New Member Intro & Hopeful boat owner seeks insp. advice

[enlightphoto]

I found iboats forums while researching a boat purchase I will hopefully be making this weekend. To say that finding this forum is like finding a goldmine is an UNDERSTATEMENT!! I am so impressed by the amount of helpful replies that threads here get. I hope some of you may be willing to bestow some of your wisdom in my direction.

Here's the deal; boated w/ my dad growing up on a couple nice boats; CC 20' SEARAY w/ (johnson?) 115hp OB, followed by a good number of years on a Skipjack 28 twin 350 I/O. Had taken CG PA Safety class - gotta better score than my Dad; called him the 'owner' and me the 'capitan'.

Now, after 20+ years off boats, my son is old enough to start fishing, and shoreside just won't cut it. 4 weeks ago he says, I wanna go on a boat ride, and 4 week later I'm ready to by a 1993 Seaswirl Striper 205 w/ EV 140 O/B. Boat is visually excellent, engine very clean w 74 hours. Owner says he's had boat for just over a year, selling cuz he doesn't use enough, and can't give me ANY mechanical history on the boat. (Ugh!) Too much mechanical info is one thing, but zero...? I water tested, and it runs and steers well.

This Thursday morning, I've arranged for a professional marine capitan / mechanic to give it the professional mechanical once over, incl. comp. test & check for water in case.

So my question, being away from boats so long, esp. O/B's, what other questions should I ask the mechanic during his inspection? What should I have him show me regarding safe and proper operating conditions?

Any thoughts or questions, no matter how obvious, please feel free to shout'm out.

Thanks in advance for any replies. (Now to continue my 72 hour nonstop iboats thread reading marathon.)

Cheers, & happy to be here...

Gary.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: New Member Intro & Hopeful boat owner seeks insp. advice

Welcome to iboats and congrats on the boat puchase.
Should ask your engine questions in the Johnson/Evinrude outboard forum.

Next, please remove the business adverts from your sig.
That is not allowed here on iboats.
Again, welcome aboard.

 

[enlightphoto]

Re: New Member Intro & Hopeful boat owner seeks insp. advice

Thanks for that, however, my question is more about general O/B & Boat mechanical questions rather than anything specific to the Evinrude. I've given that forum a pretty good read so far.

Sorry about the sig file, just copied en mass from another forum sig file. The biz info & links should be gone now.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: New Member Intro & Hopeful boat owner seeks insp. advice

Thank you.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New Member Intro & Hopeful boat owner seeks insp. advice

soft spots in the deck, transom condition,

 

[bobo1]

Re: New Member Intro & Hopeful boat owner seeks insp. advice

Hi Gary...Sounds like you're on the right track. Maybe the guy is not mechanically inclined and that's why he gives you a blank stare when you mention those things. Now is the time to definitely shop because people aren't thinking boating when Winter is approaching. I just bought a lightly used 14' Lowe/Honda 9.9 down in Manteca. Got a good deal. It's a 2006, the owner only took it out once and decided it wasn't for him. I came across it on Craigslist. That's good for comparisons as well. Get that boy out fishing!