What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

[lokonn]

Looking to get into a 21' to 25' foot boat. Can't afford new so I'm looking at used. Have not had fiberglass boat before and was hoping to gather some information on what kind of things to look at re:hull and deck. Known problems or past expierences would be helpfull. Older boats are very attractive and more in my price range. Fiberglass boats scare the bejeezus out of me, because you can't get underneath. Not afraid of getting into a project just didn't want to get into something that is mamoth if at all possible. Any info would be helpful. Thanks

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

Tell us how much money you have and we'll sure try to help you spend it wisely

Seriously, do you have a budget? What boating activities do you anticipate doing? Where? Family w/ kids? Start fleshing things out with what benefits you want your boat to provide and we can give you some pointers on the style. Then we can drill down to a particular make/model/year, etc.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

Many/most boats in that range are fiberglass. Budget range, as mentioned, definitely,

The biggest thing to be aware of, particularly in older boats is that most fiberglass boats have a wood skeleton. The wood tend to rot over time making your boat a project more than a pleasure.

There are a ton of things to be concerned with when buying a used boat. You may want to search some of the threads of those of us who have been through the process, both sucessfully and not so much.

 

[steven_p]

Re: What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

As mentioned already above be on the lookout for water intrusion of wood cores. I have an Electrophysics CT-33 moisture meter that I bring with me when evaluating a used boat. I also bring something hard like a silver dollar to tap on stringers etc to listen for signs of rotted wood.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

In addition to the problems already mentioned re glass boats, you also need to be careful with the engine(s) & drive(s). Avoid OMC as they have been out of business for a long time and parts for their drives are harder to find and expensive. Mercruiser is good except for the 470 engine. Check forums for threads on these engines/drives.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

Fiberglass boats scare the bejeezus out of me

... and well they should!

New fiberglass boats are as desirable as the most beautiful women in the world.

Older used fiberglass boats are icky, creepy, and nasty... and they rot from the inside out and the bottom up!


Start reading here:
http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22

... and by the time you get to page #99 you'll know exactly what to look for... and will probably end up buying a large aluminum boat.... seriously though, read the restoration forum and you'll learn exactly what to look for and how to look for it.

 

[lokonn]

Re: What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

Thanks for the input and the laughs. It seems that if you read enough of the threads on here you might as well take up knitting. I am tempted to try to find something that won't hurt me financially but would let me understand and experiment how fiberglass boats are put together. We've all seen the $200 boat and trailer on the side of the road or CL. If I picked up something like that and could turn the trailer if project went bad, it would seem like it would be "no harm, no foul". I know my way around woodworking tools, was a bodyman years ago and it seems as if I can never leave anything as was purchased, always modifying. Was thinking that starting with hull and going from there might be a project I might enjoy. Have read enough to knw to stay away from the OMC stuff. Part of what I was wondering about is so f the floor is yanked and outside/inside of hull is checked, is it possible to get everything back together and find out she leaks due to unseen fatigue or spidering or something I am not even thinking about or aware of? I work at an auto repair shop, so motor stuff not too scarry, lower units, gimble bearings, boot seals and the like give me some twinges. Have only run outboards before. I would like to use boat on Lake Michigan and Erie, as well as some other Indiana deeper lakes, fishing primarily, some cruising thrown in. Thoughts and comments.

 

[southkogs]

Re: What to look for when buying used fiberglass boat

For fishing in the waters you describe at 21' to 25' I'd suggest a center console outboard style like this: http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/boa/3351660307.html (not necessarily this boat, I'm just illustrating style) or a walk around style like this: http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bod/3362267870.html (the one in the link is just to show style - I think this CL posting is actually a scam). These are good utility boats that will fish well and handle big water pretty well.