Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

[veedub]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

i know its kind of chasing your tail but.....you could pick up a good hull and throw your good parts and in your spare time try the DIY way (its a lot of work but really rewarding) on your bad hull, if you try it and it turns out to be too much work or just not worth it you could always scrap it but, if you knock it out you could have two boats. just saying.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

I am surprised at all the comments about "taking it back." This is "as is" pure and simple. The seller is smart not to test it in any way, because if he tests it and misses something, he has to deal with an angry buyer who also doesn't understand "as is." And this is why it costs $2,600.

This thread should be at the top of the page as a sticky (except delete the "take it back" and "ebay warranty" nonsense). You buy a $2,600 boat like that, you have made a down payment. You buy sight unseen or without testing yourself, you take a chance--which sometimes you have to do.

When you buy a boat that doesn't run, you roll some big dice putting money in it just to see if it does. You had to know about the steering and battery, and maybe alternator, when you bought it. Those problems are obvious.

It is a rare day when a boat that old, that cheap, that type and that size is "turn key" at that price. The topic comes up all the time, a guy as a few bucks and thinks he can get the family on the water for that. Just doesn't happen enough to be realistic.

It's also why you avoid boats that inherently and historically are problems when you buy cheap. Outboards, tinnies, jon boats, self-bailers, all cut your risk way down.

Sorry it happened to the OP but it's just not surprising.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

Sorry it happened to the OP but it's just not surprising.

Unfortunately true. VIPs are also really poorly put together.

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

You know, it is a really nice looking boat. But "chrome wont get ya home". Depends how much love you have for the boat. Personally, I would try to replace the transom, but keep in mind, it may need stringers too. and obviously you have to pull the floor to do the stringers. The snowball effect. After its all done, it would still be a $2600 boat, however, You know that it could provide you many years of service and safety, because it will pretty much be a new boat, as long as the engine and outdrive are in tip top shape. What i am getting at, is you would have a boat that is as good as new, and probably spend the same amount of money, you would spend for a newer boat, that in a few years, may need the same kind of work. Just my opinion. I know it can be expensive, and labor intensive if done yourself.

 

[deeman7777]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

I am surprised at all the comments about "taking it back." This is "as is" pure and simple. The seller is smart not to test it in any way, because if he tests it and misses something, he has to deal with an angry buyer who also doesn't understand "as is." And this is why it costs $2,600.

This thread should be at the top of the page as a sticky (except delete the "take it back" and "ebay warranty" nonsense). You buy a $2,600 boat like that, you have made a down payment. You buy sight unseen or without testing yourself, you take a chance--which sometimes you have to do.

When you buy a boat that doesn't run, you roll some big dice putting money in it just to see if it does. You had to know about the steering and battery, and maybe alternator, when you bought it. Those problems are obvious.

It is a rare day when a boat that old, that cheap, that type and that size is "turn key" at that price. The topic comes up all the time, a guy as a few bucks and thinks he can get the family on the water for that. Just doesn't happen enough to be realistic.

It's also why you avoid boats that inherently and historically are problems when you buy cheap. Outboards, tinnies, jon boats, self-bailers, all cut your risk way down.

Sorry it happened to the OP but it's just not surprising.

Perfectly said in every way!! Thank you for adding sanity to the situation. The dealer nor eBay have ANY responsibility here. I would never, EVER buy a boat on eBay that I did not see or sea trail. That's why the boats sell for less on eBay.

Very sorry it turned out like this, but it was an expensive lesson learned.

 

[salty87]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

granted this wasn't an i/o but a rotted transom is bad news. and it's not just the leaking water that's a concern...it's the structural integrity that could cause real problems.

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21007963367991/2-boaters-rescued-at-sea/

 

[jkust]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

I hate to be harsh but just like you don't walk blindfolded into traffic, you don't buy a boat sight unseen especially an ancient thing like this. My logic is to automatically expect the worst with an old boat and be proven that things aren't wrong not the other way around.
I say this and I've bought my last three cars off of ebay since MN prices for cars are egregious, and had each shipped across the country but wouldn't do the same with a boat especially an old one. I feel for you but this is like reading the same book over and over.

