Re: Getting boat dont know whats good
Be very, very careful about structural rot on a boat in your age/price range. It is a HUGE problem, and extremely costly and difficult to repair, and also difficult to identify. Many of the current owners who are selling don't even realize they have a problem brewing, so even an honest seller may have no idea. Almost all fiberglass boats of that age have wood structure, and the wood is often rotted.<br /><br />Brand name on the boat itself is meaningless, in my opinion. Bayliners are plentiful and cheap, so you'll probably find many. And they wouldn't scare me off as much as some others here. Much more important than brand is CONDITION. One exception to my "brand name unimportant" theory is in the drivetrain...I'd stay away from OMC sterndrives because they're no longer in business and parts/service can be difficult. They will, however, be cheap for that very reason, so I'd expect you may look at some as they'll be in your price range. All the same, think Mercruiser or Volvo for easier and cheaper service and maintenance.<br /><br />In the sub-$5000 price range you're going to be looking at boats that likely have some issues with Bellows, Gimbal bearings and housings, engine driveshaft alignment, shift cables, leaking seals, the list goes on. Do you know how to check these things on a prospective boat? And again, do you know how to check for rotted stringers and engine mounts that are encased in solid fiberglass so you can't see the wood? <br /><br />If no, then my best advice to you is to pay someone very knowledgeable to check out any boat you are seriously considering purchasing...an independant boat mechanic, or a boat surveyor, or the like. There's a lot of $5,000 boats out there that need $5,000 in repairs, and they look really clean to the average person. The $100 to $200 to pay someone to check it out is the best investment you could ever make. ESPECIALLY if you don't buy the boat based on problems they found, believe it or not! Good luck in your search!
