the mechanic I spoke with said he would switch it to carb (about $1500) since it will be a lot easier to find mechanics for a carbed motor rather than find the EFI parts that could go in the future. He obviosly thought the boat would go quicker but I think he is realizing that his typical crowd isnt going to buy a boat from 1995 on impulse. I am guessing he mad enough money on the car to cover the loss on the boat up to 5500 and break even. It happens a lot in that business. Anyone know of a decent priced surveyor in the area? The boat is close to Ft Lauderdale.