Guide to buying a boat??

[Paulz01]

I dont know if this is in the right section or not or if this has been posted before but hopefully you guys can help me out on this.

I recently purchased a 1982 Pro-Line 22 walkaround with a 1984 Yamaha 150. I looked the boat over in the guys yard, the transom was solid, there were no spider cracks, and the motor sounded great when he started it up. The only problem was that there was a small gas leak but I thought it was just due to a gasket not on properly. Once it left his yard, we decided to bring it by the marina because we wanted to get on the water ASAP! An hour later we get a call from the marina telling us the motor is blown. One of the cylinders has a blown piston. Long story short, we got the $ back but i dont want to test my luck again

So what do you guys do when you look at a boat?

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

And im suppose to be looking at two that are in the water this weekend.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

test drive absolutely necessary, if they won't did it, they are hiding something.

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.

BUYING A USED MOTOR

overall condition, condition of the place you are buying it from, usually tells you how they care for things. compression 100 + psi, and within 10% of each other, good strong blue spark, no water in the lower unit oil. look for discolored paint, (sign of over heat at
one time, also scarred up bolts, as why. have them start it. if they fail to put it in a barrell or tank, or on muffs, or in the water, to start it they don't know what they are doing. best yet is to take it for a 30 min to 1 hour test run. also if remote controlled motor, the controls should come with it

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

I should have specified what I am looking at.

One is 18ft. 1987 Invader CC with a 1997 Johnson 115 on the back.

The other is a 1976 MFG CC with a 1993 Evinrude 115 with 80hours on the rebuild.

Being that I am still a newb at this, how do you check the oil in the lower unit?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

remove the drain screw, if there is water it will come out first. but this has to be done before you test drive the boat. you don't give prices, but just off what you gave, the invader would be my choice. i have a problem with rebuilt motors. if they did not find what caused the motor to fail, and correct it., it will fail again.

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

The invader is $3500

The MFG is $4200

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

invader hands down imho. you can buy a bimini.

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

How big of a difference is it between 18 and 19ft? Can I hold the same amount of people on it and can I go offshore with it? I originally wanted a 20ft.

 

[haskindm]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

Depends on the boat. The owner should be able to tell you what the capacity plate says. My 16' had a capacity of 8 people, my 18' has a capacity of 7 - go figure. That said, 6 guys trying to fish on an 18 footer are going to be climbing all over each other. Unless you are "stealing" the boat don't buy anything without a marine surveyor looking at it. Just read the posts on this forum about boats that looked beautiful and turned into expensive nightmares.

 

[hard-3]

Re: Guide to buying a boat??

Just remember of the very serious boater disorder of the TWO FOOT-ITUS. it does not seem to matter how big of boat you buy , you always want 2 more feet! But seriously, if you, in your gut want a 20 footer , dont buy an 18 , cause you won't be happy. unless it's a steal . in this economy it's a boat buyers market. There are boats setting everywhere around here that people are trying to get out from under . If you think it's a good deal, look around some more , there is a better deal out there. Don't buy anything with out a test drive.