Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

[BigBadJohn86]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

Why did your friend park it to begin with? It can't hurt and doesn't cost anything to go look, just gas and time. Take a camera and get some pix. I've seen some real classics that have been found buried in old barns.

From what I gather they just stopped boating

 

[Challenger84]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

I picked up a boat a few months back.
It has been sitting outside uncovered with drain plug out for over 7 YEARS!! The engine was covered. I live in the Bay Area California so there was no worries about winterizing.
The floor and everything else is solid.
I put in a few hundred for the tune up and rebuilt the carbs my self. There is a link to a video on how to do it. Very easy to follow and do.

I changed the starter. plugs/wires, thermostat, impeller, dist, ign. coil. and now she starts up every time and idles very nice.

The interior will def. need replacing.
You can wrap the seats yourself.
Did a little wet-sand and buff.
I have included before and after pics for you.

before

After:

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

looks good.
the most important fact was that the plug was left out. If it drains, no problem.
I see a lot of neglected bow riders and cabins on trailers, with the bow too low to drain. So you get a big puddle in the middle. History.

 

[blairjbyrd]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

I picked up a boat a few months back.
It has been sitting outside uncovered with drain plug out for over 7 YEARS!! The engine was covered. I live in the Bay Area California so there was no worries about winterizing.
The floor and everything else is solid.
I put in a few hundred for the tune up and rebuilt the carbs my self. There is a link to a video on how to do it. Very easy to follow and do.

I changed the starter. plugs/wires, thermostat, impeller, dist, ign. coil. and now she starts up every time and idles very nice.

The interior will def. need replacing.
You can wrap the seats yourself.
Did a little wet-sand and buff.
I have included before and after pics for you.

before

After:

Looks very good!! what wet sand did you start with and what did you end with. My boat needs a good cleaning.

 

[dtillotson]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

1) You HAVE to start and test drive this boat before investing a dime. I mean don't even pay for the gallon of gas to start it.

2) Put all of your weight on the outdrive, yes stand on it! And bounce for all your worth. If there is "any" give in the transom, tell him that you'll report him if he sells that death trap to ANYONE!!

 

[BigBadJohn86]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

1) You HAVE to start and test drive this boat before investing a dime. I mean don't even pay for the gallon of gas to start it.

2) Put all of your weight on the outdrive, yes stand on it! And bounce for all your worth. If there is "any" give in the transom, tell him that you'll report him if he sells that death trap to ANYONE!!

If I did decide this boat might be something I wanted, how would I test drive it? I'm sure it hasn't been registered in 8+ years

 

[NYBo]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

Eight-year-old gas might account for the no-start.

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

$200.00 Max.
If it was in a shed a moisture meter wont tell you much if it wasn't out for 10 years. I would take a pen knife and try a dig into the transom if you can get to it.
I'm guessing stale gas and mice nests would stop it from starting.
Even if you do all the work yourself its going to cost a lot to get it up to snuff but you could get lucky too.

 

[BigBadJohn86]

Re: Never looked at a boat before and might on Wednesday. Please help

Took a look at the boat today. From the stern to bow was only 16'
Had a merc 140 and merc outdrive. No signs on gearbox leaking
Was not in garage but under a carport uncovered. From what I could tell there had been mice, cats, snakes and mud daubbers in there plus who knows what else
I pushed down hard on the outdrive. Did not budge. Floor seemed somewhat solid.
The front of the boat on the underside of the hull, there were several blisters.
Trailer tires were in bad shape. He said he had aired them up earlier

All sorts of crap on the floor of the boat. Mud dobber nests, grass from mouse nests, some cat crap, and a few snake skins

Tried to start the engine. Turned over fine but would not run. Has 312 hours on meter
Trailer and boat hadnt been registered since '98 so it had been sitting 12 years.

Maybe if it had been covered and not exposed to the sun/blistered hull Id consider it but I think Ill pss. Unless some day the price is little or free
Maybe Ill just wait several years and get one for a few thousand