Looking to buy my first boat

[scoutboater]

Hello everyone. I've been reading the forums for several months now, but I'm still new to the posting area.

A friend and I are looking for our first boat, preferably a bow rider with a V8 i/o, but we're looking at just about everything because we know we probably cant afford a V8. We have found these two options right now:
http://shoals.craigslist.org/boa/2165824928.html
http://nwga.craigslist.org/boa/2168732803.html

I have contacted the owner of the Wellcraft, and he says that the carb needs cleaned and the motor needs a tune up, but its a 3.0 4 cyl. He tells me it has a new floor and good stringers, but all the pics (he sent more to my phone) have it sitting out in his backyard, and I have yet to see a tarp. :facepalm: It still needs the interior re-built.

I have not contacted the owner of the Cheetah yet, as I just found it, and it is a little out of our current price range.

All that said, here are my questions:
1) Should I run from the Wellcraft on the fact that it is stored outside?
2) If no to (1), what is this wellcraft worth. Please keep in mind that while I wouldn't mind a full boat re-build project, I simply dont have time or money for it. I'm willing to glass the floor and slowly build the interior.
3) Is the Cheetah worth $1750 if its in good shape, or should I be looking lower on it?

Thank you for your help, and I'm sure anything I get will end up on here with more fng questions.

 

[saumon]

Re: Looking to buy my first boat

Hi,

first of all, welcome here. You'll find this forum invaluable for anything boat related.

I highly suggest that you take some time to read this awesome article from CATransplat http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300510

For a first boat, i'd stay away from anything that need some work. You'll have enough to learn on your first few rides (loadind, unloading, docking, handling, etc.) without the trouble to deal with ?minor tune-up? and ?some TLC?. I also suggest that you read some posts from the STH (Stupid human tricks) section. Kind of learning from others mistakes...

So, find a boat that run and that you can afford and, in your case, it's mandatory to do a water test with the owner. Please don't do the mistake of simply relying on his words that ?it works?.

(and sorry for my sometimes strange english: it's not my first language)

Happy shopping!

 

[Unleadedaddict]

Re: Looking to buy my first boat

You know it depends on how much you are willing to do before getting on the water. The cheetah sound like the better of the 2 but a little smaller. I feel the 3.0's are too little for that size of boat. Go look at the Cheetah, take a compression gauge and do some exploring. Generally speaking if a motor idles very smooth at low rpms and doesnt knock you can assume it is in decent shape. Poke around the stringers with a screwdriver and a flashlight. You can do interior work yourself even if you just wrap the vinyl.

 

[1980Galaxy]

Re: Looking to buy my first boat

I don't have answers to your specific questions but I will say that buying a boat with a friend can be very challenging. One person gets stuck doing ALL the work. Then when its time to sell, they don't want to and you are stuck with it. Just speaking from personal experience. Good luck and welcome to the group.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Looking to buy my first boat

For goodness sakes get a boat with an outboard..the reason you see so many I/O boat so cheap is they are a maintenance nightmare when they get old..pay the extra for a decent boat in good running condition with an outboard. you should expect to pay around $3500 for an late 80s maybe early 90s model 18-21 boat in good shape. Turn key. If you can go $5K you can get a mid to late 90s model.

 

[PopsRacer]

Re: Looking to buy my first boat

Personally, I'd expect alot of repairs and frustration with either one of those...

I previously had a 1991 18' Four Winns 5.0L I/O that i bought cheap from a buddy.. He said it just needed a new fuel pump... Well, I bought a fuel pump then discovered it was actually a busted Fuel Pump Pushrod, so I replaced it... So, then I had to replace the fuel check valve and discovered the stringers were rotted even though they were still holding strong... I finally got it idling and running good after cleaning the carb and replacing the plugs, then one of the floor stringers broke causing a weak spot in the floor. I picked up some wood and cut a new stringer then discovered most the trailer lights stopped working... I found the main plug was wired backwards from today's standard so I ran a new wire kit and replaced the lights with LED since some of the standard bulbs were running dim from poor rusted ground points.

With the amount of work I ended up putting into it I didn't get a chance to even take it out for a day in the summer time.. My brother ran across the Crownline on Craigslist, so we went out and took it for a water test.. It was in alot better condition so I went ahead and bought it and put the Four Winns up for sale.. When I took the buyer out for a water test, I told him it would be the first time I had it out, the motor died everytime that we put it into gear. I felt like a jerk but I had never anticipated that would happen since the prop turned fine when trailered with the transom lowered. So, we re-negotiated a lower price and he took the boat.

If it weren't for selling it off for the other boat we wouldn't have had a single day on the lake last year, and that was very frustrating for a boat that was supposed to just need a new fuel pump.. It wasn't my buddy's fault, he didn't know.. He felt really bad but I told him don't worry about it.. So, it's not always the seller being dishonest, sometimes they honestly don't know themselves.

So, if you get either one of those, just be ready to inherit a big project on your hands.

 

[scoutboater]

Re: Looking to buy my first boat

Thanks everybody. I feel I should clarify one point: My friend and I are already experienced boaters, just never with our own boats. His family owns a boat, and I have been working on the river with the Boy Scouts for several years now.

Saumen: I have always planned on taking a water test before buying a boat. Its just like driving a car before you buy it, its just stupid not too. Unless of course you're looking for a project, but thats another story. Btw, the English sounds great to me.

Thanks again for all of your input.