Boating On The Cheap

[rlb2252]

I went out for the 1st time on a small boat today. Very nervous at first. Quickly got acclimated. And eventually enraptured. A 19 foot Bayliner Cuddy., with that small four cylinder Volvo engine. A 1985 model.

Unfortunately, it?s a real dog cosmetically, dirty, torn seats, a few instruments that don?t work properly.

After initially seeing the boat and conversing with the good folks on this board I had quickly scratched this one off my ?consider buying? list. Frankly, I went out with the seller today mainly because I?d never been on a small boat, and wanted to see what all the hubbub was about.

This was to be an intro to boating for me. Before I went out and purchased a ?real? boat.

But this ?dog? actually ran acceptably well. I don?t have any other boats to compare it with but at least it didn?t make me feel I was in imminent danger of the Volvo blowing up.

And the price, a mere grand, makes me reconsider the advice given by many of this board?s sage skippers.

I?ve yet to make a final decision but I?ve made my list of pros:

1. Dirt Cheap Price.
2. I could be boating tomorrow rather than still shopping for Missus Perfect Boat.
3. Comes with a trailer.
4. Small, less intimidating than the full cabin cruisers I desire.
5. I can learn on this vessel w/o much concern for bending the fenders.
6. If it dies at the end of the season, I could leave its smoking carcass in a pond and not look back.
7. I could buy my next boat during the off season when prices may plummet.
8. 4 cylinders burn no gas.

What do you think? Are these legitimate arguments?

On the con side I don?t really have much:
1. Too small to carry my whole family.
2. Those romantic nights on the water will be awful cramped.
3. I?m sure I?ll want another boat next season.

I mentioned in another thread that I could afford a lot more boat or a lot better boat. But still, in this volatile economy, I'd sleep better with larger cash reserves. Finally, what are those famous last words: ?What?s the worst that can happen??

Assuming the boat is at least seaworthy, safe from some kind of catastrophic failure, all I?m risking is buying a cheap piece of junk. It would likely be quite awhile, if ever, before I'd put this boat on any challenging bodies of water.

I regularly buy auction automobiles for the business I?m in. I buy ?em cheap, often for less than two grand. If I get six months out of a twelve hundred dollar vehicle, I?m not too upset. If I get a year I?m positively ecstatic. My business rationale: At rock bottom prices, why even bother to fix a serious repair?no trans or engines. Most problems exceeding a few hundred dollars are grounds for abandoning the vehicle and starting over fresh.

This boat is cheaper than those vehicles. No reason I can?t treat it the same.

I fully expect to get beat over the head by some on this board if I buy this wreck. That?s cool, I welcome it. Maybe I still need a good talking to. Or a spanking.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

Why not? It will get you used to boating with little risk involved, and you'll learn what you really want in a boat when you get another.

 

[dorelse]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

Well, you're kind of doing what I did. I purchased my junker for $750 honestly, b/c it was cheaper to buy it, then rent one for 5 days ($1000) on our vacation 2 years ago.

It ran so well, and I LOVED not caring if I get a scratch in it...(b/c what's one more), that I have been reworking mine and couldn't be happier.

The size for me isn't such a big deal for the small freshwater lakes we use, so that isn't as much of a consideration as it is for others possibly.

Plus, I love that I don't have a ton of cash in it...

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

I can understand the concept of a cheap boat but, when I see anything that the owner does not take care of I stay away. If they can't be bothered to do the cheap and easy things they sure won't take care of the things that really need looking after. Have it checked out by someone that knows what to look for. Bring Out Another Thousand is no joke. It might seem fine to you but it might be 10 seconds away from a major catastrophy.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

Problem is , its not $1000, its 3 or 4K by the time you fix the stringers, deck, transom, furniture and guages.

The wood under the deck is typically 5 times worse than what you can see, if the furniture is shot I'd assume the stringers are, its like dominos after that.
A little soft spot on the deck quickly turns into rotted transom.

Thats why they are cheap.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

For a learner, if it is 1/2 way sea worthy, and is sounds like it. cosmetics are easy, who cares about guages. a hose some bleach, and it is usable. i never buy new, and if i bump it, so what.

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame. You walk all over the deck, that a mallot, or hammer with wooden handle, using handle, tap all over the transom, a shape rap is good solid base, a thud, is questionable base.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.
boat motor combo, A 30 year old may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

Problem is , its not $1000, its 3 or 4K by the time you fix the stringers, deck, transom, furniture and guages.

The wood under the deck is typically 5 times worse than what you can see, if the furniture is shot I'd assume the stringers are, its like dominos after that.
A little soft spot on the deck quickly turns into rotted transom.

Thats why they are cheap.

you are 100% correct but I think his point is that he would not invest the money to fix it.....just use it for the rest of the season and then buy a better boat.....

