Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

[Liquidskys]

Well hello boat world..
totaly new to all this myself..
actually I am currently looking at buying my 2nd boat..

I am heading out thursday to look at a 1987 20' Bayliner
with a 130(?) volvo inboard

I know NOTHING about this boat (or any boat really)
have been trying to do some homework and find out what I should be looking for as far as red flags..

the owner said he hasn't used it in a few years.. he said his brother took it out earlier in the season this year and said he thinks the timing is off cause it was running a bit uneasy ( Im a bit mechanicaly inclined.. so i plan on doing a tune up forsure.. thinking that could be it.. but sometimes my luck isnt that good)

from the sounds of things its a good solid boat..
but like I said going to have a good look over on thursday..

any info about this boat would be MUCH appreciated..
I havent been able to find any info online for the most part..

any things you def would look for?

thanks alot.. cant wait to become more active in the boating community..
have always had a love for the water

 

[Liquidskys]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

thinking about taking a compresson tester with me when I go take a look at it..

what would you say a good compression would be?

also heard one thing to check is spin the prop and listen for clicking..
are there any other little tricks like that to determine any under lying issues?

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

Welcome to iboats.
Rot in the transom, deck and stringers is a common thing in a boat of that age, check it very well. Trying to determine the condition of the drive by hearing a clicking wont happen. The only way to really know how good the drive and engine are is by a sea trial. The engine and drive will perform very different when there is no load on them.
What kind of activities do you want to use the boat for? 130 HP seems a bit underpowered. Depending on what your needs are it might not even matter.

 

[Liquidskys]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

thanks for the welcome..

is it possible its a 150hp volvo..

I asked the guy but he seemed real unsure (he was at work on his cell when I called him.. said he had everything wrote down at home.. bought it on a whim and never used it so his wifes wants it out of their yard)..

the pic looks to me to be a 4 cyl. so I was assuming a 130.. but I heard that they also used volvo 150hp's

in either case.. Id like to be able to pull around a tube.. do some fishing and just cruise around the lake (live in Michigan right near Lake Huron)

 

[Bilgamesh]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

I have a 135HP on a 17 ft. Regal. It is good enough, but a 20 ft. with a 130 seems a bit underpowered.

FWIW I would not take second hand information about the performance as anything more than a shell game or abdication of responsibility for being less than 100% honest. I am not saying they are dishonest; just that I would not take it any other way. The timing does not just go astray sitting there. It is more likely other things. Chances are that if it was that simple, he would set the timing and enjoy the boat.

Good Luck!

 

[Liquidskys]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

I have a 135HP on a 17 ft. Regal. It is good enough, but a 20 ft. with a 130 seems a bit underpowered.

FWIW I would not take second hand information about the performance as anything more than a shell game or abdication of responsibility for being less than 100% honest. I am not saying they are dishonest; just that I would not take it any other way. The timing does not just go astray sitting there. It is more likely other things. Chances are that if it was that simple, he would set the timing and enjoy the boat.

Good Luck!

oh I hear ya LOUD and CLEAR..
I didnt mean to sound like I was taking his word for the bible..
honestly this guy seems clueless when it comes to the boat..
really does sound like he bought it on a whim.. he said he went fishing with a buddy and loved it so bought a boat the following month and he said there was just alot to learn and that it was so much more work being your own boat and not your buddies..

I kinda believe him on that one.. but no I agree I would assume it more then timing I cant see that just getting out of wack (not like the points on older 70's motors.. in that case maybe.. but that isnt the case here)

but I have some minior hope that its just from a lack of maint (and at the same time that scares me cause if theres one thing I've learned about boats.. maint is EVERYTHING when it comes to being able to enjoy the boat on the water)...

I have a good feeling about the boat (I tend to trust my gut)
just wish I was dealing with someone that had more knowledge of it..

the problem is the price is rite.. I dont have alot of cash to spend on a boat at the moment.. (which makes me think maybe it would be best to just hold off.. ive been told a billion times boating isnt a cheap hobby)

 

[QC]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

Looks like a money pit to me . . . people give away boats in not much worse shape. It is a Chevy 3.0 liter with a Volvo drive, that is the good news, very reliable combo IF maintained properly. It does have points, carb etc. It is 50's technology let alone 70s . . .

 

[Liquidskys]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

well I havent seen it in person yet.. so yea Im mearly going off of the pic's and what ive heard about the boat..
thats why Im here.. thought this was probably the best place to start to get insight on buying a boat..

(I own a website similar to this one myself love FORUMS.. but mine is all about Dirtbikes and quads so if you have those kinda questions Im your man *haha* )

so a chevy 3.0 and volvo drive.. that makes more since.. still the old techniology though eh.. not even electronic iginition still the ol points set up.. hmmm...

 

[werthert]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

IMO, and this is just me... I am not a gambler...

