Vista 328 Survey Questions

[onomatopoeia]

Hey everyone,

I've scheduled a survey for a 2000 Vista 328 for next Wednesday, July 11. The engines (5.7 Volvos) have 216 hours on them, Kohler generator, heat, air, radar, etc... The boat's in really good condition, as far as I can tell.

Is there anything I, as the future owner, should be on the lookout for, or anything about 328s in general that the surveyor should particularly focus on a little more closely than for other Four Winns boats, or other brands?

Is the 328 known for a particular set or type of problem? I've been reading the ifourwinns forums and it seems very few have the 328. Was this not a particularly popular model in the Four Winns line? Are there known issues?

I'm trying to get as much information as I possibly can before signing on the dotted line and just want to be sure I'm not going into something blind.

 

[oz@beach]

Re: Vista 328 Survey Questions

Hi O,

I'm going to look at a 1999 328 on Sunday. It has 300 hours. I'm a newbie to this boating thing. Did you end up getting your boat? Did you get any responses to your post?

I'd appreciate it if you're willing to compare notes!

Thanks!

Jeff

 

[onomatopoeia]

Re: Vista 328 Survey Questions

hey Jeff,

Yep, I bought the boat. What do you need to know? Was the process a breeze? No, it was a bloody nightmare. I curse all brokers. Curse Themmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!

The boat's in good shape now, but it was no where near the condition it was advertised as. The owner had to come down $31K on his asking price and get a bunch of things repaired before I would take it.

Just to give you an idea of what was found during the survey...the Windlass didn't work, the cockpit icemaker didn't work, the vacuum pump for the vacuflush system didn't work, the trim tabs didn't work, the cabin refrigerator would only work on AC power, not DC, the screws holding the salon table base were stripped, causing the table to wobble all over the place, the House battery wouldn't hold a charge, the screws holding the cockpit table bases were stripped and couldn't be tightened, causing the table to wobble, one of the starboard portlight rubber seals was ripped from its fitting, and the camper canvas was in such poor shape you couldn't even see through the Eisenglass, the screens were ripped and some of the zippers had missing teeth.

Believe it or not the former owner paid to get everything repaired. The broker was such a freaking lying weasel I almost walked away from the deal four times. I'm so happy it's done. I've had the boat for a week now, and I have to admit I did get a pretty good deal. I figure I'll keep it until sometime next Summer and then try to sell it about 80K.

 

[oz@beach]

Re: Vista 328 Survey Questions

Congrats on getting your boat! Sounds like your boat had lots of little problems. The good news is that you found them and got them fixed before you bought the boat. The better news is that you didn't have to pay for them!

I looked at the 1999 Vista 328 on Sunday. The boat (to my untrained eye) seemed pretty well cared for. Here are my random questions. I'll sure appreciate your responses:

1) How long had your boat been on the market?
2) What was the asking price for your boat? Was it listed on yachtworld or anywhere?
3) What was the final selling price? This is really interesting to me because the owner of the '99 I'm looking at is asking $99,500. The boat has a lot of extras, but I think he's waaay off.
4) Did you use a broker yourself (representing you) or did you just use the broker who listed the boat? I'm wondering if I need my own broker looking after my interests but am sure this "overhead" will just cut into my bargaining power.
5) What was that lying snake of a broker <g> doing that made you so p.o.'d?
6) Did you use your own surveyors/inspectors or did you use the ones recommended by the broker (I guess this depends on whether or not you had your own broker)

That's about it for now. I'm not sure where you are located, but hopefully you have a lot of great weather left to enjoy your boat!!! I'm in Orange County so the weather is not really that much of an issue. Thanks in advance!

Jeff

 

[onomatopoeia]

Re: Vista 328 Survey Questions

Hey Jeff, sorry for the late reply. I was away on business.

1) As far as I know the boat I bought was on the market since March of this year.

2) The original list price was $95,000. Insane? Yes, I know. Yes, it was up on Yachtworld.

3) I settled on $64,500. There is no way on Earth a '99 328 Vista is worth $100K. My boat has the following options (5.7 GSi 280 engines with duoprops, Kohler 5kw Generator, Vacuflush Head, AC/Heat, Camper Enclosures, Cockpit Cover, Deck Sunpads, Fire Extinguisher System, Trim Tabs, Hour Meters, TV/DVD combo, Stereo with CD Player, Depth Sounder, GPS, Radar, VHF Radio, Two CO Detectors, Ice Maker in Cockpit, Remote Spotlight, Helm Stereo Remote, Tank Level Indicators, and Windlass.)

4) I, unfortunately, was forced to work with the buyer's broker. A slimey, lying weasel he was.

5) He misrepresented every aspect of the boat. He told me the boat was in pristine condition. He told me everything was working. He tried to hide things. He made light of serious issues.

6) I would never, EVER use a broker-recommended surveyor. You do that you might as well not have the boat surveyed at all.

Keep in mind when I first saw the boat I thought it was in great shape...filthy, but in great shape. Not until the survey did all the problems come to light. Make sure your surveyor checks everything, and I mean EVERYTHING.

Hope this helps