Little story, Been looking for a boat now for months. Decided I could buy a project cheap enough that needed some work and when I was done I would have a solid boat to fish out of and do what ever we wanted to in it.
Wanted a big 4 cyclinder or a 4.3L Merc I/O. I was surfing a website similar to Craigslist and someone just posted a 88, 2000sr Maxum for $2,000. thier story was they did not drain the engine to winterize it because they were told the petcocks would be plugged up form rust inside the engine.
So the the wife and I made the trip to look at it.
The good:
-plenty of room for us
-transom is solid
-nice cover
-runners are solid
-nice cover to keep it dry
-floor solid
-out drive has no water in the oil, oil looked used rather than fresh
The bad:
-cracked block
-cracked exhaust manifolds
-small crack in hull
I had already priced a new long block from Rapido, and Exhaust manifolds. So I knew what I was going to have to pay out there to have a good engine in the boat.
After I found the small 4" long crack I talked to my dad who has been on boats for years and talked about the repair it would need.
So armed with everything I low balled thier price. Offered $500 and drove it away for $750, hit the tire shop for 2 new tires since we had a good drive home with it in the middle of no place Wyoming.
Boat and Trailer $750
New tires $180
Engine ordered, roller 350 long block $1750 shipped
Manifolds $345 shipped
Complete Bellow kit and Complete impeller kit $230
Tax and Title $50
total $3305
I decided I could buy a cheap boat to change a few things inside to what I want rather than paying alot of a boat up front and not want to mess the interior up.
plans, put a fishing deck up front with a electric trolling motor. Deck will have doors built in to utilize the storage up front where the seats were.
Eventually remove the back to back seats and install 2 captain type chairs to allow more room inside for fishing.
possibly add in a live well.
When I am done alot of the equipment will be new so I can look forward to many, many trouble free years with proper maintance.
Wanted a big 4 cyclinder or a 4.3L Merc I/O. I was surfing a website similar to Craigslist and someone just posted a 88, 2000sr Maxum for $2,000. thier story was they did not drain the engine to winterize it because they were told the petcocks would be plugged up form rust inside the engine.
So the the wife and I made the trip to look at it.
The good:
-plenty of room for us
-transom is solid
-nice cover
-runners are solid
-nice cover to keep it dry
-floor solid
-out drive has no water in the oil, oil looked used rather than fresh
The bad:
-cracked block
-cracked exhaust manifolds
-small crack in hull
I had already priced a new long block from Rapido, and Exhaust manifolds. So I knew what I was going to have to pay out there to have a good engine in the boat.
After I found the small 4" long crack I talked to my dad who has been on boats for years and talked about the repair it would need.
So armed with everything I low balled thier price. Offered $500 and drove it away for $750, hit the tire shop for 2 new tires since we had a good drive home with it in the middle of no place Wyoming.
Boat and Trailer $750
New tires $180
Engine ordered, roller 350 long block $1750 shipped
Manifolds $345 shipped
Complete Bellow kit and Complete impeller kit $230
Tax and Title $50
total $3305
I decided I could buy a cheap boat to change a few things inside to what I want rather than paying alot of a boat up front and not want to mess the interior up.
plans, put a fishing deck up front with a electric trolling motor. Deck will have doors built in to utilize the storage up front where the seats were.
Eventually remove the back to back seats and install 2 captain type chairs to allow more room inside for fishing.
possibly add in a live well.
When I am done alot of the equipment will be new so I can look forward to many, many trouble free years with proper maintance.
