Advice on buying a used boat
lanman
I am in the market to buy a 18-21' open bow boat. I just bought a house and
got married so I am kind of broke right now so I am looking for something
from the late 80's and for no more than $6000. I currently have a 14'
Carolina Skiff that I have used for bass fishing for quite sometime, but my
wife wants to get something we can take friends out on and ski and do all
that fun family stuff.
From looking around I have seen several Bayliners in that range but have
heard some not so good things about them. The others that I am considering
are Sea Ray's, Chaparral's, and I have seen a few Chris Craft's and
Wellcraft's in that range. I know that Wellcraft and Chris Craft make very
good boats that can take a beating but what about the others. I would like
to have one that has fiberglass floors but I don't know if there are any
like that in my price range. I want an I/O so will a 3.0 littre engine be
enough to push a boat that size very well or should I look only at ones that
have 4.3 littres or are there other sizes that I should look for. As you can
tell, I am not that familliar with these kinds of boats since I have been
only interested in bass boats my whole life.
If anybody can tell me what they think is the best I can get for my money
and why I would appreciate it. Also, should I try to buy one from a
marina/dealer or a private owner?
Thanks,
Steve Lee
rumbum
if you're "kinda broke" you had better forget about this whole thing.
--
Anda one anda two anda three anda four anda
Peggie Hall
rumbum wrote:
>
> if you're "kinda broke" you had better forget about this whole thing.
Ain't THAT the truth! B.O.A.T. = Break Out Another Thousand.
Andrew Mitchell
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Subject: Re: Advice on buying a used boat
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In article <33D795...@worldnet.att.net>,
Bullshoot! I have just bought a 1971 Columbia 22 sailboat for $500
(including a good 9.9 hp Yamaha outboard). It looks like the hull has
been constructed from barnacles, otherwise its okay. Sure, the boat needs
lots of work, (maybe I'll do it when I get the money, maybe not) but it
certainly is a great boat to learn on, and it most certainly beats sitting
on the shore looking at other peoples boats. I've just spent a great
weekend "camping" on the Chesapeake Bay.
I'm more than "kinda broke" - I'm a completely broke graduate student
earning $10K per year. My advice to "kinda broke" (sorry I didn't get
your name, I've just found this thread) is look hard in all the local
newspapers and freesheets around your nearest port, and if you see
something that looks like it may float for a few more years, buy it! By
the time you have figured out everything that is wrong with it, and had a
lot of fun fixing it up, you will have a better idea of what you want, and
you'll know how to shop for your next boat...
Good luck!
Andrew
Andrew Mitchell
Sam Stengler
Andrew Mitchell wrote:
>
<<snipped>>
>
> I'm more than "kinda broke" - I'm a completely broke graduate student
> earning $10K per year. My advice to "kinda broke" (sorry I didn't get
> your name, I've just found this thread) is look hard in all the local
> newspapers and freesheets around your nearest port, and if you see
> something that looks like it may float for a few more years, buy it! By
> the time you have figured out everything that is wrong with it, and had a
> lot of fun fixing it up, you will have a better idea of what you want, and
> you'll know how to shop for your next boat...
>
> Good luck!
> Andrew
I have to agree with Andrew. If you take your time, look in all the
regular and irregular places, you can get your boat for very little
money...
My proof? I bought a 30' 1972 Islander sloop..well-built (well, probably
overbuilt) everthing works, though everything is kinda old.. for a good
bit less than $10K.
Yes, we are fixing it up, but slowly, and as we can afford..
Don't give up..you'll find one out there somewhere...
--
Sam & Beth Stengler
30' Islander 1972
"Miss Em'ly"
Osrick
Our neighbor at the marina, Bob, started out in a $500 Santana, moved up
to a $1500 Luger 26', and now lives on a 1933 steel hulled trawler he
'stole' for about $8k.
The Monsoon is damned near perfect. I was jealous for a month.
Oh, and he did this in less than a year.
Get into the game any way you can. Hang around the marinas, be freindkly
and helpfull and you will get in on the bargains. Any large marina has a
few undervalued and underloved boats that the owners have lot interest in.
Last week a nice, though dirty Columbia (24' or 25' ?) with an outboard
changed hands for an asking price of $1500 (or maybe less).
I'm looking for the next bargain! Wanna buy a real nice Merit?
Rick
"Too soon old. Too late smart."