Should I buy this boat?

wojciecj

Cadet
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
22
Hey guys. I want to buy a dirt cheap boat to fix up this summer. $500 is the limit. I know I'm crazy. Anyways, I found a boat. It is a 1980 Glastron ssv-168 with a 2.5L Mercruiser engine. I went to take a look at it today and a couple concerns came up. First, the owner didn't winterize it this winter! Second, the owner claims to have used the boat most of last summer until the shifting cable broke. After that he lost interest and didn't have time to fix it. Due to this I wasn't able to see the engine run today. Another concern is that there is a significant amount of water that has accumulated in the bilge. There is also a block of ice in the ski locker still. The one good thing is that the owner stored the outdrive inside his shed all winter. When I looked at the boat this afternoon I checked the block and didn't see any cracks. The boat was stored outside and had it's cover on, but I saw a decent amout of corrosion. What should my concerns be with the engine? How much do you think I could make on the engine if I sold it in peices?
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,149
Re: Should I buy this boat?

The concern would be a cracked bock, manifolds, etc. It is hard to say about the boat without seeing some pictures, etc.

May not be worth while, . . . it is a get what you pay for sort of thing, and $500 does not get you out on the water in most cases.
 

jigngrub

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
8,155
Re: Should I buy this boat?

Read the fiberglass boat restoration threads in this forum before buying any fiberglass boat.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,093
Re: Should I buy this boat?

Hey guys. I want to buy a dirt cheap boat to fix up this summer. $500 is the limit. I know I'm crazy. Anyways, I found a boat. It is a 1980 Glastron ssv-168 with a 2.5L Mercruiser engine. I went to take a look at it today and a couple concerns came up. First, the owner didn't winterize it this winter! Second, the owner claims to have used the boat most of last summer until the shifting cable broke. After that he lost interest and didn't have time to fix it. Due to this I wasn't able to see the engine run today. Another concern is that there is a significant amount of water that has accumulated in the bilge. There is also a block of ice in the ski locker still. The one good thing is that the owner stored the outdrive inside his shed all winter. When I looked at the boat this afternoon I checked the block and didn't see any cracks. The boat was stored outside and had it's cover on, but I saw a decent amout of corrosion. What should my concerns be with the engine? How much do you think I could make on the engine if I sold it in peices?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Sounds like a $500. boat that'll cost $5,000. to get Runnin'.....

I'd say, No, don't buy it....
 

jasoutside

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2009
Messages
13,269
Re: Should I buy this boat?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Sounds like a $500. boat that'll cost $5,000. to get Runnin'.....

I'd say, No, don't buy it....

This ^^^^ :encouragement:

If your starting with a budget of $500.....

Uh, strike that, back up a step....

What are you looking to do with this new "old fixer upper" boat? Fish, ski, go fast, cruise? What kind of budget are you working with for the inevitable repairs after your initial purchace?

Couple of important questions to consider before we dive in eh.

Hey welcome to iboats!:welcome:
 

zool

Captain
Joined
Aug 19, 2012
Messages
3,432
Re: Should I buy this boat?

Before I started my project here, I tried to donate my 28' to one of those charity orgs.....when the guy came out, he told me I needed to pay HIM $500 to take it away with two good outdrives, 2 bad motors, and a fully featured boat....so I said screw it, im going the other way.....

Ill have $20k in this before im done now....but I wont need a 100k boat after that ;)
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Should I buy this boat?

In that price range, the only think that makes any kind of sense is an aluminum hull with an outboard motor. Anything fiberglass will have rot, anything with I/O power will have either a cracked block, be way behind on expensive maintenance, or both. The boat you're asking about will be a 100% guaranteed money pit.

Check out the link to the 16' boat below in my signature. I got that one for $200. Although I spent loads of money restoring it, I COULD have gotten it safely on the water for much less if needed.
 
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