Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

[NoGin]

Well the end of the season is upon us and I have to say my inaugural season sucked! I purchased a 19897 Thompson 290 in April and launched her in July. While she was dry docked I spent thousands on cosmetic work as well as new drive unit water pumps, 2 new fuel pumps, all new electrical, new custom helm station with molded in GPS/Chartplotter and gorgeous Faria gauges etc etc.... blah blahhh. I started the season with poor batteries so I bought 2 new Trojans for the house and 2 new Interstate cranking batteries for the engines. Then I continued with battling the poor stator charging system all summer so I finally coughed up more dough and installed the Sierra alternator conversion kit. AWESOME!! Then about mid-season I started having hi-temp issues from a weakening starboard drive impeller (so we think). Now I just broke something major in my port stern drive unit so she overheats instantaneously and I have no gearing.

the question I pose to you ....

Do I sell my boat cheap or suck it up and put 2 new drives in and some other work to the tune of about 4K or do I by this other boat I have been eyeing? It's my buddies and it's a 2003 Rinker Fiesta Vee 270. Smaller than my Thimpson but still rather roomy and very nice! He is giving me a steal on it as well!!

What do you guys think??
............................... ......................................

 

[JaSla74]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

Looks to me like you've already got her for sale. If you're not afraid to drop more cash & you're attached, then see her through. If you're fed up, then get while the gettin's good. Just be dang skippy sure your next purchase is what you really want.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

She'll be tough to sell without finishing the repairs, so it depends if you can fix it, sell it, and have any money left over to buy the new one. Sorta like I say with cars, you have to decide early on if the old car in the driveway is worth fixing, then once you start, you're committed....or all that repair money may as well have gone into the trash. At this point, I am guessing you've spent several thousand in repairs/upgrades. From the sounds of it you have one bad drive (if I understood your post) and one bad impeller. I'd fix it, but that's something I do myself not by paying a mechanic, and sail on for the season and sell in the spring when it's a little easier to sell a big boat. Then get the shiny new one you really want, or another, in this economy there's going to be great deals for quite some time I think.


Ian

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

I was planning on doing the repairs regardless, hopefully this weekend. I am just tired of not having the ability to enjoy the boat due to repairs. It's not necessarily the money thing it's more of the time thing. Our season is short and I spent more time by far working on the boat than enjoying it. It will be a great boat for the money for someone but i think it maybe time for me to get something fairly new to be able to enjoy more next season. Still not sure though ...

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

I'm reading a great Texas Hold 'Em book and the author makes a great point that may be applicable to your situation. He says that even if you mess up by deciding to enter a pot when you shouldn't, your next decision should not be viewed relative to what you just invested (the past), but rather by what your odds are based on the the current situation facing you.

So divorce yourself from what you've invested in the current boat, and determine what your ROI will be if you fix it up. Easy to say...probably harder to do.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

I was planning on doing the repairs regardless, hopefully this weekend. I am just tired of not having the ability to enjoy the boat due to repairs. It's not necessarily the money thing it's more of the time thing. Our season is short and I spent more time by far working on the boat than enjoying it. It will be a great boat for the money for someone but i think it maybe time for me to get something fairly new to be able to enjoy more next season. Still not sure though ...

In that case, fix her up and pass her on. The buyer will still be getting a decent boat that you've put a lot of money into. However peace of mind is worth a whole lot of blood, sweat, time and money.

Ian

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

All good points. I have a lot of time and money invested into my boat and it may just be that once i get the new drive in she will be a great running boat. It's just the unknown with a 1987 vintage that I don't think I want to chance anymore. I want every minute on the boat to be either behind the helm cruising or relaxing on the bench with a drink in my hand.

.... we shall see. I would be sad to see her go though.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

twin 3.7's

sounds like yer not having too much fun keeping them happy. twice the fun too... sounds like bread ain't yer problem. not going boating is. now ya've had the experience of the 3.7's. i'd bail somehow... get something with a regular engine in it that don't have known issues from square one.. then ya can go boating...

