Purchase Advice Needed: 1992 Glasstream 180 SE

[altissimo79]

Hello,

I have been looking for a boat for quite some time there is a gentleman in my area selling his boat the following is his listing;

1992 Glasstream 180 SE bowrider for sale. tagged for 2010. 90 HP Merc. outboard. am/fm cassette player, sun top, ropes, ski yoke, tube, anchor, life vests,dock bumpers, cover, and EZ loader trailor. Motor runs but needs alittle work. dont know much more than that. Great boat for the price. appraised at $4950 . Selling for $3500 obo I have clear titles for boat and trailer . NO WORKING ON IT IN MY YARD!! IF YOU WANT TO WORK ON IT, BUY IT AND TAKE IT HOME TO DO SO!! BOAT SOLD AS IS . CASH ONLY SORRY NO TRADES. Thanx for looking!!

I went to look at the boat and it looks to be in GREAT shape... he said that he has had the boat for 10 years didn't have it out last year and decided to sell it. When speaking to him about the motor issue, he informed me that when he got it out to clean it up and sell it, the motor was not taking in water but he is not mechanically inclined so other than that for all he knew it was the water pump. Given that, he can fire it up but it will damage the engine if he lets it run.

My question is, what is a reasonable offer to give him given the motor has issues? The trailer is in great shape it is an ez loader, the boat looks beautiful, should I take a chance on the motor? What would a reasonable offer be if the motor was completely bad and had to be replaced with perhaps a new one?


Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[seaboo]

Re: Purchase Advice Needed: 1992 Glasstream 180 SE

Personally I'd be scared of it. He either is telling you the truth (or full of --it, knows it has a serious problem, and would rather play dumb and sucker someone into buying it).

If you can't here an engine run (and go thru the throttle range you are taking a gamble, not to menton if you can't "wet test" the boat you are taking a gamble (alot of NICE looking boats have leaks, steering problems, ect, that you don't know till you are on the water).

On the other hand the problem may be as simple as a impeller (normally a cheep easy fix...actually it's a routine maintance item) or a muddobber nest in the wrong place (seen it happen, poke it out and all is good again), and it could be a deal.

I'm just saying, I'd be scared. Outboards are NOT cheep to replace and your good deal on a boat could quickly turn into a boat with a new outboard on it, that cost 3 times as much as the boat's purchase price.

 

[altissimo79]

Re: Purchase Advice Needed: 1992 Glasstream 180 SE

So say I offer him $1500 and he takes it... with a new/used motor am I still ahead?

 

[pmillar]

Re: Purchase Advice Needed: 1992 Glasstream 180 SE

FWIW, I rolled the dice on a '97 Crestliner priced to reflect a dead motor. My hope was it might be a relatively easy fix... the seller was correct in that it was cooked. After considering picking up a used engine for $2k I ultimately went with a remanufactured powerhead that comes with a warranty. So I basically got what I payed for but no great deal like I was hoping. Labor, powerhead + carb kits, and other maintenance quickly got me to a around $4k just to get my outboard and boat squared away. THat's still a lot cheaper than a new motor and should be essentially new (lower unit looks ok) but be prepared. Around here you could find a replacement used engine for around $2k or less depending on how old you're willing to go. Mine is a '96 115 Faststrike looper, fwiw.