Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

[Busbey]

Hey everyone. Looking for some model identification and possibly some other pics besides the ones i posted below. This boat is about 2 hours away and if i drive there, i hope it is in the condition this guy says it is in. He was asking 1300 and re-listed for 900 so i am thinking there might be something wrong and need to know what to look for. I have been a Jon Boat guy my whole life so fiberglass is new to me.

Says he is selling because he has too many boats and this hasnt been used in about 8 months and been sitting in his yard. The prop has been taken off to use on his pontoon but will be going with the boat and obviously needs to be on there to water test. I will be using this mainly for a Bass Fishing boat with my dad and cruising around the larger lakes here in Florida.

Here is his post and photos
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1987 bass boat 17ft has 75 hp it has fishing seats powl holders new driver seat and passenger seat runs great has not been used for 8 monts. probly need to clean carbs. it starts right up runs great.
i have other boats that is why i dont use this one much any more . it is a fast boat. great fishing boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

I can't speak to that boat but it seems like 4 hours driving is a lot to invest in looking at, much less buying, a $900 (or less, obviously not more) boat, unless you have a real good feelnig about the seller. At that price I assume the motor is "parts."

Also hope it has a good trailer for the 2 hour haul home.

 

[Busbey]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Just got off the phone with him. He says the high speed jets in the carb needs cleaned for sure. boat planes but takes longer than it used to. everything else on the boat minus the need for a prop is in good condition. i mentioned a water test which is 3 miles from his house and he said no. price goes up 400 bucks. needs to put time into installing the prop and time for gas for truck and boat. this isnt adding up to me. he said you can come sit in it and test everything out all you want. everything works. motor starts right up, idles, neutral, reverse and forward works good. trailer is in good shape, etc etc. he used to buy and sell boats and he has been screwed over too many times to take the water test with me.

this just isnt adding up but for the price, how much could i loose? if it starts up and shifts through gears and idles, thats 90% right there on the motor. i would like to atleast sit the boat in the water on the trailer at least to check for leaks, bildge pump works, live well areator works, see if bildge is spitting any water from leak, etc.

what do you think?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

I think something is fishy because that is not a 900 dollar boat! I also don't think it is a Glastron but I'm not sure about the late 80s on. However, it just doesn't look classic Glastron design. Engine looks like a repainted Suzuki.

Scammers work on peoples greed and at too good a price he may be working on you. However, If you are willing to take a gamble and a 4 hour drive, if it is the same boat and in the condition the photos show, then it may be worth the money.

 

[Busbey]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

I am just not getting a great feeling about this either. When he sends me photos, maybe that will help identify the model a bit more.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

this just isnt adding up but for the price, how much could i loose?

There are 400 possible reasons why the seller doesn't want you to trailer the boat around and run the boat in the water for a test ride. $900 would just be your downpayment. You will probably need a healthy checkbook to get that beater-of-a-motor in shape. If your wide eyed enthusiasm gets the best of you, call his bluff and offer to take the "in-the-water" sea trial for the added $400 price. See if he bites.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Just got off the phone with him. He says the high speed jets in the carb needs cleaned for sure. boat planes but takes longer than it used to. everything else on the boat minus the need for a prop is in good condition. i mentioned a water test which is 3 miles from his house and he said no. price goes up 400 bucks. needs to put time into installing the prop and time for gas for truck and boat. this isnt adding up to me. he said you can come sit in it and test everything out all you want. everything works. motor starts right up, idles, neutral, reverse and forward works good. trailer is in good shape, etc etc. he used to buy and sell boats and he has been screwed over too many times to take the water test with me.

this just isnt adding up but for the price, how much could i loose? if it starts up and shifts through gears and idles, thats 90% right there on the motor. i would like to atleast sit the boat in the water on the trailer at least to check for leaks, bildge pump works, live well areator works, see if bildge is spitting any water from leak, etc.

what do you think?

I agree with the seller about the sea trial. Not for $900. And if I were selling a $900 boat I wouldn't be sending out pictures or spending time on the phone, either.

Why do you care if the bilge pump, aerator, etc works? It's a $900 boat and a 4 hour drive--will it make or break the deal? It has a motor that runs, a hull that if it leaks can be patched, and a trailer that rolls. Next you're going to want a survey. Just check the compression, check the transom, and take it home.

One aspect that hasn't been mentioned: titles. No titles, no deal. That's easy.

Any info on the motor? repainted, that's odd. Maybe a Chrysler?

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

I agre with home cooking - Its a 900.00 boat.... cant expect a whole lot for that money!

From the pics it look's to be in decent shape for the money...excluding the mystery motor!

Go check it out - The usual things.... If seams ok condition.......then offer him 800.00

Try and find other boats in the area so your trip is not a total waste!

Good Luck

 

[jestor68]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

I don't believe that's a Glastron boat. One more reason to wonder if the guy even knows what kind of boat he has. Did you ask what kind of motor that is? Looks like a Suzuki.

If I had to guess, I'd say Skeeter on the boat.

Did I read it correctly; the guy wants $400 more to go 3 miles to back it the water so you can at least start the motor?

 

[V153]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Looks like a Glastron HPV175 to me. Needs more motor fer starters. Check closely for rot.

I agree, $800 boat, mebbe.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

The question is: what you expect from a $900.00 boat?

 

[V153]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Did I read it correctly; the guy wants $400 more to go 3 miles to back it the water so you can at least start the motor?

Ya, what's up with that?

 

[jestor68]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Looks like a Glastron HPV175 to me.

Look closely where the side rail meets (or should meet) the deck beside the driver seat. See how the deck drops down and the rail meets the deck. The railing as well as the hull bottom are completely different. That's not a Glastron.

 

[V153]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Look closely where the side rail meets (or should meet) the deck beside the driver seat. See how the deck drops down and the rail meets the deck. The railing as well as the hull bottom are completely different. That's not a Glastron.

Yup. Upon closer inspection I have to agree. The 'relief'(?) in the transom ain't right either. My bad.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Around here, on craigslist I see all kinds of boats described as Glastron that are obviously not. I guess the name alone has a certain je ne sais quoi. At any rate, I think the boat is worth more than 900 and is a bait and switch.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

When he sends me photos, maybe that will help identify the model a bit more.

In addition to photos, ask him to send you the first three characters of the boat's hull identification number (HIN) which should be "alphas" and plug those into the USCG-maintained database of Manufacturers Identification Codes (MIC) at the link below:

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If he refuses, add that to your list of concerns. Good luck!

 

[jestor68]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Assuming the boat, motor, and trailer are of 1987 vintage; a price check(guessing at brands) comes up with $780-boat; $170-motor; and $160-trailer. Those are low retail figures. So maybe $900 isn't out of line.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Assuming the boat, motor, and trailer are of 1987 vintage; a price check(guessing at brands) comes up with $780-boat; $170-motor; and $160-trailer. Those are low retail figures. So maybe $900 isn't out of line.

I think a running 75 is worth more than $170, unless it's a dog brand or model--more like 500-900. A trailer that size in decent shape is easily $250. Hull, who knows; when you buy a boat that size and age your just buying the motor.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

Who cares WHAT brand it is! Makes zero difference in a used boat. $900 is a deal for that, assuming it isn't so spongy you can use it as a trampoline.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Thinking of buying 1987 Glastron - A few questions

not an Glastron-not an HPV175--we had one. that looks like a "Champion" bass boat--they were well built- as long as it is not rotted-a proud owner will tell you every detail about the boat. Compresion test and look for rot. If it looks good tell him you pay $200 for the test ride-seems like he is hiding something.