Should I buy it?

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Should I buy it?

I know of more than 1 boat that ran great on muffs and not at all under load....

I agree but its a pretty safe bet, that if you have checked compression is good, and you have checked the gear oil, and you have checked that all cylinders are getting spark, its usually a minor repair. I.e. Carb rebuild or link and sync.

 

[kevinwburke]

Re: Should I buy it?

Thanks for the checklist....will come in handy.

The business where the boat is at is a Auto Repair shop.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Should I buy it?

As a former repo man in an earlier life, let me leave you with one piece of advice: if the deadbeat owner couldn't make his payments, he probably couldn't afford proper maintenance either.

There is no way I would accept that boat without a water trial. I did it once; I'd been warned, but I did it anyway and got burned good. At the very least get it surveyed. You don't want to buy that thing, and discover the transom is rotten on your first trip out, as I did.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Should I buy it?

another proper paperwork question. does the seller have the title. no title, no sale.

 

[Ttigger]

Re: Should I buy it?

I bought my '87 Sea Ray 19' bowrider in September that way. It was $1500 and looked great in pictures. I talked to the owner a couple of times and made the 4 hour (each way) drive.

The boat looked good but there was no way to water test it. For $1500 I figured what the heck, I went with my gut and I towed it home! I figured the worst case would be a part out and make some of my money back.

I started it in muffs at home and the engine ran great so I took it to a local lake and it floated and ran well.

I had to a few small repair and maintenance items, but overall it was a killer deal.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Should I buy it?

I bought my '87 Sea Ray 19' bowrider in September that way. It was $1500 and looked great in pictures. I talked to the owner a couple of times and made the 4 hour (each way) drive.

The boat looked good but there was no way to water test it. For $1500 I figured what the heck, I went with my gut and I towed it home! I figured the worst case would be a part out and make some of my money back.

I started it in muffs at home and the engine ran great so I took it to a local lake and it floated and ran well.

I had to a few small repair and maintenance items, but overall it was a killer deal.

I have never actually water tested a boat that I have purchased.

I have actually only bought two boughts that were water ready from the get go.

I have also never purchased a brand new boat.

The two that I actually did a thorough inspection each lasted me for 3 years with no serious problems. One was sold because I was REALLY hard up for money at the time.

The second was sold to buy my current restoration project.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Should I buy it?

I would that you'll want to look extra close for transom rot anywhere there are holes below or near the waterline... Like the ladder mounts. If the screws or bolts that support the ladder are loose, I'd be looking very closely inside and out for signs of soft wood.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Should I buy it?

Personally I would never buy a boat unless I was just buying it for parts without a full marine survey and water test. If they don't want you to water test it there is a reason. THEY'RE HIDING SOMETHING!

 

[limitout]

Re: Should I buy it?

Personally I would never buy a boat unless I was just buying it for parts without a full marine survey and water test. If they don't want you to water test it there is a reason. THEY'RE HIDING SOMETHING!

OR.............

they are just a repo repair shop who would lose their insurance if they assumed the huge liability if they took someone out on the water in a boat they didn't own and were selling for a third party (IE the bank) and even if they did have ownership the same liability applies so not putting themselves out of business just to sell a boat sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

if it were just a regular guy or some regular dealer selling it, then yes your point of suspicion is valid, but in this case I don't think its fair to assume they are hiding something even though that is always a possibility

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Should I buy it?

since he's in the business, maybe he will give you a 7 day warranty (or 2) for you to either water test or take it to a boat mechanic for a check for major problems. The warranty would have to cover major malfunction only. Give him a certified/cashier's check and ask him to hold the check for the 7 days or until you call him.

The reason sellers won't do water tests is that unless the boat is in the water where they work/live, it's a lot of time wasted on his part. And unlike a car, you aren't going to let a stranger go run it around the block.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Should I buy it?

Your original question was is it a red flag - Yes it is but it's not a deal breaker.

As other's have said they have liability issues and a business to run so can't drop everything for a test drive, PLUS this is a wholesale price they're offering it at (at least it is in my area), which means you're not going to get retail service. Maybe he's not going to take the time for your test drive because he has 5 guys lined up to buy it, maybe he's a one man show and can't shut the shop down for an hour or two.

If I had that boat for sale in good shape in the spring I would sell it for $8,000 or more.

I have bought a lot of boats without a water test, sold many without too. It's all about reading the situation and weighing the risks to the price you'll pay.