 

[ewscroggins]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

Wow, that is a major bummer, Im sorry to hear of your misfortune. My first thought is that its something the marina should have looked into. When a car dealer gets a car in trade, they test drive it to check for any major issues. By the same note a marina should test each boat they take in trade. And if they dont fix the issues, they need to (by law) inform buyers of the issues. If it were me I would talk to the marina and if they are not responsive to it, hire a lawyer.

 

[ewscroggins]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

I hate to be harsh but just like you don't walk blindfolded into traffic, you don't buy a boat sight unseen especially an ancient thing like this. My logic is to automatically expect the worst with an old boat and be proven that things aren't wrong not the other way around.
I say this and I've bought my last three cars off of ebay since MN prices for cars are egregious, and had each shipped across the country but wouldn't do the same with a boat especially an old one. I feel for you but this is like reading the same book over and over.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but the truth it is. Never buy a boat, car, anything without first looking at it. But in the OP's defense, if it is a reputable marina, he shouldn't have to and should be able to trust that the marina did their job in inspecting the boat thoroughly before posting it for sale.

 

[jkust]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

Sometimes the truth hurts, but the truth it is. Never buy a boat, car, anything without first looking at it. But in the OP's defense, if it is a reputable marina, he shouldn't have to and should be able to trust that the marina did their job in inspecting the boat thoroughly before posting it for sale.

Agreed and there is the BBB to at least warn others in the future should they not work to correct the situation. Every single car I've bought off of Ebay has been out of frustration with the local market and have had one zinger with each one. The deals have been so good that I can easily overlook whatever it was but a fix on a car is a day in the shop and a few hundred out of pocket whereas the above is a whole other ballgame.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

I am surprised at all the comments about "taking it back." This is "as is" pure and simple. The seller is smart not to test it in any way, because if he tests it and misses something, he has to deal with an angry buyer who also doesn't understand "as is." And this is why it costs $2,600.

This thread should be at the top of the page as a sticky (except delete the "take it back" and "ebay warranty" nonsense). You buy a $2,600 boat like that, you have made a down payment. You buy sight unseen or without testing yourself, you take a chance--which sometimes you have to do.

When you buy a boat that doesn't run, you roll some big dice putting money in it just to see if it does. You had to know about the steering and battery, and maybe alternator, when you bought it. Those problems are obvious.

It is a rare day when a boat that old, that cheap, that type and that size is "turn key" at that price. The topic comes up all the time, a guy as a few bucks and thinks he can get the family on the water for that. Just doesn't happen enough to be realistic.

It's also why you avoid boats that inherently and historically are problems when you buy cheap. Outboards, tinnies, jon boats, self-bailers, all cut your risk way down.

Sorry it happened to the OP but it's just not surprising.

Perfectly said in every way!! Thank you for adding sanity to the situation. The dealer nor eBay have ANY responsibility here. I would never, EVER buy a boat on eBay that I did not see or sea trail. That's why the boats sell for less on eBay.

Very sorry it turned out like this, but it was an expensive lesson learned.

I hate to be harsh but just like you don't walk blindfolded into traffic, you don't buy a boat sight unseen especially an ancient thing like this. My logic is to automatically expect the worst with an old boat and be proven that things aren't wrong not the other way around.
I feel for you but this is like reading the same book over and over.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but the truth it is. Never buy a boat, car, anything without first looking at it. But in the OP's defense, if it is a reputable marina, he shouldn't have to and should be able to trust that the marina did their job in inspecting the boat thoroughly before posting it for sale.

Rather than repeat the comments that I agree with, I quoted them instead. I agree with all those guys. Now if the dealer said the transom was solid, that's a completely different situation. But they didn't. I will be in the corner of the OP for the same reasons scroggins mentioned. Still doesn't relieve the buyer from inspecting it themselves. The "as is" can come back and bite people in these situations........ That is usually the sellers protection.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

If I bought a boat off ebay sight unseen, I'd still inspect it before paying for it. An inspection or survey should have revealed the transom issue (and maybe the other issues), then I'd have refused to accept it. If he leaves me negative feedback, so what?

After you accept the boat "as is", you're stuck with it, unless you can show that the seller misrepresented the boat in his listing. It doesn't sound like the marina misrepresented anything, correct?

