Need Help buying a Boat

[FishinGirl]

Hi everyone, let me introduce myself and explain my situation.... My name is Jessica and I love to fish... That says it all..lol I spent all of last summer out of work, injury, and fished every single day... I did surf fishing, and freshwater... half way through the summer I bought a Hybrid, Canoe and Kayak, I call it a Kayone, and it rocks. Fits 2 people, and has rod holders, Fish finder, and some other goodies...

This year, I want to upgrade and get a boat. Im looking for a 15-19 foot boat. I mostly want it for fishing, but am considering getting a boat that I can sleep in when the night comes up to quickly... I don't know what my options are... I went to Bass Pro Shop and saw some great boats, but way out of my price range. I can afford up to 8,000 dollars. I know that is not a lot, but its what I have to spend.

Please throw some options out there for me. I have a Jeep Wrangler that can only tow about 2000 lbs.

Thank you for your help.





I went and looked at this boat... I loved it, but it needs some work. It needs to be painted and some areas are very worn... I don't know anything about engines and the seller stated that this engine is a 1978 EvinRude that runs excellent...
It has a 6 Gallon tank... What do you guys think.. and what price range would you pay... He said the boat is a 1988 SeaSwan Boat, but I couldn't find any info on it...

Here are the pictures I took of it. Im really considering this boat... Great starter boat...

I hope I didn't just sell this boat for this guy... The guy was great.. said the boat was a dry boat, and it had a bilge pump and that's about it...

Please let me know what you think...

This might be the one...

-Jessica

 

[HONKER1]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

I am partial, but I would take a look at aluminum boat. A Starcraft is light weight and you could be looking for an 16' to 18' boat and be right at the 2000 pound towing rate. The weight of the outboard motor would sway it one way or another. With the windshield and rag top you could sleep with all the comforts of home.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

A BIG WELCOME your way Jessica. As to your quest - -

First I would disregard almost everything the seller says about what great condition it is in. Remember his objective is to get you to put your money in his pocket. You need to verify everything he says and for a first timer you do not have the experience to know what to look for. I would strongly recommend that you have a very experienced boater look it over for you and it would even be better to have a marine mechanic give it a once over.

My sense is that this is not the boat for you being a first timer. The engine looks tired on the outside and if that indicates what is under the hood it may be a basket case. The hull looks OK on the outside but the deck (or floor) does not. You have to be extremely careful about buying an older boat that has rot in the floor and transom. We can't tell from the pictures if this is a problem with this boat or not.

If you have an $8K budget I think you can do far better. Take a look in Boat Trader On-Line, eBay and other places. Do a Google on used outboard fishing boats or simular.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Jessica, we more than welcome fisherwomen to iboats. inho, pass on this boat, unless you are in a position to do a lot of work. 1st for 10 y/o the interior in horrible, 2nd from the looks of the motor it has had little care. 3rd in the 3rd picture from inside the boat, their are 2 starter solenoids, mount on the transom. my only guess as to way they are there, is, they are a homemade rig to the tilt motor, not correct.

there are many boats available, and if the economy keeps in the direction it is going, there are going to be a lot of good deals. here are my recommendation on buying a boat,

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.

A 30 year old boat motor combo, may be in better condition, than a 3 year old

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Run from this boat as fast as you can. There are much better deals out there on boats that are newer and in better shape. As suggested, look at aluminum. Lighter means less power needed, if you trailer it you need less of a tow vehicle. Lighter weight = less gas money required. Try Craigs List and Google/Yahoo "used boats".

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Very nice pictures of the boat, and I'd like to know what kind of camera
you are using. I wouldn't pay more than a couple thou' for that combo,
even though the boat exterior looks pretty nice. Motor is shabby looking,
and 6 gallons might last a couple hours on bay waves, if you're lucky.

If you can afford 8 thou' for a boat, look around some more.

Then again, are you sure you've tired with your canoe/kayak hybrid?
Sounds like you were just getting into that...

 

[tomh59]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Welcome to iboats. You stated that you had an $8000 budget. Spend 6k on the boat and leave the rest for upgrades and other items that you WILL end up buying. 8g's can quickly become 10. You can find a beauty,
they're out there. BE PATIENT!! I can not stress that strongly enough.
don't buy on impulse. Remember what you want use the boat for.

Good luck and keep us posted

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Im looking for a 15-19 foot boat. I mostly want it for fishing, but am considering getting a boat that I can sleep in when the night comes up to quickly...

Pass on that boat. Big time.

Honestly, *please* consider getting help when shopping for a used boat - That boat isn't worth 50% of what they're asking for it - best case... If you were considering it, you do need some assistance... And clearly you're looking for it. Posting photos was a good idea.

