Need Advice

[racheljay123]

Okay, Were new here to the forums and also to being boat owners. We are looking to buy an older 14' glassmaster. Engine runs well, though it needs a few gears for the lower unit of the propeller. We are pending pick up on Sunday evening so I would like some input from others who like to fix up boats... want to know if this price and boat are worth the effort.

Here are some pics of the boat... as it is right now.

Front

Rear with engine

and interior

The seats need some work but for the price its overall in good condition... I think. And I dont know much.

Weve talked him down to $400 for boat and trailer.

Advice...?!?!

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Need Advice

If it runs, floats, and has a trailer its worth 400.00.
It would only take a couple buddys and a 1/2 rack of beer to have the trailer sanded down in just a few hours. Lower units are still fairly inexpensive. And there you go. As for the rest of the work, thats what winter is for.
At the very least you wont lose any money for that price.

 

[geedubcpa]

Re: Need Advice

Check out the floor for softspots - probably worth 400 no matter what.

 

[Beeched]

Re: Need Advice

Does the motor go with it for $400.00? Grab the lower part of the motor and pull up and down, see how solid the transom is. Walk through it and kind of bounce to see if there are really weak spots in the floor. If there are soft spots in the floor the floor has been wet and is going soft. If that is the case, if there is foam between the floor and the hull it may be wet. Something you can't tell from looking at it. For what you are talking about paying it is a nice little boat even if the above is bad. Just be ready to do some work on it and spending some money.

If at all possible if the motor goes with it, get a compression reading on all the cylinders. I believe anything above 100 PSI is good, and the should be within 10% of each other. A used lower unit isn't that hard to come by if you look.

Even after replacing the floor and foam under it in my boat, then putting a a motor on it, I would do it again. Floor about $50.00, Foam about $350.00, motor about $850.00 and $400.00 for the boat, I am really happy with mine.

Hope this helps.

 

[racheljay123]

Re: Need Advice

Okay so one more question... and I'm sorry I'm new to this so its probably a lame one but I assume the boat is much older than the engine. Therefore would any 115hp merc lower unit be able to replace the current one? All ive seen on ebay and our local classifieds were 1990's and newer...?

I also found a few similar parts that he said were needed. The forward and reverse gears for the propeller. It was from an OMC engine though... are these interchangable or do I need Merc parts?

Thanks for the advice and replies everyone!

 

[BassinVt1]

Re: Need Advice

There are many mercury websights out there. I too have a older merc 1969 80horse 800 series. V4, yours would be from the looks of it the same era but a V6, plus you have the forum for mercury questions here on this forum sight.

Research,,,search the forums and other websights, get the serial number off the motor first to determine how old it is. Then go from there.

I happen to have a later 60s 100 horse that the parts would be partially interchangeable with yours. I do not have a lower end though. The rest of the motor is pretty much complete. If you need some parts let me no and we can arange something for shipping the parts. Not trying to sell u anything, just being a nice guy and fellow merc user. I wont charge u anything for the parts.

tim