Holy crap I just bought a boat!

[bruceb58]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Now I got to start praying that the engine block and lower unit are good!

And transom and stringers.

And for those that think I am bashing here, I owned a 87 Bayliner with OMC since it was nearly brand new. I took incredible care of it and it was stored on a trailer in California so it was dry. I understand what may be ahead here.

 

[Island Seeker]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Congrats & glad to hear it all worked out. Now get on with the restoration. Please post pictures & like said earlier...hope there are no BIG surprizes in the restoration.

 

[wagnerz]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Still doesnt sound quite on the up-and-up. Why did the marina have title to the boat? If the original owner don't pay their bills, the most the marina could do is place a lien on the title. They can then force a sale of the collateral and get there portion of the bill back. But in that instance, the marina would never have title to the boat.

A more likely scenario, is the original owner didnt want to deal with the boat anymore and stop maintaining it. THe owner then just gave title to the marina because the original owner was not going to do anything with it. Its more valuable for the marina to get some slip payments then try and get value for the boat, this would explain why the marina gave you a sweet deal, because now you will make payments, or get the boat out of there.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Most likely the marina placed a Mechanic's Lien on the boat for non-payment. I don't think the marina had the title, it's not needed. After jumping thru all the legal loopholes, it's his to sell to recover monies due. It happens all the time. I'm sure this wasn't the marina's first dance.

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Yeah the marina owner was totally on the ball, whatever happened with the previous owner doesn't really matter. Bottom line is that TP&W is issuing me a NEW title on the boat. I got the mechanic scheduled to come out there Saturday morning, so in 48 hours I will know what I got.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

That's great!! Hope your behind the helm soon and tearing up the lake.

 

[RandyJ]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

I've bought about a hundred cars in abandoned auto auctions. Title procedures do vary from one place to another but in Alabama basically all ya gotta do is notify the customer, post an ad in a newspaper, then it has to go through a public auction... then the bill of sale and all of the paperwork showing every step of the procedure is submitted to the court. You have to pay court costs then a title is issued. Once the judge puts his stamp on it ...it's a done deal. The mechanic's lean is what gets the ball rolling. Rarely is property ever sold at public auction for more than the owner owes for services rendered/money owed. In one version, if the value of the sale is less than the amount owed then the previous owner still owes the difference.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

thank god someone said it ,, some of these guys think everyone makes 100k a yr to buy a brand new sea ray ,,so what its a bayliner and has a omc ,, it was also only 200 bucks great job have fun and go ahead drop some money into it ,,it what you work for right ,,,

You would be hard pressed to buy a new 24 or 25ft sea ray on a 100k a year salary and still have a decent home and cars. I suppose with that salary and a single wide and a couple $500 cars, you could afford a $85k boat. For me, I wouldnt want to have the boat be my only assett.

So this sounds like a great deal. I would love to fall into something like this. Most people want way too much for "project" boats around here. There is not much differance in pricing of perfect boats and project boats. I have seen boats in worse condition than this one for sale up around $3500 and up.

 

[CascoBay]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

You would be hard pressed to buy a new 24 or 25ft sea ray on a 100k a year salary and still have a decent home and cars. I suppose with that salary and a single wide and a couple $500 cars, you could afford a $85k boat. For me, I wouldnt want to have the boat be my only assett.

So this sounds like a great deal. I would love to fall into something like this. Most people want way too much for "project" boats around here. There is not much differance in pricing of perfect boats and project boats. I have seen boats in worse condition than this one for sale up around $3500 and up.

That's what I was thinking too and it's part of why the marine industry is in such dire straights right now, no one can afford new boats on average incomes.

 

[RandyJ]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

That's what I was thinking too and it's part of why the marine industry is in such dire straights right now, no one can afford new boats on average incomes.