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

twin 3.7's

sounds like yer not having too much fun keeping them happy. twice the fun too... sounds like bread ain't yer problem. not going boating is. now ya've had the experience of the 3.7's. i'd bail somehow... get something with a regular engine in it that don't have known issues from square one.. then ya can go boating...

You got that right! I have been having issues all summer long!

This other boat I am considering has a single screw 350 Merc with Bravo III drives. From what I have researched, MUCH BETTER than the 3.7s. The boat is also a little smaller and about 2k lighter so cruises quicker than my twin 3.7s.

Now I have to see if she is big enough for my crew!

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

 

[bad_boy]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

I think you had better get someone else to check out the next boat you buy, apparently there was a problem during this phase the last time...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

I think ditching the dual 3.7's and going with something with a single drive is the way to go. I would get your current boat fixed up to the best of your ability though so you can sell it turn-key and with good conscious. It's a real nice looking boat so it would be a shame to have to sell it crazy cheap just because there were some unaddressed issues with it.

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

I think ditching the dual 3.7's and going with something with a single drive is the way to go. I would get your current boat fixed up to the best of your ability though so you can sell it turn-key and with good conscious. It's a real nice looking boat so it would be a shame to have to sell it crazy cheap just because there were some unaddressed issues with it.

Yeah that's what I am planning to do. I am thinking about buying a used drive and installing a new water pump and put that on the boat and give my other as a spare with the boat. Then tighten her up with some other minor issues and let her free.

... I am still kind of on the fence though. I have so much into her and to start over with an even more expensive boat at the end of the season seems a little questionable.... ???

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

Have always loved the late '70s early '80 Egg Harbors. They have inboards. Think I would be in the same situation with a lot of repairs with an older inboard boat or better to go with a newer 2003 single I/O???

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

If it was me, I'd unload the Thompson & get the Rinker. Those 3.7's are nothing but trouble.

 

[rbh]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

Well Joe you certanly went through hell with the electrical issues this summer.
like some of the guys are saying you will take a loss if its not runnin!
But it is fall, you could pull it out repair it now, you are going to have to winterize it anyways, make up your mind over winter and then sell it in the spring when the prices go up or keep it.
there money spent and then there is sweat ecquidy "sp"
rob

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

I am trying to find someone local to do a short haul for me with their truck and trailer so I can put a new drive on and water test her before the close of the season. I don;t want to put the new drive on and test it on muffs. That is never an accurate measure of how ell it will perform under the normal pressures while in the water. I can't seem to find anyone local enough to Mt. Sinai Harbor for it to make sense. I can't see paying $300 for a few hours of a haul to change the drive which will take all of an hour or so.

 

[NoGin]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

... I know I am jinxing myself here but the 3.7s weren't the main issues this summer. It was mostly the drives and impellers. Was thinking of scraping the Alpha ones for the new SEI replacement drives. Anyone familiar with these? Still will have the 3.7s to deal with though ......

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

... I know I am jinxing myself here but the 3.7s weren't the main issues this summer. It was mostly the drives and impellers. Was thinking of scraping the Alpha ones for the new SEI replacement drives. Anyone familiar with these? Still will have the 3.7s to deal with though ......

Been a few people here that have used them with great success, I however have not tried them..or had to yet. Do a quick search and you'll find a number of threads on them.

Ian

 

[jonesg]

Re: Should I Sell & Upgrade to a 2003 Model???

You got that right! I have been having issues all summer long!

!

Is it possible you've been having issues because you never went through it from the get go,
theres a tendency to assume boats are like used cars,
we just want to turn the key and go.

My buddy bought a big twin v8 and just wants to go boating, its too much boat (maintainance) for him, consequently he's always having problems.
I can see his problems coming but he lets it go then gets whacked with big repair bills.