need advice on this leak spot

[turbocorrado]

my wife wants a bowrider, were looking at cheap boats, in the $3-4k range. so i know im not getting a perfect boat. found a 97 wellcraft with a great hull, floors felt very solid. interior is a bit rough, and this 1 spot in the ski tunnel, its the only spot i could find anywhere on the boat. im looking for something to last about 5 years before i have to worry about replacing floors/stringers





here is the spot in querstion
[URL="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/nab627b/media/20140707_203541_zps46dc53a6.jpeg.html"]

 

[palace]

The old test is to drill into it to see if there is rot or not. But since the boat may not be yours, poke with an all in several spots. Take out for a test drive on the water for sure, before you hand over the cash! From the picture it does look like some rot has started. You never know until you drill or cut.

 

[palace]

The old test is to drill into it to see if there is rot or not. But since the boat may not be yours, poke with an all in several spots. Take out for a test drive on the water for sure, before you hand over the cash! From the picture it does look like some rot has started. You never know until you drill or cut. In Jersey if it has been in salt water more potential for rot if not taken care of. Wellcraft is a quality boat.

 

[greenbush future]

The stain is one concern, but the wood about the stain (Plywood?) looks to be well into the rot stages. Is that the floor we are seeing in the picture with the ply wood looking edge?

 

[Woodonglass]

What year is she? How has she been maintained? Know who's worked on her in the past? Got any maintenance Records? How and where has she been stored? I'd recommend bouncing on the outdrive and checking for flex in the transom. For sure putting her on the water and see how she performs and checking for leaks. What kind of Drive Train does she Have? How does the motor compartment look? Check the motor mount area and see how they look. Check the interior transom for discoloration and soft spots. Poke around with a screwdriver. Get down under the hull especially back at the transom area. Hows the Keel? Got any Beech Rash?? Check the corners of the deck for soft spots. Be very Thorough. Don't be bashful and afraid you'll offend the owner. If they get offended...Walk away.

 

[turbocorrado]

I'd recommend bouncing on the outdrive and checking for flex in the transom. For sure putting her on the water and see how she performs and checking for leaks. Got any maintenance Papers? Know who's worked on her in the past? What kind of Drive Train does she Have? How does the motor compartment look? Check the motor mount area and see how they look. Check the interior transom for discoloration and soft spots. Poke around with a screwdriver. Get down under the hull especially back at the transom area. Hows the Keel? Got any Beech Rash?? Check the corners of the deck for soft spots. Be very Thorough. Don't be bashful and afraid you'll offend the owner. If they get offended...Walk away.

its a merc 4.3 alpha gen 2 outdrive, the bellows are ripped so its not going in the water. the motor fired right up and ran fine, all the gauges worked, shifted into gear fine, trim + trailer raising worked perfect. hull looked great, keel looked great, the outside of the boat looked excellent. there are some barnacles on the skeg area. transom looked good, engine area looked great, deck had no discoloration or soft spots, i stepped on every possible spot, other then the 1 spot inside the ski tunnel, no maintenance records, its currently at a guys place in PA who used to be pretty big in the speed boat world, not sure if he still is. name is doc holliday, he is not the owner, hes selling it for a friend who lives in NY

 

[Woodonglass]

Well you can't tell anything by just LOOKING!! What's the asking price?