It sounds like you want a fishing boat that can do other things. I don't know what you mean by a boat you can sleep on - normally that means a "cuddy" boat to me and there are a few in the 19 foot range, but they'r were not designed for fishing, and will weigh a lot more than 2k with a trailer.

Can you tell us what boat designs you liked (new) - that'd get the suggestions pointed in the right direction.


I'd find a "no wood" fiberglass or aluminum boat, with a 50-80 hp motor - that might foot the bill. Get someone to check out the outboard for you, mainly compression - and do a water test before you buy. You wouldn't need to spend $8k.

One rule when buying used boats: if the seller can't document all the "work" then assume it hasn't been done... Motors need to be maintained and winterized.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

I wouldnt give more than about 12 hundred as long as it ran and wasnt water logged...That guy in the picture looks like a fast talker,,,,,,,keep a lookin.

 

[FishinGirl]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Thanks for all the responses... I have been doing a lot of research, ie... reading, and going to marinas, and new boat stores... I have narrowed down my search to a particular style... Someone asked me to look at a new boat and find the style I like to find a used boat similar to that style... Well I did, and have fallen in love with Mako boats... I love the center console style with lots of storage and being able to walk around is a plus..

I have throw out the option of sleeping on the boat, I don't need to sleep...
lol...

I will keep my options open, but if it wasn't for experienced boaters like yourselves, I would have bought that boat.. so thank you...

-Jessica

 

[JoeMan]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Good girl. The seller may be a great guy and that boat may have served him very well with little or no problem...but you definitely can and will do much better. Couldn't agree more with what's been said already. Make sure they provide the weight for boat, motor and trailer since you've got that 2k limit. Aluminum is the way to go, I've got a great aluminum boat and she spanks those waves.

PLEASE come back once you've made your purchase and show us what you bought!!

JoeMan

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

mako's are great boats, but there are a lot that are similar. keep your eyes open, watch ebay, and craigslist. when you find another, keep us informed, we are glad to help.

here are some good things, and mistakes that have been made. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=138594

 

[tomh59]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Jessica, the best thing you could have done was type iboats.com. The
expertise on this site is as the saying goes, "PRICELESS'
Intelligence, common sense and boundless experience. Now,about choices.
My brother loves center consoles. I prefer a windshield to hide behind when
it's cool or windy enough to blow the wash back into the boat. That can be
absolutley miserable in a center c. My 2 cents

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Pretty much agree with what everyone else said. You did not say what the asking price is for the boat but I would be embarissed to ask more than a few 100 $s. I assume it is a salt water boat from the MS registration on it. Anywhere by WIGGINS? Clearly the boat has not been taken care of. Is the truck for sale next to it in better condition?
Awful lot of boats out there for sale and there will be a lot more coming out this spring. Allow me to offer my advice. With a used boat, consider the hull only! Let them keep the motor. Then make the investment in a new motor, new battery and bilge pump. Thats it, thats all you need. Maby some clamp on running lights in case you are out after dark. New wheel bearings and lights on the trailer and you are set. I dont trailer but have to assume that an aluminum boat is your best choice. Guaranteed, with a bit of patience you can find a decent hull for a few 100 $s. trailer included. People need the money now and there are a lot of reasonalby priced boats out there. Unfortunate times, but thats the way things are. regards FRED

 

[Kachadurian]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

One other thing no one has mentioned that is worth an observation.

This boat has a very low transom and a short shaft (15") motor. That was pretty common 20 years ago but much rarer now. The low transom is no big deal when you are clipping along, but while you're fishing the wake from another boats can come right over the back. It's rare, but nasty when it happens. It also can make you feel pretty exposed when the water gets sloppy.

Look for a taller transom. On a small boat it will probably be 20". I personally favor the configuration where the motor sits in a splash well, rather than at the back of the deck.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

actually, Kachadurian, if you look back at the pictures, it is a short transom, but someone has removed a very high splash well, and did not seal it. probably to accomadate that motor, so it would tilt. another negative.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Need Help buying a Boat

Hi Jessica, I saw that boat on craigslist Rhode Island too,
I'm in Boston,
the guy got the name wrong,

its a Chrysler 16' commander, supposedly very good hull design.
Approx 1973.

I have a 20' commander so I recognized it right away.

Try searching the MASS craigslisting's and CT too, theres a ton of great deals showing up daily.

With $8K I could find a great boat for sure.

I like this type of boat,
http://providence.craigslist.org/boa/603127151.html

I'd offer $500 less just for the sake of a haggle...
Too bad I still can't afford it.