Buying a boat, need advice

[marcum]

So next saturday I am test driving a 2001 Pro-Line 250 Sport. It has a 2002 mercury 225XL optimax saltwater engine. The boat/motor combo has 140 or 170 hours. I have grew up around boats but never owned one or had to work on one. So I am not ashamed to say I am ignorant to a degree about boats but have a love for fishing and a new found love for saltwater fishing since I was injured in afghanistan and have returned home to try and save my right leg and have brain surgery among countless other injuries.

So my question is simple to some I hope. What should I be looking for, listening for, etc. When driving it how should I drive it to test the throttle, throttle response, throttle postioning, and how well the boat handles turning. At the same time what should I try while I have it? How long should I run it, should I run it at full throttle for a set amount of time? etc. etc.

thank you for your time,
Stephen

 

[marcum]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

Here is a picture of the boat. Like I said, ever since I woke up from the coma and found out I could not return to my men I have had my heart set on a boat that will get me out there to do some reef fishing. And I have really set my hopes on this boat if it preforms as good as it looks.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

Much gratitude for your service and sacrifice for your country. I hope owning a boat provides you with all the enjoyment and therapy you deserve.

That boat looks like a sweet one! Should be a great combo. I really like the aluminum trailer. As for what to look for on a test drive, I would try my best to see how it performs with your typical load. For example if you're usually going to have 2 or three friends with you, take some buddies along for the test drive. Don't be afraid to put the motor through it's paces. Hopefully someone with more knowledge of larger boats will add some further advice. Good luck with it.

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

Much gratitude for your service and sacrifice for your country. I hope owning a boat provides you with all the enjoyment and therapy you deserve.
.

What he said!

In addition, the Pro-Line is a great boat! My buddy has a 22' and loves his! They are made(at least some of them) in nearby Homosassa/Crystal River.

Craig

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

Don't know enough about the boat brand to help but like those who posted above, on behalf of my family, I thank you for your heroic service, tremendous sacrafice for protecting our freedom and I wish you many enjoyable hours on your new boat.....you deserve AT LEAST that!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

Also be sure to update your profile with your location. There might be a member close by who can help you check out potential purchases.

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

Much gratitude for your service and sacrifice for your country. I hope owning a boat provides you with all the enjoyment and therapy you deserve.

I can't agree more. Thank you sir.

I'm an amature so I don't have any real credible advice to give compared to what you are about to receive. But if you are anywhere near me I'd be happy to come by and help you out in any way I can.

I mainly just wanted to say thanks!

 

[reap182]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

good luck with your search and best of luck to you. just got back from iraq myself. life's to short not to enjoy it so i pulled the trigger myself last weekend and got one.

 

[Philster]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU.... who doesn't have their heart set on that boat.

You need to remove yourself emotionally from the boat if you have no clue about how it handles, performs, etc. What is your heart set on? The looks?

Be skeptical, and know that there are more boats on the market than the market can handle, so you have more choices if this one isn't up to the task.

Cross your fingers and hope she is a winner, BUT have a contingency plan and a half dozen other boats waiting in the wings if this one doesn't cut it.

And... THANK YOU!

I wish you MANY days of happy boating... and if the fish don't bite, who cares? You're on a boat and that's all that matters!

GOOD LUCK! You deserve to have some fun on a great boat!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

What everyone else said, especially Philster.

A disinterested party who knows boats will be a valuable ally in your search. The boat looks like a beauty, but that may be only skin deep. As ezmobee said, post your location; maybe there is someone here who is close enough to go with you.

You'll want to make sure the motor accelerates smoothly up to the recommended wide open throttle RPMs. This will give you a quick and dirty indication on general motor health as well as whether it is propped correctly. If the owner lets you, do a compression test. If they don't let you, I would be leery of the deal.

If there is any wood used in construction, make sure there are no signs of rot.

Make sure every switch and accessory works. Same for the trailer, especially brakes and tires.

If anything is deficient, it is leverage on the price, or reason to walk away.

A professional survey would be ideal, of course.

Best of luck on your recuperation, and thank you for your service.

 

[DukesFin]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

As others have said, thank you for your service and sacrifices...

1st: Transom - Does it have ANY rot? If yes, run away fast!

I will never buy a boat without a compression test on all cylinders... NEVER! Secondary to the the integrity of the transom and stringers is the power plant. Other than running the outboard, a compression test of all cylinders will tell you volumes about a motor's health.

Electrical: See if there has been any "non-marine" wiring used on the boat. Marine wiring is "tinned" to help stave off corrosion. If the motor and hull are sound, it won't matter if nothing electrical is working! Corrosion is NOT your friend. Look for non-marine electrical connectors... The point is to make sure that the wiring isn't in a corroded state and that all switches function and will continue functioning for a while! All boats are going to see some corrosion, but I've seen some nice newER boats with nightmare wiring jobs on them that people have done to save themselves money. Some of those "projects" can be very expensive to fix.

Comfort and fit: During your sea trial, try your best to do what you plan on buying the boat for. If it's reef fishing, take out out and actually set the anchor. Walk around the boat. Reach into hatches while out there... Basically get a "feel" for the boat as close to "real-world" situations as you can.

If none of this makes sense to you, find someone that can check out everything listed above. If you are serious enough to drop that much coin on a boat, be serious enough to have a professional (or professionals) look it over as well. This may be one person for the hull and another for the motor, but be sure both are checked out!

Thanks again for your service and sacrifices and GOOD LUCK with the purchase, no matter what vessel it is!!!

 

[marcum]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

I thank you all for the comments and well wishes. I do have my brother going with me on the test drive due to the fact I will need help in and out of the boat because for the next month I am stuck in a wheel chair.
As far as I could, and my brother, I do not believe there is any extra wiring except the GPS and fish finder wires that are ran. I dont recall now but I am pretty sure the transom looked sound. It does have a large fiberglass transom that looked molded into the transom, it is factor not a addition so that is a plus. I live in georgia near the coast, and plan to give the boat hell on the test drive. I do not plan to drive it like that but I figured it will be a good test =)

And as far as the trailer goes, it is a brand new aluminum trailer that hasnt seen water yet. But it will soon.

 

[almostblue]

Re: Buying a boat, need advice

So next saturday I am test driving a 2001 Pro-Line 250 Sport. It has a 2002 mercury 225XL optimax saltwater engine. The boat/motor combo has 140 or 170 hours. I have grew up around boats but never owned one or had to work on one. So I am not ashamed to say I am ignorant to a degree about boats but have a love for fishing and a new found love for saltwater fishing since I was injured in afghanistan and have returned home to try and save my right leg and have brain surgery among countless other injuries.

So my question is simple to some I hope. What should I be looking for, listening for, etc. When driving it how should I drive it to test the throttle, throttle response, throttle postioning, and how well the boat handles turning. At the same time what should I try while I have it? How long should I run it, should I run it at full throttle for a set amount of time? etc. etc.

thank you for your time,
Stephen

I have seen 150 hour engines that are FAR worse off than some 800 hour engines. Maintenance, break-in, overheating, rinsing, catostrophic failure , etc. etc. etc. IF you get through the steps others have given you, I would highly recommend paying for a FULL service - no risk to the seller as you would be out that amount if you back out. sort of like an escrow period. You have to do the preventive maintenance anyway - Imagine going out with an impeller about to fail!