Just buy a boat already....

[CaptOchs]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Lots of people here do that. They get free or cheap boats knowing that the boats need a lot of work and end up spending $1000-2000 in parts and their labor to get it up to snuff.

To me it would be easier to spend the $2k on a good running rig. Plenty of good running boats/motors in that price range in my neck of the woods.

I know! I'm guilty of it too. My 2nd boat had a sapling growing out of it. It was about a quarter-size in diameter. Price was right; mother-in-law gave it to me for free and I got a good 10 years out of it. I was willing to put in the extra work and rebuild it the way I wanted to. I spent probably $500 refurbishing the boat and trailer. I got back $200 selling the non-working motor for parts. I transferred my good running outboard I had to it. I did alright.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Just buy a boat already....

I agree with eclark--when buying old boats, you are buying the motor; the boat is secondary (from my perspective because the probable "rot victims" are not boats I'd see, or look at).

Island mike, clearly there are safety considerations, and the inexperienced put out in boats unseaworthy for the conditions--but they'd do the same with a brand new boat. But that's not really what the discussion is about.

Bonair, I'm with you---the stories of the work done on free boats makes me wonder how people value their time. Sure, there's the "hobby factor" and the intrinsic value of restoring a classic, but not in spending your summer dredging rotted wood and spongey foam out of a crappy old B-liner.

Capt Ochs, your value scale is absurd--unless you have a narrow definition of "boat." $1000 gets you a great jon boat/motor/trailer. $4000 would likely be junk, or too ancient, for a 21' center console with a matched outboard. These forums seem to fall apart when someone's perspectice is set as a base line.

wutever, sorry you got burned, but do you think that 6 months of looking would have made the difference, except you'd miss the summer to use it? Anyone who buys--heck, anyone who owns--an old boat has to plan on putting money like that into things like that. Pay now or pay later= buy new or buy old.

"waitnig a few months" means for most people, they get a few weeks of use then put it away for the winter. Time is ticking.

OP's point, with which I agree generally, is not to overthink the process. But he would agree: you still have to think.

 

[wutevvvver]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

No I don't think it would have hurt. It's not like I was on a sinking ship and needed it to survive! the point I was trying to make is "don't buy it because it might not be there tomorrow" buy it because you are comfortable investing your hard earned cash. Every vehicle is going to need parts especially 20 year old ones. Look at it this way, If you wait a week or two while shopping around or having a mechanic go over it and someone else buys it first, oh well it wasn't meant to be. But if you rush in like I did then you end up where I am now buying a new lower and trying to figure out what's wrong with your powerhead. C'est la vie!!!!!

 

[jdlough]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

But you said you already knew it needed a carb rebuild. You could have seen yourself that the electric was held together with tape. Most boat wiring really does suck or has hidden corrosion, and it's not a bad first project to replace it, do it right, so you know it's right and learn and feel more comfortable about your new boat.

At best you could have paid a surveyor a few hundred to tell you that a few hundred dollar part (the VRO) was suspect. Although a sea trial might have exposed that too. Or maybe not.

Stomp around on the deck to check for soft spots, Hang on the outboard to check for weak transom, Turn on all electrical devices, See if gauges work, Feel for wet foam, Compression test the outboard, Drip a few drops of lower unit oil - looking for water or milky oil, Start the thing, Turn the wheel, Trust your observation and instincts to gauge if the owner is a maintainer or a slob, Sea trial if you're lucky. Most of this is a simple checklist and common sense.

(Another good clue to detect a boat maintainer... Look at the battery terminals. Are they clean, and maybe protected by dielectric grease? Or do they have fuzzy corrosion, like the owner never maintained the connection.)

Assume that any used boat is going to need at least a few hundred to make it right.

I did not mean to insult anybody, or start a feud. All's I'm saying is that it's time to make your move. A lot of people are looking to buy a boat now, so you have boat buyer competition, and the good ones will get nabbed quickly. The Craigslisters will be raising their prices soon. Don't waste time looking for the perfect boat. Just get a decent one, and try it for a season. Your idea of the perfect boat may change as you learn what you need.

If you wait a week or two while deciding, the good ones will get nabbed, and the crappy ones will be left for you to choose from.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

I agree on your overall point, OP. I'd sure hate to hold off on purchasing a boat, when waiting for another few months might yield a killer deal.

I see a lot of people who never pull the trigger cause they are always worried something else great might come up for sale. Def do whatever research you want to do on boats etc., but

Here is the key.....................Once you buy the boat/motor.................STOP LOOKING at other boats for sale!!!!!! You'll drive yourself crazy constantly trying to see if another deal is better.

I've seen a few threads here where the OP states that he/she has been searching for a year(s) for the perfect boat...or someone starts a thread like "I'm not going to buy a boat for another few years, but I want to start researching now". These threads drive me crazy! These are the people who will NEVER be satisfied with any purchase...and/or they are the ones who continue to scour ads/dealerships trying to find out if there is another "better deal" than what they got.

Do some research, then pull the trigger already.....and let the chips fall where they may.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Here is the key.....................Once you buy the boat/motor.................STOP LOOKING at other boats for sale!!!!!! You'll drive yourself crazy constantly trying to see if another deal is better.

I'm the OP, and it seems like I had a hard time living up to this wisdom myself.

It seemed like after I finally bought my boat, Craiglsist had all these boats with flush toilets, big screen flat TVs, outriggers, divorce settlement bargains, etc. I forgot that most Craigslist listers are liars, and I really did have the best dang boat out there.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Good Boat (Minus) Good Motor = Good Experience? How does that work? That is not a boat, it's called a "raft".

I hope you're joking. Could that possibly be a dash?

