Need Help

[wildmaninal]

Re: Need Help

I know you are determined to get this boat. But when you get the boat and need help on the transom replacement give these guys a holler, they should be able to walk you through it and yes it's going to be a back breaking job. It doesn't mater if that boat was left out of the water for its whole life it still may have transom rot going on. Being that it has never touched salt water is great for the motor aspect of the deal. Have you asked the man if he ever replaced the transom? There are other boats out there keep in mind.

When I would help or encounter a relative searching for a boat, they would always stay away from the adds that said newly installed floor and transom. I didn't own a boat during the time, but it had me skeptical on getting a boat with a new floor installed. It wasn't until I bought my first boat that was a science project and project boat all rolled into one that I gained respect for all the boats advertised with new floors & transom installed because if it was done right the owner put some hard labor into the boat. Then I came to this site and seen all of these boat projects being restored and it just added on to the respect and knowledge that I already gained from my own experience. Just thought I would share that.

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

Im not determined to get this boat but it looks like a good deal and dont want to lose it just because there is a chance of something being there. If you know of something better, by all means, please let me know. I am just trying to learn as much as I can about this.

Would I be better going for an aluminum boat? What are the pro's and cons of an aluminum boat? I saw one over the summer (about 18' and a v hull) that needed some minor work but I walked away because it was aluminum. I can check if its still there.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Need Help

I honestly don't know to much about the aluminum boats. I have heard that the rivets holding them together can eventually come loose, and that would lead to having to replace the loose rivets and sealing them with the proper silicon. If you put a hole in it well I have also heard that you can get them welded of course to patch the hole, with the proper aluminum welding rods or wire. My uncle's fisher ski and fishing boat is an aluminum hull. Some people say they ride different then a fiberglass boat.

I prefer fiberglass myself, to patch all you got to do is get the resin, hardener, and fiberglass and the right mixture and patch the hole or repair whatever needs to be repaired.

Some links on the subject of aluminum over fiberglass

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=92410&highlight=aluminum+over+fiberglass

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=221866&highlight=aluminum+over+fiberglass

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=178049&highlight=aluminum+over+fiberglass
This link is about a man with a similar question

 

[maxturbo]

Re: Need Help

Make sure to take it to a marina that the owner doesnt know. You dont want to take a chance in taking it to a marina that he might be friends with.
And as far as the guy showing u a video that doesnt mean anything. When was that video taken?
In the pictures is that a cardboard box under the seats?
Just make sure you check everything on that boat including the floor and motor. Make sure theres no soft spots on the floor.
Goodluck, let us know what happens.
And dont forget this is a good time to buy a boat so im sure there will be plenty of good deals.

 

[Ride The Lightning]

Re: Need Help

Im not determined to get this boat but it looks like a good deal and dont want to lose it just because there is a chance of something being there.

Have you eyed up the boat carefully? If you have done so, you are on minimum risk.

JUST DO IT!

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

OK...I am going to take a look at the boat on Saturday. What do I look for, I mean, how do I tell if there is rot or its not just the reverse cable thats gone bad?

On Saturday, I will be looking at the boat myself and taking it out for a test. If I think that everything is okay, I will then bring it by a marina to get a second opinion. What do you guys think?

 

[oops!]

Re: Need Help

welcome to i boats
that boat looks like its spent quite a bit of time in the water. contrary to what the seller says.
if you take the advice here, you woll walk away a winner.
boat or no boat.
you might want to do a quick market survey. check craigslist for a simmelar boat. also e-bay. just so you have somthing to compair it to

cheers
oops

 

[oops!]

Re: Need Help

if your concerned about rot. tash is the guy.

however, take a rubber mallet, and hit the transom. sharp sound is good. dull means RUN AWAY. step on the floors feel for soft spots.

im not discouraging you but 2 grand for that is ....well....a lot of money.
look at the picks on sold a boat and it busted thread. that boat went for $4500. (forget the fact that it busted, thats a whole lotta typing)

good luck

and btw
take a safe boating course. ittl keep ya out of the stupid human tricks forum!

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

OK...took a look at it today and I will not be going through with this boat. It does have transom rot but everything else is in check. The motor runs beautifully and would love to see what it could do with that boat.

The rot was not really the thing that sent me away but rather the fact that I think it is to small. I would like a boat that I could possibly go out of the bay with and this is just not it. It would be great on a lake but just not for the ocean.

Found out that my neighbor has a 20' in his yard that he is looking to get rid of. The boat is in pretty good shape and had has just been there for the past two years. The only thing about it is that there is no trailer. Other then ebay, where could I look for one? And would a Nissan Quest have any troubles towing it? Its a V6.

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

I found a picture. Can anyone tell me what it is? This is not the exact boat, but the same one. When he bought it, he got 2 and gave one to his father. His father doesn't use it and he said he would sell it to us. The only difference is that his fathers boat has a rail in the front, the center piece is moved up more, and there is a live well.

 

[oops!]

Re: Need Help

please remember.
if your going out on the bay.(ocean)
you need freeboard for that.
the distance between the waterline and the top of the side.

cheers

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

That boats got plenty. My neighbor goes all over with his.

 

[oops!]

Re: Need Help

hey paulz
dont know where you live but there is a 1988 chapparral 18 footer for cheep on e-bay its got a trailer.
looks good. if i was within a thousand miles id buy it!
it ends in 16 hrs.
cheers
oops

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Need Help

I would approach any owner who tells you that the only reason the motor won't stay in reverse is because of cable adjustment, with caution. I'd be willing to bet a beer or two that the real problem is a worn clutch dog because if the only problem was cable adjustment, the marine mechanic would have spent the 5 mintues that it takes to adjust the cable doing exactly that! If the clutch dog is worn, chances are the gears need to be "cut" too. At $70 - $90 an hour for shop rates to remove the lower unit, tear it down, cut the gears, replace the dog and reassemble the whole thing ,,, plus the parts and consumables ... you will have to shell out more than a few bucks to fix this.

As for the transom, there are a couple of ways to do it properly, with the second one being the most widely accepted by any of the experts I have ever talked to. First, you can cut the very rear portion of the boat's cap off and work from above. If you do this, you have to dig all the old wood out and replace it and then re-fiberglass the area that you removed. This usually leaves a very noticeable patch on the boat. The second way is to completely remove the cap, exposing the top of the transom and sides, and then do the wood replacement. Do not let anyone talk you into cutting any of the vertical portions of the hull, inner or outer, open.

As the others suggested, find an expert, disinterested party to examine the boat for you before buying.

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

I saw the boat that you were talking about and its nice, but its an inboard. I want and OB.