Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

[phungus]

A friend has a fishing boat that he doesn't need and he's offered to sell it to me for around $750. It has a 50hp evinrude and it's a 1978 15' VIP.<br /><br />My question is does this look like a decent deal and is there anything I should watch out for? It was last on the lake summer before last and has been stored since. Everything works except for the reverse in the motor. I wouldn't mind doing maintenance on it, though my mechanical experience is limited to cars and Jeeps and stuff.<br /><br /><br />Here is a snippet from the Ebay auction he had it up on (it didn't make the reserve).<br /><br />This is a very sound boat great for fishing. We have put a lot of work into its upkeep to ensure smooth operation. In the past few months we have added a Trolling Motor, new steering system, new floor, new wiring, added a third seat with pedestal and relocated the live well to add more room. This boat comes with a Eagle Pro 128 depth finder, four life jackets, 25lb Dowel anchor, fire extinguisher, trailer and everything you need to be legal on the water, with the exception of night time operation (no running lights). The only know problem with the boat is no reverse. We managed quite well without it, and the trolling motor works great for when you really need reverse. The motor is a 1982 Evenrude 50hp, in working condition (with the exception of reverse)<br /><br /><br />Here's pictures:<br /><br />

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[roscoe]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

If the motor runs, the boat floats, and the trailer is sound, Go For It.<br /><br />Looks beat up but functional, what more do you need?

 

[Stumpys]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

I'd but it and fish out of it!!!<br /><br />No worry on thr reverse.. My friend has never had reverse in his Rude, and really has never has to have it. He's been fishing with it for years.

 

[phungus]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

Any advice on when I check out the motor, transom, etc? I really don't know what I'm looking for. It's a relatively close friend, so I trust him when he says it floats. I'm kinda worried that he might not have run all the gas out of the motor before he let it sit though.<br /><br />I think he said the boat isn't pretty paint-wise, but it's in a green primer so it's not smooth at all. Though I would probably get it painted at some point through another buddy.<br /><br />I'm also not familiar with that type of hull design, is it stable on the water?

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

$750 bucks is cheap. Some spend that to insure their boats every year.<br /><br />It's as stable a boat as any other boat of that size. If the engine hasn't been run dry, it may need a good carb cleaner spray and some in the gas too to get the guiminess ou that may have built up. It's no biggy.<br /><br />Why not go out and try it before you decide to buy?

 

[DJ]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

The reverse can be dealt with. I'm thinking it might be a control box/cable/adjustment issue.<br /><br />Make sure the engine has good compression (over 100 psi and within 5 psi of each other) on both cylinders.<br /><br />It's got potential.

 

[self taut]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

have seen same type of boats around here going for $1,200 to $1,700, some of those not in as good a shap as the one your wanting.i'd say load it up.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

Replacing rotten wood is something you may not want to tackle on a first boat...<br /><br />Tap around on the transom to find rotten areas..... You'll easily hear the difference between good areas and rotten areas by the sound.. Good areas are tight hard sounding "thump", while bad areas are a mushey empty sounding "thud"..<br /><br />Take a good walk around inside too.. Note any soft areas in the floor... Pay particular attention to corners where water may accumulate, and areas where the seat pedistals are bolted down..

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

Looks like a good deal. But consider where you are going to go fishing! That boat is great for small waters, but head out around a lot of traffic and you'll be in for a rough ride..<br />Good luck.

 

[phungus]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll go check it out and hopefully it will pass muster. He did say that he ran all the gas out of it before he put it up so that's good.<br /><br />The floor and carpet were just replaced not too long ago as well as the steering system and wiring.<br /><br />I know it's not a huge boat and I do plan on taking it out to Lake Travis and the surrounding lakes around Austin, TX, but I don't think I can afford a much bigger boat anyway. I don't really want to be doing anything but fishing in it anyhow, and in Texas that means early in the morning or later in the evening usually. Hopefully it will be okay.<br /><br />Sounds like a deal I can't pass up.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Advice on my first fishing boat... maybe.

I have a 15 foot Kingfisher, same hull & interior design as that except for a front casting deck, with a 70hp. I believe the 50 should get it up on plane okay - mine planes very easily. <br /><br />It doesn't take rough water very well at all - we get wet running in 15mph winds. Also, the rear seat fisherman has to contend with the gas tank and battery underfoot, and the outboard staring him in the face if he turns that way. <br /><br />On the plus side, I've had 5 kids in the boat & felt safe about it - without a casting deck in the back, they're actually "inside" the boat. It's totally functional, and I don't have to get too uptight about bumping into the dock or whatever. I like fishing from it, and I don't let the wind scare me off. It's very stable - you can walk around it on the gunwale no problems. If it floats & the motor runs, it should be worth at least $1000. Just my opinion.