Should I get this free boat?

[matty133]

I have the chance to get a free chaparral 1900 hull. Not sure of the year, but looks like mid eighties. Its a bowrider. Inboard and drive unit are missing. No trailer. What I really want to do is convert it to center console but dont know if this is a good hull to transform or not. Should I pass this one by? Reduild it to its original form? Or Redesign it? p.s. I have rebuilt two boats in the past year and like doing it although I barely break even.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

Unless you have a source for all of the missing components, I would pass. I'm sure the Chaparral hull is a fine one but this deal sounds like it will bury you.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

I agree with Boomyal - free seems tempting but by the time you assemble the rest of the components you'll need you'll have spent more than buying a complete boat and cleaning it up. I hate to discourage you, but I've been there - done that a couple of times and I came nowhere near breaking even when I was done. I've come to understand that spending a little more up front usually saves you even more down the line.

 

[bandit86]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

I have the cheap curse too, most of the time not worth it, not only will it cost the same in the end, you will have to factor in your time. youre better of looking for a great deal

 

[matty133]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

Thanks for the help guys. The more I considered it, the less I liked the idea. Yall reconfirmed that for me. Bandit, Ive never heard it called the cheap curse, but thats exactly what I have. Great terminology

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

No such thing as a free boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

i was given a 1998 4.3L 18' ski boat. by the time i got rid of it i was $600 in the hole. but glad to be rid of it.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

If I am going the "cheap" boat route, I usually aim for something with a bit of built-in value attached. My blue Starcraft American had a blown Chrysler 85hp on it that I didn't care to keep, so I parted it out on eBay. Selling the bits and pieces from that covered purchasing the boat and trailer, plus the gas and tolls to get it, plus I had a bit of seed money leftover to sink back into the hull. I was already ahead of the curve a bit because I had the motor from my previous boat sitting on a rack awaiting completion of the blue boat. <br /><br />That said, it doesn't sound like you're getting much with the "free" boat. If you had a wrecked boat with a drivetrain sitting on blocks in the backyard or something then you might be able to make it work, but you're starting from zero, so you'd have to come up with everything on your own...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[Flukinicehole]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

matty I just aborted a center console conversion because hulls are for sale all over.I was going from a bowrider to center console then started looking around on ebay.I ended up getting a 89 24ft. Mark Twain walkaround for $405.It needs a drive and engine which I have in the other boat the hull is in excellent shape. To make a long story short deals are all over right now.Also you can have my hull if you want to pick it up.

 

[bolo789]

Re: Should I get this free boat?

i got my 1990 searay220 da free and iam very very happy. but you have to be very handy. i can pull my v 8 engine by myself using a comalong, change coupler, plugs oil pump ect, with the help of this forum you caunt beat. if you are handy and the boat is not so badly ware. i say go for it. it will be yours, and you dont have to watch the look on your friends face when you fish on there boat and drop as little as a sinker. good luck