To buy or not to buy?

[davesparks2001]

I'm new to this forum because I'm shopping for my first boat. I've given a guy a deposit on a 1985 Baja Islander 180 with 170HP Mercruiser. The motor is freshly rebuilt, I didn't catch the brand of the trailer but it has been updated also (powder coated, new winch, rollers). Any advise would be welcome. I've been told Baja is a good way to go but the more opinions the better the decision. I mentioned a deposit because we agreed this sale is pending a thumbs up from my marine mechanic. Any input would be welcome. Thanks, Dave

 

[ziggy]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

the baja may be fine.
if the engine is a 4 cyl. fwc engine with a stator on the ft. of it. there might be reason for concern...

read this about the 470 version mercruiser engine..

http://www.sterndrives.com/470information/470coolantleakrepair.html

also use the search funtion here on iboats and search 470 version engines. there's much been said about them... then see if it's something ya wanna do... if it's the 4 cyl. mercruiser engine.

 

[davesparks2001]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Thanks for the info Ziggy. That is exactly the engine this boat has in it. Like I said, it's supposedly completely overhauled and the man also told me the charging system has been updated to an alternator. I'm going to take it to my local boat expert next week and see what he has to say about it before we make a decision.

 

[davesparks2001]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Thanks again for the reply Ziggy. I read the link you sent and discussed it with my local boat expert. As soon as I told him what motor was in it he advised me to get my deposit back so I didn't even waste the time of taking the boat to him for inspection. We now have another deal pending a favorable review from the boat expert. This one is also a Baha Islander 180. The guy said it's an '89 model but I had to go back to '88 to find it on NADA. This one comes with a 4.3L which is in the machine shop waiting for them to reassemble it with a one year warrantee. The guy had planned to fix it up himself and sell the boat for $5,000 but in the interest of not having to do all the work he's giving it to me for $3,000. My boat expert says he should be able to put it in service for about $500 and he's a big fan of the 4.3. Any thoughts?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

DaveSParks:

You seem to be drawn toward boats that need engine rebuilds. For you info most boats get very little use (engine hours) and i would look for a boat that seems to be well cared for, and then get it in the water and take a test ride. If the boat is not ready to put in the water and test, move on the the next boat.

Great time to buy a boat - horrible time to sell one. You should be able to find a realy nice used boat with minimal hours (under 300).

 

[mhlbnghm]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Don't know the pros or cons of that particular running gear but I had that engine in a 18' runabout several years ago. Bought it new. Regardless of it's history with others I can say it was the best I/O I've ever owned. Had 2 - 12 gal tanks and the sun didn't stay up long enough to burn them both. I constantly had it in & out of the Gulf as well as the local rivers and the closed system was ideal. Never gave me a minutes trouble. Guess I had it about 4 years then sold it to a guy that worked for me. He kept it 6 or 7 years them traded it. All either of us did was change the oil & filter.
Maybe I got the only good one but I loved the one I had.

JMB

 

[kandil]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Hello and welcome I found this her
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300510

 

[Nandy]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Is a buyers market. I dont see a reason why to buy a boat that is not in good or perfect working conditions. Sea trials are must to see if you like how the boat handle, you cant do that with a broken motor.... good luck in your decision.

 

[davesparks2001]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Clarify a bit, are you paying to have the engine built and reassembled or has the seller aready paid for it all? If you are paying for it, the $3000 price of the boat is too high in todays market. (It's worth about $3000 if everything was in good working condition and had no major cosmetic problems. Check NADA and Bucs) If you are paying for the engine and having it installed, I would decuct every penny from the $3000 figure and then figure something for your own time and effort. Another thing to be concerned about, I checked three of my references and Baja did not make this boat in 1989. (At least I can not find it.) I would suggest checking the hull ID and see what its real year of manufacture was.

To clarify, the deal I made on this Baja included the sellers paying for the assembly of the motor. All machine work has already been done and the machine shop was holding the engine waiting for the guy to pay for assembly or pick it up. Originally he was going to assemble himself but his buisness is getting crazy and he just wants out. Our deal, I've paid a refundable deposit and took the boat (minus motor) to my boat expert yesterday for evaluation. Upon his approval I will commit to the seller who will in turn pay the machine shop to assemble the motor. I will pay the rest of the money upon receiving the "ready to install" motor. I did book the boat out on NADA, as I mentioned I had to go to 1988 to find that model so I believe the seller is off by a year. I realize I'm getting in a little deeper than I should for a 20+ year old boat, we just felt like if we were starting out with a professionally overhauled engine and everything else checks out good then the rest is small potatoes. The overall condition of the boat itself is very nice for the age. Thanks again for the input. I can see I'll be loving this forum for a long time. Dave

 

[Nandy]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Sounds like it is settled. Enjoy your boat!

 

[davesparks2001]

Re: To buy or not to buy?

Thanks for all the input. This site is awesome. Being a boating newbee I'm sure you guys will hear from me again soon. Thanks again for your time and input, Dave