Re: Should I buy this Sea Ray?
Here's a link to the Sea Ray brochure for that boat:
http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company1729/1C1_27_74DERNQ2D711.pdf
I love my 20' Sea Ray. It's five years older than the one you're looking at. I bought it in June from the second owner. It'd been well taken care of- and the fact that it has been a trailered boat in California helped as well. The only problem is it's not long enough- I'd love to get the 24'. So the answer to your question is- it depends.
1. How much is the owner asking
2. What work does he say needs doing- that's quite frequently only what he is aware of, or willing to disclose.
3. Are you in love with the boat enough to go through a major restoration if it needs it? Take a look at some of the extensive restorations in the "Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair" section of this forum. Can you do the kind of restoration than involves tearing the total interior out of the boat and restoring it. It's not really complicated work, it's spelled out in many of the restoration threads, but it's dirty and takes some time and money.
Here's the best description I've seen on how to inspect a boat:
http://www.customboatrepairs.com/jmla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:tips-on-buying-a-used-boat&catid=8:boat-buying-tips&Itemid=7
Get some pictures of outside, inside cuddy, inside engine compartment, seats, instrument panel, stomp around inside to test the decks, knock on the transom and stringers inside and out to test for rot. Start the boat on muffs.
Send us the pictures and a description of what you see and hear.
Good Luck, hope's it's a good deal for you- it's a beautiful boat.
