First time boat buyer

[Spabm12]

I just want to start this off by saying I am 20 years old and in college, home on spring break. I have always been passionate about boating, but never owned one myself. I have been looking at many used boats and found a 1987 Glasstream 172 Cutlass for sale. It's listed for $700 but he said he would take 500. Here's a link to it if anyone is curious, http://york.craigslist.org/boa/2900782571.html. I went and looked at the boat in person and the hull and floor appeared to be solid and in good shape. The guy selling it said that he did a little refiberglassing on the floor and replaced the carpet. The interior and seats are not in the best condition, but that is not of much concern to me. He installed a new steering conversion kit and the trim works fine. The engine is a 3.0 Mercruiser that he said runs well, but needs to be tuned so that it will idle in the water. He didn't start it up because the fuel had been drained and winterized, but he cranked it and it sounded strong. It also comes with a new trailer. I think it would be a lot of fun to fix this boat up and use it this summer, but I am worried that I could unknowingly be getting in over my head. Any advice/precautions/do's/don'ts for buying or not buying this boat. Thanks

 

[tpenfield]

Re: First time boat buyer

Do you go to Franklin & Marshall College, since you are from Lancaster, PA?

Anyway, assume that the engine has issues, otherwise, it would have an ignition coil and the seller would have gladly started it. The true test is out on the water, but that may not practical, and the price of $500 is basically what a 'restore-able' boat would cost. Assume that you will have to do some things to the engine. (think $$$)

A good trailer alone may be worth $500, so from an investment standpoint, you would be OK. A 1987 boat has a lot of wood in them, and probably some/most of it is rotted. So, you may want to poke around the engine compartment and any reachable structure with an ice pick to see if you poke through anywhere or find soft spots, etc.

The potential issues that you may find would be determining factors as to whether (or not) you would want to take on this as a project.

 

[Augoose]

Re: First time boat buyer

I would examine the floor and transom as closely as you can, tapping with your hand and with a rubber mallot if you have it listening for a dull thud sound vs a nice tap. If there is a ski locker, reach down inside and tap around there too, looking for any soft areas or rot.
Pick up a compression gauge from a auto parts store and check the compression - do some searches on how to check compression, but basically you disconnect the coil from the distributor, remove the spark plug from the 1st cylinder, insert your compression gauge, and then have a helper quickly crank the engine over and watch the pressure. You are looking for a consistent reading across all of the cylinders rather than reaching a particular number- shouldn't vary more than 15 psi. If they are all 130 except for one which is 90, then you may have a bad valve for example. I wouldn't buy a boat where I couldn't run the engine..... my 2 cents..Repeat this proceedure for the remaining 3 cylinders.

Pull the dipstick - how does the oil look? If you can, drain a little engine oil and look for evidence of water. Then drain a little of the lower unit gear oil - does it look cloudy? Look for evidence of water there too.....
Inspect the u-joint bellows- it is the rubber accordian looking or corrigated rubber tube connecting the lower unit to the transom. If it is cracked or dry rotted, it will need to be replaced. The upper is the u-joint bellows and the lower is the exhaust- the upper one is the one to be concerned about.

If he'll take $500, the trailer alone will almost make it worthwhile if its new like he said.
Do some searches on the forum about what to look for in looking at a new boat -lots of great info here

 

[southkogs]

Re: First time boat buyer

A $500 boat is an assumed risk - unless you ride on it out in the water first. If you have $500 and want a project, then it's a reasonable price for a boat like that. If you want to get out on the water right away, then save up another $1,500 and then buy.

 

[rickryder]

Re: First time boat buyer

Since the motor turns over I would do a compression test first. I would offer around $500 for the package. Be sure to look for soft spots in the deck,cracks around the transom area......anything thats looks suspect. You never know what lurks under the deck....wet foam rotten stringers etc. And make sure you have a title so you can register the boat

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: First time boat buyer

If it's not been covered while it's been stored, there may be a lot of structural damage (floor, stringers, transom, etc..) The question would be, can you deal with those issues if you find out that they are there? As tpen stated, you probably could get your money back from selling the trailer and depending on what drive is on it, selling that too for a profit. I'd definitely look all around the engine area for any sign of soft wood. I know the price is cheap and with you going to school that helps but what if the engine does start? At least a compression test should be done on it. If that comes back with good numbers, I'd say take a chance, if you find out problems after you attempt to start it, part it out make a profit and keep looking for a better boat at a cheap price. Good luck

 

[Spabm12]

Re: First time boat buyer

I'm from Lancaster, but I go to Gettysburg College. Thanks for the advice though everyone, I will definitely check the compression and look for rot when I go to see it again. I'm still a little nervous, but I love boating so I think I'm gonna go for it. If I do end up buying it, I'll be sure to post pics and updates on the restoration.