If its still running well at the end of the season I'll bet you'll get your 1K back and worst case I'll bet you could part out the trailer and outdrive and get back 1k or so.....go for it.....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boating On The Cheap

I think you have the right attitude about buying a cheap boat, especially this late in the season. The problem many people have in buying a cheap, old, or neglected boat is that it will work fine and be easy (and cheap) to fix.

I needed to replace a motor on an old "second" boat and didn't want to spend a lot. I bought a boatmotortrailer for less than I would have spent for a 20 year old used motor. The motor was the same size and make and approx. year so the swap is easy. Both the boat and motor have the same warning signs as are frequently--and correctly--posted here. But I think I can sell the boat and trailer for about what I paid for the whole thing, to someone who wants a work boat.

So this is a good learner boat for you in two respects: you can't hurt it and you will quickly learn what it could cost to restore or repair. If you find you like boating just keep an eye out for an upgrade, maybe a change to outboard or center console. Buy it and then sell the old one--a monkey doesn't let go of one branch before he grabs another!

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

There are items you want to make sure work...
1) - Blower - gas fumes will kill
2) -bilge pump - sinking a boat seriously damages the environment - & your wallet
3) -lighting - get stuck @ night..another boat hits you..its your fault.
4) - hull integrity - hit something and the hull fails..see # 2

other than that its a great learning experience.

 

[Viking...]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

My boat is an '85 Capri BR with the 4 cylinder Volvo I/O, also 19 foot.

I too was looking for a newer one when this one caught my eye.
The Volvo was what really interested me, since they have a strong reputation.

Every outing is an adventure with it, but nothing serious so far.
Bring a set of tools and be prepared to tinker.
Also, a few extra fuses (10A) would be a good idea (one outing the ignition fuse blew, took me 20 minutes to figure that one out!).

Another time out, she started to idle poorly and almost stall during acceleration.
A bit of moisture in the distributor cap was the culprit.
Two screws to loosen and a wipe with a dry cloth fixed that issue.

Check the "play" in the outdrive, with particular attention to the intermediate housing (the block between the upper and lower unit).
The raw water tube runs through this part, and can suck air when on plane, causing the engine to overheat.
I fixed mine with some pump packing and a tie-wrap.

There's going to be many more things to overcome with a boat of this age, but I welcome the challenge.
The point is, she's a very good and reliable engine and drive to begin with.
I'm sure it will outlast the boat itself.

My vote, go for it.

Regards

 

[Jimmy310]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

Looks as we are on the same page.
I recently bought an old boat, 1961 15' Horizon with a 1967 Mercury 650SL. Simply because it was dirt cheap $400.00 with a trailer and it had been garage kept since 1980. The boat is in excellent condition, the paint was a little faded. The motor is in even better shape, I visited a few outboard shops around town and compared what I had. It started on the first crank and purred like a kitty.
I am getting it ready to take it out next week once I register & get the tags for it and the trailer. I am confident the boat is worth far more than what I paid for it and know I will have fun on it.
So far I have bought a new battery $60, gas & oil $30, Boat cover $25, misc items $30.
The only things I need are lights for the trailer $40, Safety equipment $150, Registration $40?
So for a grand total of under $1000.00 I have a working boat and can fish, cruise around or do water sports.
Good luck with your boat and have lots of fun.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

rib2252 stated in his first post it was his first ride in a small boat. You need to take an experienced person to check this boat out. Buying a used boat is not like buying a car at an auction. The worst that can happen in a bad car is a breakdown. You know right away if it's solid as far as the suspension and brakes and frame or at least you can tell if it will make it home. In a boat, if you don't know what to look for it can kill you. Your first ride in a boat that is dirty,torn seats and gauges that don't work. Was the floor solid? Did the transom flex when he hit the throttle? Was the bilge full of gas? Was the bilge pump running the entire time you were out? All i'm trying to get at is because of the engine running good enough to get you back to the dock you felt safe. In your list of pro's for the boat, none of them had anything to do with the exact boat you were looking at. They were all generalizations that would fit any old 4 banger boat with a trailer. Have the thing checked out too make sure it wont or blow up or sink the first time you use it. There are lots of old cheap boats and you could find one tomorrow in better shape.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Boating On The Cheap

I say if you have the money to go for it... looks like you have given it some serious thought, and most of the "issues" don't really bother you, and it's being treated like a "throw away" boat anyhow.

My only concern would be the engine. I would at least have it gone over for any serious problems. You said you would hope to get the rest of the year out of it, but what if it has some major band-aid on it now? You dump a grand in it, take it out the first time, and kablooey! You just threw away your 1k... (but the more I think about it, you could probably still get most of that back with the trailer, outdrive, parting out), so in actuality you really don't have much to lose.

Have at it, and have fun!