Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

[Pete1burn]

So my wife and I just quit smoking so we decided as a preset to ourselves we'd get a smallish boat to run on the lake at our camp site in Ossipee, NH.

We have two kids so we're looking for a bowrider so they have a place to chill out as well, but that's not set in stone.

I'd like an inboard engine for aesthetics. Looking for something around $5k that I can tow with my 2011 Pilot. (4500lb towing capacity.)

Consider me a total boat noob. This would be like an alien landing on the earth and saying which car it should buy. I've done a lot of reading and research over the past few weeks. I have a post in the restoration section for a boat I bought from my wife's cousin which I found out had way more work that needed to be done than I was willing to pay for. I've also signed up for the NH boating safety course and looking into taking a Coast Guard navigation course.

Here are a couple I was looking at. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

http://www.stingrayboats.com/Dealers/showused_pic.php?tyr=138878642842692&boat=14551

http://www.winnisquammarine.com/Used boats.htm <--the bottom few on that page that do NOT have an OMC engine.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

I recommend against an inboard/outboard power plant. Outboards are much easier and cheaper to maintain. I also would recommend avoiding boats with carpet over plywood in the cockpit. The carpet just holds water and the plywood rots. Look for a boat with a fiberglass cockpit liner and an outboard and you'll be much happier in the long run. One such boat is a Four Winns Horizon 170. They are really popular with lakefront owners here in NH and great boats. They are effortlessly towed with a Pilot as well. I helped a friend buy on in NJ and we towed it home with his Pilot. Hardly knew it was there.

 

[theteacher]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

Take a test ride, or aka SEA TRIAL, I didn't and I got NAILED !!!!!!!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

One other thing, if you really have your heart set on non-outboard power, the Horizon 170 was also sold with I/O power and they sell for less than outboards. There's lots of them for sale around here.

 

[Pete1burn]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

I found a really nice Four Winns 170 for sale, but the salesperson I talked to on the phone was a real jerk and he hasn't returned my requests for pictures or service records. So I think I'm done with him. There are a couple of Four Winns boats in the second link I posted above, but they all have OMC engines, which I've been told to stay away from.

Are any of the boats I linked above good?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

If you are not enough of a do it yourselfer that you need to have a dealer that's fine. There are lots of boats around Ossipee & Winnie to pick from. Tup Goodhue in Moultonboro has been around forever and probably has a number of 5k boats you could try. I go there on weekends and if you want a 2nd set of eyes I'd gladly do it for you. I'll be there Thursday afternoon and Sunday this week.
OMC may not be building drives anymore but there are tons of OMC boats around, and you can get just about any part. If you can't get a part, believe me there's always a solution.
On the other hand in NH you can buy a boat from the side of the road from someone's yard, just get a "sea" trial, and make sure it does as you want. That's how I got mine.
ps. I love I/O's they make good noises, and they are easy for me to fix cause I'm a car guy. They also ride well cause they are heavier than OB's.
I will admit though, that outboards are fast and easy to winterize. I just like the car engine sound and smoothness.

 

[jmorgan87]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

I also feel alot more comfortable with an I/O than a outboard.. I also prefer the sound, feel and look of them. Been around car lots and shops since I could walk. So working on a chevy 350 is much more natural to me than an inline 6 outboard contraption.

To each their own though. With the interior in, it can get very annoying standing on your head in the engine compartment on an I/O.

 

[tractoman]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

Make your decision based on the maintenance and condition. Don't worry about the brand of boat. Look at and test as many as you can, and you will learn a little more each time. I looked at about 6 boats and ended up with just what I wanted in great shape.

 

[haley]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

I echo the test drive/sea trial. Just understand that it is not like buying a car - many folks are reluctant to take you out on a sea trial without knowing that you are serious. I did mine with an offer conditional on the sea trial.

A "compression check" is another thing you want. It is like taking the boat's blood pressure. I like the I/O's but purchased an outboard. I am not mechanically inclined and enjoy the simplicity. It also seems that my 3 cylinder 60HP does most of what I want without a sharp increase in cost, maintenance or weight.

Weight - do not get close to your vehicle's 4500lb limit. Remember to factor in the trailer, people and gear you will bring. With that said there are a lot of < 20ft bow riders out there in the < 3000lb range. You may wish to think about brakes since NH ain't Kansas. Your Pilot has to pull and stop the boat. Brakes help.