 

[kevinwburke]

Re: Should I buy it?

Your original question was is it a red flag - Yes it is but it's not a deal breaker.

As other's have said they have liability issues and a business to run so can't drop everything for a test drive, PLUS this is a wholesale price they're offering it at (at least it is in my area), which means you're not going to get retail service. Maybe he's not going to take the time for your test drive because he has 5 guys lined up to buy it, maybe he's a one man show and can't shut the shop down for an hour or two.

If I had that boat for sale in good shape in the spring I would sell it for $8,000 or more.

I have bought a lot of boats without a water test, sold many without too. It's all about reading the situation and weighing the risks to the price you'll pay.

Off to check out the boat....will update tonight. Sincere thanks for all the input. This is a great forum and I hope to be a regular here (after buying a boat that is.)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Should I buy it?

Personally I would never buy a boat unless I was just buying it for parts without a full marine survey and water test. If they don't want you to water test it there is a reason. THEY'RE HIDING SOMETHING!

there's a reason, yes, but that doesn't mean anything is hidden; it can just as likely mean the guy doesn't want to invest his time in the sale. If my time is worth $50 an hour and I take buyers out on 5 test drives, I've lost $250 that I can't add to the price. Especially if it's not near the water. Or if you get buyers who are not really trying out your particular boat, but want to see what they think about your type of boat. That's an unfair waste of your time.

Which is why I always suggest exploring whether there can be a test as a condition of a sale that is otherwise final.

Selling/buying used boats is not a perfect process so there is no perfect solution

 

[tazrig]

Re: Should I buy it?

there's a reason, yes, but that doesn't mean anything is hidden; it can just as likely mean the guy doesn't want to invest his time in the sale. If my time is worth $50 an hour and I take buyers out on 5 test drives, I've lost $250 that I can't add to the price. Especially if it's not near the water. Or if you get buyers who are not really trying out your particular boat, but want to see what they think about your type of boat. That's an unfair waste of your time.

Which is why I always suggest exploring whether there can be a test as a condition of a sale that is otherwise final.

Selling/buying used boats is not a perfect process so there is no perfect solution

I don't completely disagree with you but if you want to go into the boat selling business that is just the cost of doing business. Agree on a price based on the survey coming back clean or close to it, the paperwork being in order and a sea trial. It may cost the "seller" to test the boat but that isn't the "buyers" problem. If this seller doesn't want to do it that way go on to the next seller there are plenty of them out there. If you buy a boat without a sea trial and there is something wrong that would have shown up in a sea trial then shame on you.

 

[kevinwburke]

Re: Should I buy it?

I don't completely disagree with you but if you want to go into the boat selling business that is just the cost of doing business. Agree on a price based on the survey coming back clean or close to it, the paperwork being in order and a sea trial. It may cost the "seller" to test the boat but that isn't the "buyers" problem. If this seller doesn't want to do it that way go on to the next seller there are plenty of them out there. If you buy a boat without a sea trial and there is something wrong that would have shown up in a sea trial then shame on you.

So I went and checked the boat out. It was as clean as the photos. Some wear to the seats but less than normal for a 10 year old boat.

Did a compression check on the engine and all four cylinders were at 125. Motor looked very clean. No rot but it is a composite construction and all fiberglass. The solenoid for the trim was a bit finicky and will need to be looked at.

Outdrive looked fine and all fluids looked good.

Fired up and ran and idles well.

Will have to replace tires on the trailer soon but otherwise looked fine.

Very few mark on the hull or even the rub rail.

He is selling the boat for the bank (on commision I assume) I offered $3300 on the asking price of $3750 and the bank accepted. WIll be trailering home on Monday.

WIll be anxious to get it tuned up and in the water but I figure I have plenty of room to fix and small issues.

Appreciate all the input from all the forum members. Will update next week.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Should I buy it?

If seems odd to you that is your first red flag.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Should I buy it?

Kevin,

Congratulations it sounds like you got a nice boat for a really good deal. I'm you'll find it needs a few things here and there but come spring that would be a $6-7k boat in my area easy; so you got a lot of fun for money.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Should I buy it?

Congrats sounds like a very good deal, on a very good boat. I hope the thorough inspection put your mind at ease, take good care of you and she will serve your family well for generations, OR until you decide to go bigger.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Should I buy it?

Congratulations! Sounds like a good deal for you!

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Should I buy it?

Outstanding, you stole that boat assuming the engine and out-drive are good which it sounds like they are.