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

Seems everyone tries to blame another for their own lack of taking responsibility for ones choice, and it has much to do with our society that always gets to point fingers at everyone but themselves. All the obvious signs are right in front of the buyer, yet none of the effort was made, just flopped down cash for something they have no knowledge of, and expect to come out smelling like a rose. If it were really that easy we would all buy used boats sight unseen. And what I have suggested is how so many operate on a daily basis. In this case the investment to learn the hard way was small, so take the lesson and learn, and when or if you get upset, go look in the mirror.

 

[ewscroggins]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

Seems everyone tries to blame another for their own lack of taking responsibility for ones choice, and it has much to do with our society that always gets to point fingers at everyone but themselves. All the obvious signs are right in front of the buyer, yet none of the effort was made, just flopped down cash for something they have no knowledge of, and expect to come out smelling like a rose. If it were really that easy we would all buy used boats sight unseen. And what I have suggested is how so many operate on a daily basis. In this case the investment to learn the hard way was small, so take the lesson and learn, and when or if you get upset, go look in the mirror.

While I agree with you that people need to be responsible for themselves and the things they do. It is sad that we have come to a point in this country where one can no longer take a mans word, and that word will be good.

 

[salty87]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

it's nothing new. i'm no latin scholar but caveat emptor is something you'll find in law books....buyer beware.

scams have been around forever...and I'M NOT SAYING ANYONE WAS SCAMMED.

good money in exchange for bad goods has been a problem since money was invented. that was soon followed by bad money (counterfeit) for good products/services/whatever.

 

[ewscroggins]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

When it all boils down, this poor guy just got a raw deal no matter who is as fault. I hope it all works out in the end.

 

[tdeloer]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

I agree I was too quick to think because it was being sold by a marina that it was somehow a "more reliable" source for buying a boat. I bought my first boat 4 years ago off eBay from a private seller in northern Illinois and I ended up with a very good boat for the money ($2500 1987 Sea Ray Seville Openbow). Kept it for two years and took good care of it and sold it for $2500 on eBay ("Buy Now" price and sold in under 20 minutes) when I started a new job. I fully expected to have soft spots and things like gauges and radios to replace, setting aside $800 for fixes and repairs. I just never thought they'd sell a used boat from a marina that would sink without disclosing that they weren't sure it would even float!! A private party maybe, but a marina? Bad mojo.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

I fully expected to have soft spots and things like gauges and radios to replace, setting aside $800 for fixes

You expected soft spots? Soft spots almost always indicate rotten stringers, waterlogged foam, and a bad transom. Rot starts low and works it's way UP to the floor.

With the plethora of boats for sale on CL, I'm surprise that you went the ebay route. Buying from a marina certainly doesn't mean that you're more likely to get a decent boat. Actually, you're more likely to PAY MORE than you would buying from a private party.

In my area, I regularly see used boats listed on CL by local marinas....and 99% of them are quite a bit overpriced.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Found Out Transom is Rotten After Buying on eBay from a Marina!

Wow, that is a major bummer, Im sorry to hear of your misfortune. My first thought is that its something the marina should have looked into. When a car dealer gets a car in trade, they test drive it to check for any major issues. By the same note a marina should test each boat they take in trade. And if they dont fix the issues, they need to (by law) inform buyers of the issues. If it were me I would talk to the marina and if they are not responsive to it, hire a lawyer.

more bad legal advice from the world wide web. There is no reason or requirement for a marina to test anything. There is no law* that the marina must inform buyers of anything. Hopefully the lawyer you hire will give you this advice and that's the end of it.

Some states require a used car dealer to have the car pass state inspection. That, too, is very limited in what it checks (safety issues) and does not address mechanical, cosmetic or body issues. And this was not a car so that's irrelevant, but people tend to confuse the two.

Assuming a seller is responsible for condition is like assuming an old cheap boat is in good condition. Don't assume. Be informed.

The ONLY way the seller can be responsible for ANY condition is if he does something to make himself responsible (which is why the smart ones do and say nothing). This ranges from giving a warranty (general or specific), concealing a serious problem, or making a knowingly false statement of fact upon which the buyer relied, and which caused the buyer damage. Didn't happen here. Next case, bailiff.


*Unless your state has a specific consumer protection law directly on point. Possible but not likely. Check your state's version of UCC ?2-316 for starters.