I found not a lot of people had maintenance r ecords. Sometimes a dealer that was selling a boat had them in their system if the boat was originally purchased from them.

I do not hear this a lot over he in power boat land, but when I purchased/sold sailboats a survey was always a good idea. The professionals can spot water in the fiberglass on a sailboat rather easily. Not sure if that is true with the transoms and stringers of a run about.

I echo that brand may not be as important as you think. But do take it into consideration. Not only for parts, but for experience. I have a Four Winns 150. Guess what - it is very similar to the 170 (a much more popular boat) and I have access to other owners here on iBoats.

That's my two cents.

Jh

 

[Pete1burn]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

Thanks for all the replies. NHGuy, I've sent you a PM.

From everything I've read, I shouldn't be looking at OMC IOs because of parts availability. I quite like the idea of working on a nice V8 or something inside the boat, since I used to work on cars when I was younger.

In any case, I'm still trying to find the right boat at the right price.

What do you guys think of the following boats on this page: http://www.winnisquammarine.com/Used boats.htm

1993 17ft. LARSON All American 170
1990 18ft. FOUR WINNS 180 Horizon
1985 19ft. GLASTRON SSV-195

 

[haley]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

Well, the Glastron is more powerful. As a Four Winns owner I like they one they listed. But the Larson has nice lines and is the newest...

I had a dealer offer the "30 day warranty" instead of a sea trial. He said it was no different - if you sea trial and something is wrong they fix it. If you buy and something is wrong they fix it. I was not buying into that at all. To me a warranty sometimes is like buying an argument in the future. If they offer it take it, just not in place of a test drive.

 

[Pete1burn]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

The Four Winns has an OMC engine though...

 

[Pete1burn]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

I just got a reply to the email I sent them about the Glastron. She says the boat has been covered after every run, no sun damage on the upholstery, floor is 100% solid and from their inspection has been maintained very well.

I'm really interested in the look of the Larson they have, although it's a bit out of my price range, but maybe they'll come down a bit if I make an offer in cash. Is the "Mercruiser 3.0L 130hp Alpha 1 sterndrive" a good engine? I'm assuming 130hp is enough for a boat of that size, although the Glastron has twice the horsepower!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

All those boats have carpet over plywood cockpit soles. I've owned two boats like that and now own a boat with a full glass liner and a self bailing cockpit. I'll never go back to carpet and plywood... The Glastron will be pushing the weight capacity of the Pilot. There's a reason it has a 350, it's heavy.

 

[Pete1burn]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

That makes sense. Thanks for clearing it up.

How is the mercruiser engine I posted above? Its powering the Larson I like the look of. Does Larson make a good boat?

I hear you about the carpet over ply and it certainly makes sense. Can't the carpet be removed and replaced with some kind of vinyl covering? Or even glass the entire top of the deck or something?

 

[jvigier]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

Carpet can always be removed and wood can be replaced.

I thought you wanted to spend around 5K.

Deck repairs are not cheap unless you plan to undertake on your own.

Lookup a post by friscoboater, he had to completely redo the floor on his boat. 6 months into and he's still not done.

Just sayin...

I bought wood, replacing it at the end of the season. I wish I would have spent the extra cash and bought glass.

 

[Pete1burn]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

Right, but what I mean is, if I could find a boat that has a solid deck and the stringers are fine, wouldn't it make sense at the end of the season to rip up the carpet and put down a layer of fiberglass over the deck? Make sure it stays protected, you know?

Here's a post from another forum to me:

"For $5K , unless you don't mind doing some work, will get nothing but junk.
By junk I mean, carpeted boats full of furniture that looks cosmetically great but is rotting, foam is soaked and stringers turn to mush. Its very typical unless the boat was meticulously garaged and never left wet anywhere."

Now that's scary. Sounds kind of doomsday to me. Any truth to that? Impossible to find a good $5k boat?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

You have to be very careful when looking at $5k boats but I would not say that there aren't any solid boats in that price range.

 

[Pete1burn]

Re: Looking for assistance buying my first (used) boat

I really like the Four Winns models on the site I listed above, but they all have OMC.

There's a red 88 180 Horizon for $3995 that needs some cosmetic work that I wouldn't mind doing myself. But the OMC is making me wary.

There's also a blue 1990 180 Horizon which is more expensive, but looks to be in much better shape. But again, OMC.

Thoughts?