wanting a cheap beater

[Afzape]

I've been browsing craigslist around my local area for a cheap "beater" type boat. All I'm looking for is it to be sound mechanically and not take one water. If the floor is wood and has a soft spot or the carpet and upholstery needs a little work I can live with that.

I found this one http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/boa/2507505577.html and think it would make a good beater/project that I could play with right now and work on as I go. I like projects. Anything I should know in particular about this boat or motor?

I will of course do a sea trial before I buy it.

 

[stackz]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

hmm obo. pull the engine back/forth and see if the transom flexes and check for soft spots. if it'll crank cold without him having to put the ether to it and it rides fine...wouldnt seem like a bad project. check the trailer over as well.

 

[ufm82]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Watch it- "cheapo beater boats" can be real money pits if you aren't careful. Granted, the initial investment isn't huge but it doesn't take much to have it suck up a couple hundred bucks pretty easily. I've seen some $1,000 boats cost twice that to be seaworthy. Do a thorough inspection if you are serious.

UFM82

 

[solmate]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Agree with stackz on everything... take a jack with you & check that wheels spin freely. Dont want a smoked bearing on I-35 on the way home. Dry rotted/cracked tires=blowout......OBO

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

I'd stay away from "soft spots", more often than not they're accompanied by much bigger problems. Wood in the deck rots because of long term exposure to moisture, often from below. Right along with those soft sposts you're likely to also be dealing with bad stringers and transoms, now you're into a $eriou$ repair project.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: wanting a cheap beater

I would think you don't want something cheap that you have to put 5x the purchase price into it as a "project." You want it functional now and if the engine blows you can junk it.

In that respect you want an outboard. you want a hull you can get to--that would be a closed-hull like a whaler, or an aluminum. If it's already closed in by fixed seats, consoles, etc. you can't know what you are getting and can't get to it to fix it with out a major project.

Focus on the motor first--that is what you are buying with beaters. Then the transom--you can live with a soft hull for a season or two and then junk it, but not a soft transom at all. Then look at the trailer if you are going to trailer a lot, but they are easy to fix and cheap to replace. Ignore the electronics. Keep in mind that steering is about $800 and so are controls if you have to replace them.

 

[StevenT]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Keep in mind it's a buyers market now. I just purchased a 19' chaparral with 5.7 power 2 weeks ago. He was asking 3000.00 I bought it for $1750.00

 

[Afzape]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Alright guys. I talked to the owner with the first boat I posted and he said he didn't want to put it in the water because it cost him too much to tow it and meet me. I said "no thanks". I did find these two and going to look at them tomorrow http://wichitafalls.craigslist.org/boa/2458656506.html and http://wichitafalls.craigslist.org/boa/2511931689.html I think the 1999 glastron seems a little fishy. Too new to have issues like that and there is probably more wrong with it than the guy is saying. He said the plug got left in it and there is a soft spot in front of the back seats. I'm thinking rotten transom, but it is close and still worth a look. Let me hear it.

 

[shrew]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

I love the first post 'Some Lake Rash'. LOL, OK. Not familiar with that one. I've seen 'Rock Rash', or Shore Rash. Beach Rash. But to my knowledge the water doesn't scuff up a boat. If it's lake ready, then you'd think he'd be willing to take it for a spin. I'd be curious if he took an offer to pay for fuel if you didn't buy it. I suspect there are issues with the original boat anyway and the owner knew if he splashed it, it wouldn't sell.

The last one if kind of funny too. "As Is, where is". Another one that won't let you seatrial it. Then drops a deadline that if you don't jump, he's gonna and fix it himself and keep it. Well that'll teach me not to take my time shopping.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Find an aluminum hull with an outboard. That's your best chance at avoiding a potential money pit.

I think the first one looks like a pretty fair deal for $1000 if you can run a compression check on the motor. If that Evinrude has power tilt 'n trim on it (which it kinda looks like it does in the one picture) that unit is worth $400 by itself on eBay.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: wanting a cheap beater

there's a real good reason sellers of low end boats aren't going to let them be tested in water--it takes a lot of time, usually during his "day off" and so many buyers either don't show or aren't interested in the first place. They aren't going to give it to a stranger. same goes for too much 'exploratory surgery" on the boat. Remember, they aren't making a profit, so all the time is a lost cost.

Low price, low loss. Assume the risk. Or go up to the middle market where you pay more, get more, and the seller has more at stake.

Look at our Craigslist. lots of boats of all sizes under $1500. At that price, you get what's sitting there. Nothing to get mad about.

Take a look. starting with a Wellcraft cuddy for $500... http://norfolk.craigslist.org/boa/

 

[Nick Godfrey]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Agree with stackz on everything... take a jack with you & check that wheels spin freely. Dont want a smoked bearing on I-35 on the way home. Dry rotted/cracked tires=blowout......OBO

I had a tire blow out on the way home with my $500 boat. I got a head shake and an "I told you so" from the wife i havent lived down. Then the lower unit went out...

 

[Afzape]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

I've continued my search after busting on a couple of potentials. I looked at a four winns that was great in the pictures and from what the guy said was in good shape. I got there and the engine was barely hanging on by one bolt and the transom was pretty much gone. People down here in Texas don't know how to take care of boats and aluminum hulls pretty well don't exist unless it is a 14' jonboat. The guy said he would take $500 for just the motor ('86 Mercury 125 w/ lower unit oil leaking out the top and a clogged carb) I thought is might be worth it just to fix and flip the motor.

I did find this little gem. Looks to be in great shape and has always been kept in a garage or a covered slip with a boat cover on it. http://abilene.craigslist.org/boa/2500325000.html. it is about 3 hours away from me and I have a friend in the town checking it out tomorrow to see if it is worth the drive. Let me know what you think.

 

[MarylandDmax]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Keep in mind it's a buyers market now. I just purchased a 19' chaparral with 5.7 power 2 weeks ago. He was asking 3000.00 I bought it for $1750.00

Yes it is a buyers market, i just bought a 19' cc seaswirl striper with a newly rebuilt engine for 5k, when the boat is in ok shape and a no run engine is worth 6k

 

[ezmobee]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

I did find this little gem. Looks to be in great shape and has always been kept in a garage or a covered slip with a boat cover on it. http://abilene.craigslist.org/boa/2500325000.html. it is about 3 hours away from me and I have a friend in the town checking it out tomorrow to see if it is worth the drive. Let me know what you think.

That could be a nice find if it's solid. That's a great motor it has on it.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

I did find this little gem. Looks to be in great shape and has always been kept in a garage or a covered slip with a boat cover on it. http://abilene.craigslist.org/boa/2500325000.html.

What is it about Craigslist postings where sellers are given space for four pictures, they only use 2 or 3, and one is a landscape shot or irrelevant to the item posted?

 

[Afzape]

Re: wanting a cheap beater

Well guys...I bought this one http://abilene.craigslist.org/boa/2500325000.html it has been very well taken care of and is in great shape for its vintage. The motor has good compression, the hull has one small nick less in diameter than a dime and the floor doesn't have any soft spots. I went through the list of things I have been suggested to inspect short of drilling holes in the transom and it all looked great. I'm going to actually pick it up tomorrow. I drove the car to look at it because it was cheaper than possibly burning the extra fuel my trucks uses on a boat I may not have bought. It needs some vacuuming and a wash to get a little lake stain off the hull. It sat in a covered slip most of the summer. Thanks for all the help and info. I'm sure I will be back when it is winterizing time.