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

when i bought my $500 boat off CL it was now or never, had some extra cash and the other half was spending it fastshe wasnt so keen on the idea:facepalm: but now that its in the back yard and getting close to being finished she is excited and wants to go boating, and at one point she was like "resin, resin, resin, how much more damn resin you gonna need!" im glad she is over that now

 

[jdlough]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Yep, we married guys know getting the OK is a short "Window of Opportunity". Then we rush out like mad before that window closes.

Last month my wife mentioned that I should make the boat real nice. He, heee! A definite 'window of opportunity'!

So, GPS plotter/fishfinder w/side-down scan, Navionics chips, new MateSeries combo rod&cup holders, new outriggers, new built in glove compartment, new lifepreserver and rope holder rigging, new wash down pump and hose, all new thru hulls and sea cocks, (snuck in 2 new rods and reels), new dryboxes for documents and tools, new binocular holder, Stainless Steel bag ash trays, all sorts of stainless sail boat rigging things (sail boaters have the best weird stainless rigging things), considering an anchor roller, and now I'm out of ideas, and the window is STILL OPEN!

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Surf and Turf for the wife.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Surf and Turf for the wife.

I don't know that that means, but if it keeps the window of opportunity open, I'm in!

What is "Surf and Turf"? Will I need lube?

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

i told the wife i needed a cheap depth finder thinking she'd be mad, she's insisting we get a lowrance idk, she must have been researching behind my back, i was just talking one of those cheap hand held things

 

[wutevvvver]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

No fued here or hurt feelings I was just telling my story. Looking back now I should have known better. But once I get this motor straightened out atleast I'll know it and all of it's quirks. Alot of the "splicing" I didn't find until I started pulling wires from behind the bulkheads. There was some under the dash, but like I said it's an old boat I wasn't expecting perfection. I knew there were issues with it. but I do regret rushing into it had I not had that vision of landing that monster walleye or worried the other guy would get it first I would have been more cautious. But, it's my first boat and yeah it's not great but it gets me on the water helps me catch fish and it is a hoot to fly across the lake at 50 MPH. Thank all of yoou guys for the information and insight by the way I wish I had found this place before buying it but with all the info here it's not too hard to fix what is wrong and stop most other stuff from going wrong. So thank you again.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

I really want a set of cup holders that can be switched to chill the beer in between drinks or keep your coffie warm on cold nights.

Awsome!! Me too. I just love cup holders.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

I don't know that that means, but if it keeps the window of opportunity open, I'm in!

What is "Surf and Turf"? Will I need lube?

Lobster and steak.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

like I said it's an old boat I wasn't expecting perfection. I knew there were issues with it. but I do regret rushing into it had I not had that vision of landing that monster walleye or worried the other guy would get it first I would have been more cautious.

I hear ya. I replaced most of the wiring on my 'perfect' boat. Leads to a lot of head-scratchers, "Why the F did he hook the bilge into the radio?" But really, I don't think a surveyor would have caught all the wiring mistakes.

Your busted VRO sounds like your biggest problem. That might have been tough even for a surveyor to discover, unless the sea trial lasted a couple of hours. As you say, at least it's all fixed now, and you know all your boat's quirks.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Lobster and steak.

Oh! OK, yep, I can do that!

Lobster and steak. No lube. Got it.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Just fair warning to iBoaters. If I ever see a post saying, "I'm considering this 1988 Boston Whaler Montauk with an 85HP 1999 Yamaha outboard. He wants $2300 (something about divorce settlement)".

I guarantee the next post from me you will see will say, "I got IT! IT's In MY DRIVEWAY! Can you believe some nitwit had to THINK ABOUT IT? WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

YEP, that would be my next post.

 

[kirayotaka]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Oh! OK, yep, I can do that!

Lobster and steak. No lube. Got it.

lobster without butter? surely you must be joking...


but seriously, my take on the whole buy or not to situation is this.
i never have the cash for a new anything. unless its a fire extinguisher, a life vest, or bullets, i buy used and old. i expect to get ripped on anything i buy. i figure buy the model/year/style thats worth fixing up to you. that way when it all falls apart youll be more motivated to fix it.

id never pass on a tired m715 with a few electrical gremlins to get a later model cherokee that "runs great, only drove on sunday, etc" for around the same cost. because 9 times out of 10 that "better deal" turns pear shaped after the sale anyway, and then where are you?

but then again what do i know? i bought a 87 regal cuddy for $1,700 thats going to end up needing an engine... :facepalm:
but you know. even when im out wrenching on it, laying fresh carpet, rewiring lights, replacing bunks, etc. it puts a smile on my face from ear to ear dreaming about tucking the kid'os in the cuddy for sleep and spending all night up with the wife talking and catfishing, or spending half the day and night watching the air show and fireworks on the river. knowing the ladies have a private area for the chemical toilet. as long as youre enjoying it, getting intimate with the moving parts and how everything works, it doesnt matter much hp it has or how hard it was to rewire...

 

[island mike]

Re: Just buy a boat already....

Yep, we married guys know getting the OK is a short "Window of Opportunity". Then we rush out like mad before that window closes.

Last month my wife mentioned that I should make the boat real nice. He, heee! A definite 'window of opportunity'!

So, GPS plotter/fishfinder w/side-down scan, Navionics chips, new MateSeries combo rod&cup holders, new outriggers, new built in glove compartment, new lifepreserver and rope holder rigging, new wash down pump and hose, all new thru hulls and sea cocks, (snuck in 2 new rods and reels), new dryboxes for documents and tools, new binocular holder, Stainless Steel bag ash trays, all sorts of stainless sail boat rigging things (sail boaters have the best weird stainless rigging things), considering an anchor roller, and now I'm out of ideas, and the window is STILL OPEN!

Cooler?Or you have one of the fancy fridges in there??
And where are the pics! Good luck! regards I mike