taken to the cleaners

[ratdogs float]

Wow, do I feel like an idiot. My first venture into buying an I/O is devastating. I found a boat on-line and it looked good, called on it and the guy said all the right things, had my son in law go to the house to check it out, ( I live 2 ? hours away) looked good so I toke the trip down to see it, hear it, and buy it.
I have had it out 4 times and it died on the water, engine coupler went out. Your forums were valuable in giving me information I would need as to not look like an amateur when I took it to the marina for service.
Got the call today from the marina, all the stringers are gone, rotten away! I am looking at 20 to 40 hours of labor to repair the damage (@ $90.00 per). I am sooooo depressed. I live in Indiana does anyone think I have any recourse? The guy I bought it from stated that he has owned it since 1991 and it is obvious that someone patched the stringer that the engine is mounted to. They used some 2X6 and 2X4 lumber and re-fiber glassed it. If I can not get my money back I am thinking of attempting to repair the damage myself. How difficult?? Thank you for the responses on I Boats.com GREAT INFO!

 

[gcboat]

Re: taken to the cleaners

All I can say is I'm sorry for your predicament. A lot of boater's have gone through the same situation and have come out of it a lot stronger.
( Crap, I sound like Dr. Phil )
Ah, not to worry. If you are unable to get your funds back and have to do the repairs yourself you have found the right place to be.
There's a lot of knowledge to be found in this forum and everyone will be more than willing to help a fellow boater.
Until you know about a refund on this boat then don't sweat it.
By the way - no blood and guts involved in a stringer repair, but the really bad news is if the stringers are shot then the transom might have issues as well.
Welcome to the wonderful world of boating !!!!

 

[marine4003]

Re: taken to the cleaners

RDF,

Thats a bummer.....unfortunately it was your burden to go thru the entire boat looking for rot, especially on a boat thats at least 18 years old,i would ask the guru's here for help fixing it,and chalk it up as a learning experience

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: taken to the cleaners

You might have some recourse if he knew about the issues and did not disclose it. But it's hard to prove.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: taken to the cleaners

the old saying where is, as is. caveat emptor, let the buyer beware.
sorry, too many post here just that subject. go to building and restoration, and start reading.

 

[Nandy]

Re: taken to the cleaners

Yup, your responsability to find out what is wrong with the boat. I bet the bill of sale says "as is"... good luck with the repairs, I have done them a couple of times, if you are handy with tools you should be alble to do it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: taken to the cleaners

It wouldn't hurt to call the guy and tell him what happened and see where you get, you never know.

Anymore everyone want to get a lawyer and start swinging right out of the gate, call him, if he tells you to shag off then go from there.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: taken to the cleaners

we're in the same boat, buddy...
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1753189#post1753189

 

[haskindm]

Re: taken to the cleaners

When buying from a private party, it is very hard to hold them responsible for not revealing the condition of a boat. A dealer would be a different story, but in a private sale it is up to the buyer to verify the condition. Having the boat surveyed, while expensive at the time, may save thousands of dollars or much labor later. Unfortunately you have learned an expensive lesson, but you may help others from making similar mistakes by posting your experience.
Good luck with the repairs.

 

[tmh]

Re: taken to the cleaners

Well, go to the repair forum and search "stringers" and you'll find out you're in good company at least! You'll find some threads from me (a couple years ago - same mistake you made pretty much) in there as well, unfortunately. I hope you didn't pay too much for the boat.

Stringer (transom maybe also and deck) replacement IS a long, hard job but doable. No way you can pay to have it done as the cost is more than just buying a new boat of the same age. So it's do it yourself or part out the boat and start over.

You may be able to look hard for a boat that is sound but the engine is ruined (cracked block usually), buy it very cheap, then put your good engine in that boat. Then sell whatever is worth anything from the rotten boat and scrap the rest. That's what I'd look to do if i were faced with the situation again. I'll never re-do the stringers and deck on an old boat again - but in a weird way I'm glad I did it the one time. I'll bet many who have done it feel the same way.