About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

[wildwayne]

Hey Guys. Last time I was on here I asked about a Bayliner I was looking at. Well I walked away from that one thanks to some good suggestions.

I've been looking at a 2001 Sea Ray 180 3.0L. I could most likely get it for $5000.
It's got good maintenance records, winterized each year, new bellows, new steering cable...etc. The trailer is a 2007 and looks decent.

The only problem is that it's been left outside in the weather. No cover. The upholstery is worn and tears in some places.
Also, the hour meter is just past 1000.

Can anyone give me some opinions on this boat?

It's not the prettiest. But it might do the job. I just haven't found anything else out there recently.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

Chances are REAL good it's rotted out. Price is high for a beat boat with a 4cyl.

 

[wildwayne]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

I tried to step on every inch of the boat to see it there are soft spots. There wasn't any that I noticed.
Nada has 6200 as it's low price for the boat.

So in your opinion it's not even worth a lowball offer?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

Wood floor or fiberglass floor?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

You've probably got a weird market in your area cuz of Katrina so I'm not sure what advice to give. If it's solid it could be worth $2500.

Upholstery work is expensive and if it does end up having rot, you don't want to be this guy http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=454460

 

[dazk14]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

You've probably got a weird market in your area cuz of Katrina so I'm not sure what advice to give. If it's solid it could be worth $2500.

Upholstery work is expensive and if it does end up having rot, you don't want to be this guy http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=454460

+1... and 1000 hrs stored open to the elements is more than I'd suggest chewing off. Keep looking, you'll find something solid. If you choose to pursue it (price drops alot) have it surveyed.

 

[wildwayne]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

Ouch that looks bad.

I believe this boat has a wood deck. Don't they all?
The boat I looked at is in Texas. I work in both states.

So I guess what you are saying is to be wary of boats that are left outside in the open. I will keep looking.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

So I guess what you are saying is to be wary of boats that are left outside in the open. I will keep looking.

Absolutely! The boat in the link I pasted looked really really good and was still almost totally rotted out. So what chance does one you KNOW was left out stand? Probably not much. Your biggest concern in an older fiberglass boat is rot in the wooden components of the hull. ANY soft spots in the deck could be indicative of more serious rot in the stringers below. You also probably want to avoid any obsolete powerplants (OMC and Yamaha I/O's and Chrysler or Force outboards). Not sure what your budget is but if you're looking to get on the water cheaply with the least chance for financial ruin....you might want to consider and aluminum hull with an outboard.

 

[wildwayne]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

I will keep looking. I just really like the look of these I/Os. I've seen some decent looking ones but more often than not it's just out of my reach. My budget is around 6k.

You mention the problems with the older fiberglass boats with rotted wood. What have they done different in newer models. I noticed in newer Sea Rays and other makes that have carpet on the floors. How did they fix the problem of keeping the wood from being rotted out?

 

[dorelse]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

They now make them without any wood in the boat...so nothing to rot! Very good news for me about 15 years from now...(that's when I'll be able to afford one!)

 

[tschmidty]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

Yeah, chances are there is no wood on the floor to rot. 1000 hours is a lot though, and $5000 isn't cheap enough if it needs upholestry work.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

I believe this boat has a wood deck. Don't they all?

I have a 1998 wellcraft and I have a fibergalss floor. If you have a fiberglass floor, not nearly as much to worry about.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

Yeah, chances are there is no wood on the floor to rot. 1000 hours is a lot though, and $5000 isn't cheap enough if it needs upholestry work.

I bet there is. Low end SeaRays aren't anything special in the build quality department in opinion.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

They now make them without any wood in the boat...so nothing to rot! Very good news for me about 15 years from now...(that's when I'll be able to afford one!)

Right I can't wait...

Man for 5 grand I could buy a awesome boat.. No rot, goodish interior, at least a V6 engine.. I live in the Houston area, and have noticed that the market is crap right now.. Season is fixing to kick off and people will start trying to sell their boats.. Don't spend too much on trouble..

Seen a 1994 19ft VIP (not that I am a fan)with a V8 for sale on CL for less money and good interior..Even comes with a bunch of water toys like tubes and a wakeboard... Hunt harder.. Never ever pay asking price..BTW NADA is not a good way to price a boat:facepalm:

This boat was a grand

 

[wildwayne]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

Right. I've been looking for a few months now. Mostly in the Austin-San Antonio area. We're in close proximity of quite a few lakes so they go like hot cakes. It's pretty frustrating.
People keep telling me that spring and summer aren't the best time to buy a boat b/c they are in higher demand.
I'll keep looking. But so far it's been discouraging.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: About to buy this boat - Sea Ray

I bought mine in the late summer.. July or August.. I can't remember... This what happen for me... Fella bought a new boat and needed to get rid of the one I picked up from him... I got lucky.. I hunted and hunted for something.. Since I am a poor boy I had to find something cheap.. I went and looked at dozens... Found some I wanted and they sold super fast.. Your best bet is to be patient.. You have enough in your boat budget to find a very nice running rig... Some people think they have better stuff than they really do.. Don't be afraid to walk away...

LBJ is my favorite lake in that area.. During the steaming summer the water is nice and cool when you get up close to the dam...