Bring someone with you who knows what they are doing, even if it's a professional and you have to pay them. Barring that, add $5K to whatever price he sells it to you as what it will need.

IMO boats are not like cars. With cars, you can get by with a few things kinda/sorta jacked up. Not so really with boats. As I've read here, there is no hard shoulder to pull over with a boat. Your out there with a problem, your SOL.

Dude seriously you could put it in the water and have 6-10 slow leaks and spend weeks finding them all. The only thing that will do is ruin the concept of boating for you.

Hope for the best... but PLAN for the worst!

 

[Liquidskys]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

werthert...

I hear ya.. and yea that is what I'm most affraid of.. just dont have that kinda coin to play with either at the moment..
(meaning enough to buy a "new" boat where I know everything will be tip top)

so pretty much any boat I get into is going to be a used boat and probably going to need SOME work.. but yea I hear what your saying..
its probably a smarter decision to try and find one from someone that has taken better care of it and atleast KNOWS about it..

for all I know this thing might have not even been winterized (thats how little this guy seems to know about it)

 

[QC]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

Could be awesome, but the lack of info, the age etc. tells me soft floor. May be underpowered and the engine isn't running right. Without more info, I am very sceptical. I'm thinking $1K tops, better at 500

 

[Liquidskys]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

he's asking $2500 ob
but we made a deal to trade a bike (99'KX250 dirt bike) for it
I am guessing my bike would bring in 1500 and he said he would do that straight out trade..

so.. I dont know we'll see!

 

[werthert]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

Why gamble a known (your bike) for an unknown?
There are so many things that COULD be wrong with it.

Wait. Be patient. Heck, I'd even put an ad asking someone on craiglist to help before I bought an unknown. The boat isn't going anywhere, what's the hurry? Do you have any idea how many boats there are out there? TONS. There is no rush when it comes to your hard earned money, at least with a boat like that. What's he gonna do... sell it? Doubtful, and to WHO? That doesn't look like it has a line of people waiting for it. Furthermore, it's gonna be a project boat no matter how you slice it, which means doubtful you'll get it in the water this season with your coin.... so whats the rush?

Slow down. Negotiate more. Make him wait. and find a way to GET SOMEONE OUT THERE that knows what to look for. The only rush is in your mind, it doesn't really exist.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

take someone with you that knows what to look for and don't be disappointed it sounds to wishy washy

 

[Thad]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

$2500 OBO, but a straight up trade for a bike valued at $1500?
I would not give more than $750 for it. And that is generous.
Sounds like the guy is trying to recoup his loss.
The boat will more than likely be a "project boat".
Meaning that you could get it running good for the remainder of this year, and then put it somewhere warm this winter and start working.
Based on what I see in the limited pics, it is in rough shape. And like QC said, soft floor. But I doubt that it will stop there. The pics indicate being left outside, uncovered. Very bad, especially for that age and make of a boat. I would venture to add that the wood in the seats id soft/rotten, and by the l;ooks of the engine compartment, the steering and throttle cables are going to be tight and probably need replaced. I would not be surprised if there is significant wire damage as well.
Now, let's assume that the engine was winterized. A good tune-up should get it running decent. (I just helped a guy get an '86 Bayliner/4 cyl. running)
It will move the boat with a tube and a couple buds on boarrd with you. But not well. Throw in a cooler, gear, ,and a couple more people, you will not be happy. IMO, a 4.3V-6 is under powered in anything bigger than a 20' boat, and that is a bowrider. Throw that in a cuddy, well...
Honestly, sell the bike for $1500, hold on to the cash and add to it when possible, then look this fall as people start selling. Look for an bowrider with at least a V-6. You will find something in better shape and more suited to what you want to use it for.
Being the area that you are in, it should not take long to find a deal on a boat.

I am not trying to scare you, just being honest. Still go look at the boat, check it over WELL, and take someone with that knows something about boats (if that is an option available to you) and be prepared to walk away, cash still in hand. Remember, you do not owe him anything for looking.

Good luck.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

The price is to high for that boat. $2500 should buy you a running boat. You might want to sell your bike and maybe throw in a little extra cash to that amount.

so pretty much any boat I get into is going to be a used boat and probably going to need SOME work..

This is most likely the case but, you want certain things to NOT need work. The transom, deck, stringers, drive and engine. These items are expensive and will quickly turn a cheap boat into an expensive one. There is no benefit in buying it cheap just to turn around and drop another $2500 before you can make a splash with it.
Look around for another boat or atleast take some one with you to look at it.
Good luck.

 

[Bilgamesh]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

The price is to high for that boat...you want certain things to NOT need work. The transom, deck, stringers, drive and engine. These items are expensive and will quickly turn a cheap boat into an expensive one.

Excellent and succinct advice!

 

[QC]

Re: Intro and a please help (87 bayliner)

Yup ^^^^^