Is this a good for the boat price considering?

[zarillus]

Guys,

I want to thank everybody for there recent posts!! You guys have helped me tremendously!! Well i found another boat it's a 71 Slickcraft for $800.00.It's got an inline 6 mercruiser.I've attached some pictures to look at.

The seller states it has been re-painted inside and out,new deck,and a recent tune up and low hours on the motor.However he also said the linkage from the stern drive to the lower unit needs a part? He said he got a quote for $300.00 in labor and a $50.00 part.

When i asked him what the $50 part was he couldn't tell me.He just kept saying it's the linkage.What part could this be?As you can see the lower unit is off.Appaerentlythe linkage from the transom to the lower drive unit got misaligned when putting it back on.So what could be the problem with this?

Could this be something major?

Is it worth looking at for $800.00

Thanks

Mark

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

What part could this be?

Ayuh,..

The Lower Shift Cable, Maybe,..??

 

[KurtG]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

As much as I would say yes given that $800 is change for a boat, I'm going to say no based on the economy and what I've seen out there in our area for the same price (i.e. a running boat with the outdrive intact).

The replaced deck also has me concerned that they might have overlooked the stringers and I also don't care for the paint job, but that is a personal thing.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

Mechanical issues aside, I don't think that's a good boat. It has NO interior space. Between the closed bow and the engine bay that takes up the entire rear of the boat there's very little usable space inside. Looks like you could barely fit 4 people in there. I have a closed bow and I'm not a fan of the wasted space in mine and this one is clearly even worse.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

yes it is worth looking at, and getting an answer as to what the part is.

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.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

I agree with the above plus would add, in it's current state you would not even be able to start it and run it very well. You maybe could get water to it somehow but it would be a pain. were you going to take his word that it runs well without smoke/knock/lifter noise/etc. I would at least want to hook it up to some muffs and hear it run. Thats just me though, plus the space that is wasted is something to consider unless you never plan on going with more than 3-4 people MAX. Yes you could store stuff in the closed bow and the stern compartment and if only a coulpe ever go you would have plenty of room. He wants eight hun for it and could be another five plus hun to get it useable so now your 12-13 into it and as we all know old boats ALWAYS need something. Just something to think about.

 

[zarillus]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

Well apparently the floor got replaced but the stringers didn't what is the chance the stringers would be good on a 38 year old boat?

Thanks

Mark

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

Not good. Especially if they had to replace the floor. Someone on here once said that boats typically rot from the bottom up.....

Zarillus, you should update your profile to include your location. Lots of people on here like to cruise ebay, craigslist, etc for fun and may be able to help you find something.

 

[zarillus]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

If your gonna do something do it right the first time... wouldn't you agree!!I'm so tired of guys trying to get a 1,000 dollars for some rotted out shell of a boat.If it's a project boat they should say that but then again they couldn't ask for a grand for it.grrrrrr

It is very discouraging looking at craigslist,all i'm looking for is a decent bowrider that can hold 4 people comfortable,pull a tube, do a little fishing and that's it.

All i see is junk,however i am only wanting to spend a grand.There has to be a decent bowrider for a grand right guys?LoL

 

[zarillus]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

So guys if the only thing it needs is a small part wouldn't this be a good deal?I won't be traveling with more than 4 people at a time and i plan on putting in back to back seats.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

Free would be too much if the stringers are rotten. If the floor was replaced, then the stringers also needed it. All the seller did was cover the defect, paint the rest of it and put a for sale sign on it.

 

[BigJ08]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

what is the chance the stringers would be good on a 38 year old boat?

Not to be rude but, VERY BAD, especially if the deck has already been replaced once.

So guys if the only thing it needs is a small part wouldn't this be a good deal?I won't be traveling with more than 4 people at a time and i plan on putting in back to back seats.

I don't know where you're at, but in my area, $800 can get you something that at least runs. In a used boat, I consider to drive system/outboard to be a large part of the value of the boat. So if you buy this boat, without seeing it run, you could be buying someone else's problem. Leaving you with a virtually worthless boat that you paid $800 for. One last note, I don't really like I/O systems, because I think they are more complicated and leave more to go wrong that an outboard, outboards are also a lot easier to work on IMO. I would keep looking.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

You usually get what you pay for or less!! Go figure. A cheap boat ain't cheap! enough said

 

[jonesg]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

Its gussied up junk.
the stringers are shot, the engine incapacitated so you can't test it.
The transom is probaby on its way out with the stringers too.
Unless its been replaced consider it due.

Consider upping your budget a bit so you will get a decent non rotted hull and a good outboard.

Try not to rush into this, take time to find out the real condition of each boat you look at. If I can't test an engine I consider it to be shot.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

You can count on engine repairs and out drive problems until you junk the boat. It is a money pit. Consider only the value of the hull. Unfortunatly it is an I/O so it is not a simple matter of hanging a new motor. My guess is that it is in FL. Plenty of reasonably priced boats out there, keep looking. My opinion, buy something with an outboard. FRED

 

[ziggy]

Re: Is this a good for the boat price considering?

i'd avoid it too. i've got a 72 trisonic in my back yard that's trash (restorable trash though w/ sentimental value to me). the deck was replaced and is nice and solid. the stringers however were not. my very first sign i was hosed was when i removed a ft engine mount lag screw. the screw looked more like a nail and the hole it screwed into was a size to big even for a new screw because of rot. all the new deck did for me was make it discouraging to remove the deck because it's solid and miserable to cut through. i wished it'd have never been replaced so i could just rip and tear a rotten deck out... from what i've tore out i can see rotton stringers with boards (that are rotton too) scabbed onto the stringers they used to mount the new deck too.

the pic of the engine aint to big and is hard to see. but it looks kinda short to me for a L6... it does have 6 plug wires dont it? kinda irrelevent though as i stand by my above statement... someones just covered up the sins is all. i'd bet that is a money pit to the max + labor intensive..

you get that boat and ya'll end up with what i have, a hull in my back yard w/o a drive, w/o a engine, w/o stingers and possibly w/o a transom.. a nice solid deck though... that'll be miserable to cut through to go repair whats underneath...
keep looking i think..