Looking at a used boat....Please help!

[ChipT]

I have a chance to purchase a '89 sea Nymph 15.5' with a Johnson 25hp for $500. The boat belongs to a friend and has been sitting for 10 years under a tarp and shelter most of the time. The boat cleaned up nicely however the flooring is rotten and needs replacing. The motor ran fine when it last ran. What do I need to do before I run the motor...fuel lines,tank, filter, carb rebuild? This is my first boat and any help is appreciated. Where are some good resources on the internet for rplacing the flooring and engine parts? Is $500 a good buy for a boat that needs some work and the trailer needs new tires? Again thanks!

 

[DJ]

Re: Looking at a used boat....Please help!

Chip,<br /><br />Restoring the floor in the boat is relatively easy. I just did an entire Sea Nymph restoration. You can see it here.<br /><br /> http://mypeoplepc.com/members/djohns19/djohns19/ <br /><br />At a minimum I would do the following to the engine.<br /><br />1. Rebuild the carb.<br /><br />2. Replace the water pump (impeller).<br /><br />3. Change the lower unit fluid. Make sure to replace the drain/fill plug screw seals.<br /><br />4. Carefully check for dry rotted fuel hoses under the cowling.<br /><br />With that done, it should be good to go.

 

[ChipT]

Re: Looking at a used boat....Please help!

Thanks djohns for the reply and your boat looks great. What plywood and what carpet did you use and where is a good place to get the supplies? Any good sites on the internet for all this info. I need?

 

[DJ]

Re: Looking at a used boat....Please help!

Chip,<br /><br />Stick with us, we'll help you.<br /><br />1. Plywood. I just used a high grade 1/2" from Home Depot. I did paint it both sides.<br /><br />2. Carpet. Again, Home Depot porch and deck exterior grade. Glued down with porch and deck waterproof glue, again from HD.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Looking at a used boat....Please help!

sounds like a good deal.if it is the type of boat you want then yaa go for it.like djohns19 said floors are not that hard they just take time.i bought a my first boat and it needed a floor also.what i did was got the engine running and went though the trailer.the floor waited till the winter time i used the boat for a season to make sure i liked boating before i put time into the floor. i just screwed down some plywood over the old floor and went fishing haha.needless to say i loved it and put a floor in over the winter.you wanna make sure you change the water pump for sure evein if it looks good and pumps water. they are cheap insurance it only takes a few seconds for not pumping water to waste an engine.