So true... and if ya got kids, child support, and owe on a vehicle... you can hardly eat on an average income...
It's a bit strange around here. On this lake there are plenty of newer, high dollar boats... and million dollar homes that seldom see people. Lots of big fancy stuff. Go below the dam and you see river cabins and plenty of old boats that appear to have been saved from the junk yards. Personally, I'd rather see an old boat fixed up and in use than a new boat sitting in the foreclosure lot. We've got enough trash in landfills already so I think responsible people will try to use an old boat if possible. It may cost a little more to get it going but for a fraction of the cost you can put it in the same water, go the same places, and have just as much fun.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

So true... and if ya got kids, child support, and owe on a vehicle... you can hardly eat on an average income...
It's a bit strange around here. On this lake there are plenty of newer, high dollar boats... and million dollar homes that seldom see people. Lots of big fancy stuff. Go below the dam and you see river cabins and plenty of old boats that appear to have been saved from the junk yards. Personally, I'd rather see an old boat fixed up and in use than a new boat sitting in the foreclosure lot. We've got enough trash in landfills already so I think responsible people will try to use an old boat if possible. It may cost a little more to get it going but for a fraction of the cost you can put it in the same water, go the same places, and have just as much fun.

couldnt have said it better myself. some people just have an image issue, and to some, chalky fiberglass means one step down on the totum pole. boats are toys. my dd and home is where the money belongs. im just glad i had some extra cash to get the 2k boat i currently enjoy. goodluck with the new bayliner!

 

[Cap’n Ray]

Great deal ya got!! FWIW- I recently sold an 88 27' Bayliner, I'm sure there are a lot of similarities between your new project and the one I sold, I'll watch the thread and try to help out! Mine sat in a farm field for 4years- it was covered well and didn't get full of critters, bit the gel-coat suffered badly... It looked great when I sold it, lot of wet sanding, buffing, and polishing- but it looked pretty good. Who cares what you payed for it, she's your toy so enjoy!!

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

***advice needed***

so I hooked up my boat to shore power (I might not have given it the quarter turn) I replaced the the ignition, and I got no response on anything other than a very subtle flash of green on the "power available" indicator light on the switch panel. Both batteries are beyond dead, but it didn't know whether or not that would make a difference...

Would my 12v fully charged motorcycle batter with the battery switched to that one complete the circuit, or do I need to start trouble shooting elsewhere?

 

[lrlima]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

i wouldnt try to start that motor yet - first id be looking for cracks on the block. then id start with a changing all the fluids and adding a fresh battery....

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

yeah totally agree, I'm waiting for the mechanic to do that (hopefully tomorrow)... The point of tonight was to get all the auxiliary stuff up and running, interior lights, bilge pump, radio, etc.

 

[SteveInOregon]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

I bet it runs, >>>> Pump out the old gas, check the tank for water or gunk, run it on a remote bottle of fresh gas.

Install new fuel filters, bring a charged up battery, good oil, thermostat, and check the water pump circulation, temp gauge etc...... just like an old car , probably will probably smoke for a few min's and everyone will come to see if its on fire or why your boat is smoking the marina to death then 10 min later I betcha it settles down and idle's like a little kitten. 'fingers crossed'.

Suggestion: If You don't dry dock it 1st, then fire it up when there is a breeze so you don't choke your neighbors out 'winks'

 

[lazyfish]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Thanks Maclin, I'll keep that in mind! Good news on the title, the marina owner dug deeper and the title is free and clear from any liens, so we will be doing the transfer tomorrow!!! Maclin, you got any recommendations on a mobile mechanic that can come do a diagnostic on it? The guy that was recommended to me hasnt returned any of my calls, so I'm looking elsewhere.

did you get the title,just wondering,I have alot of arguments with people wether or not you can get a title to boat when you bought with out a title.I always thought it was process enough I will not buy one without title.

oh I thought i read the whole post guess not it says above you got the title,sorry.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

abatt, where are you located? If its somewhere where it gets cold and the boat wasn't properly winterized... you very well could have a cracked block... or if it does run you can see if the block is leaking anywhere...

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

IT EFFING STARTED IT STARTED IT STARTED IT MFING STARTED!!!!!

</collects himself>

Good evening gents, wonderful news on the 200 dollar prayer (hey thats a good name for the thing)! Much to my surprise and ellation, the last time this old thing was docked the previous owner was gracious enough to winterize it! My mechanic go it fired up in less than an hour, and to top that, it actually ran pretty well!

Issues:
Cut wires, stripped hardware in cabin, no prop, too much old fuel in the tank, couple of worn out boat cushions.

Pros:
The engine is mfing strong! Cleaned up pretty well (pictures coming tomorrow), girlfriends father is an EE and will help me with the electrical issues. Fishing is great off the slip.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Fishing is great off the slip.

That's going to save you a lot of money on gas.