New to forum, buying a used boat.

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Sorry to hear the seller just didn't get it, and apparently still doesn't.

I have seen people place an "informational" ad rebutting the sellers ad, if you're so inclined.

I thought about it, but he has my email and my phone. I don't want to have my email signed up to some weird fetish porn site. Never know who could turn out to be a crazy person in the end.

 

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

I agree completely. I've been shopping the the same area as the OP for years now. I've bought 2 boats for myself and found another for an out of town friend. Most recently, I was shopping for a friend and looked at 5 or 6 boats before we found one. we were also shopping in the fall when there seemed like less buyers to compete with.

We were shopping in the 5000+/- range like you. Having some previous knowledge of what to look for and were to look helped and really came from practice more than anything. What I found was people, generally speaking, have no idea what their boat is worth or what may or may not be wrong with it. Every boat I looked at had issues of some kind, so don't be disappointed by this. Pretty much every one had some rot and or some interior issues due to age or just from being used. Rear bench's were often bad from people climbing over the seats for water sports or perhaps the result of an ambitious mouse looking for a nest. One day looking at one of the nicer boats we found, I was checking around the motor, I dropped my flashlight into the bilge which had a bit of water in it. When I pulled my hand out with the wet flashlight to find a bunch of motor oil. Seller said the guy who changed the oil said there may be some down there. FAIL. How could I accept that excuse? How could he allow me to find that in this "mint condition" boat????

I have more similar stories but you know how they end. We finally decided on a boat that, despite needing a few repairs, had the least amount of rot of the bunch I had looked at, and with the best condition interior. My buddy had to put some money into it initially but has had good luck ever since.

So, my advice it this. don't be discouraged by what you find when you look at a boat that has been misrepresented by the seller. Be encourage that you have been able to pass on the boat because of your reseach and knowedge gained here and in your own experience.

I think this time of year is the worst time for boat shopping, and the sellers are priced high, often ready to hold out for the best offer until the middle of summer when they will start to want to unload the boat before fall. You can't water test the boat now either which puts you at a disadvantage. All this said, get the cash in hand and go out and look. You must be ready to pounce on the good deal because it won't be there long. Don't put much faith in the sellers. They don't seem to know what the heck they've got to begin with.

Good luck!!

Thanks for the advice. The other good news is because of this long haul the other 1/2 agreed to let me look for 18' and can swing it sideways if need be. That opens up a lot of doors as well. I have a few more I'm hoping to see this weekend. I'm sure they will be higher than if they were sold in the fall, but if I keep pushing forward I will find one. I will be cutting down my radius to 3 hour one way drive, which I believe is reasonable.

 

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

I once drove down to Austin, MN to look at a Bronco. Yup, more Craigslist lies. Plywood back window sums it up for the most part.

That sucks. Yup this is a whole different ordeal than cars. With cars its just body and mechanical. Rarely do you have interior issues anymore. Sure theres rust, but pictures can tell a lot about that with cars. With boats the wood brings in a whole new level of research. We shall play a game of find the rot!

 

[captmello]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

That sucks. Yup this is a whole different ordeal than cars. With cars its just body and mechanical. Rarely do you have interior issues anymore. Sure theres rust, but pictures can tell a lot about that with cars. With boats the wood brings in a whole new level of research. We shall play a game of find the rot!

While shopping for my friend, we started referring to the ski locker as the Rot Locker. Checking the side walls of a ski locker was the the first place I checked. Also the bulkhead at the front of the engine bay on an I/O was also a good place to find rot. IMO, a rot free hull in a 20-25 year old boat will be a needle in a haystack.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

IMO, a rot free hull in a 20-25 year old boat will be a needle in a haystack.

Ya just gotta find a good boat lift lake queen like I did.

 

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Well just wanted to say thanks again for all the advice you guys have provided me with and will hopefully continue to do so in the future!!! Just got in from making engine noises with a can of beer in my hand sitting down in the new boat!

Here’s the story it is a TLDR, but if interested it went...

Found the boat on craigslist last night at about 6:00PM. Couldn’t believe the price, but seller left phone number so I decided to give him a call. After many busy signals I finally got through. It was an older gentleman on the phone and I jokingly said you probably have your phone getting rung off the hook. He said yup. Asked the standard questions and decided I should make the trip up. I asked if I could see the boat after work tomorrow and agreed that would be fine. However by the time I would get to Brainerd would be after 6:00pm. He told me he had people coming as early as 12:00PM. So I decided F it I’m going to take a vacation day and head north. I asked him what was the earliest time he would show the boat. He let me know I could see it at 9:00 A.M. I told him I would call at 8:00 for courtesy if I was running behind. He agreed that I would be the first person to see the boat.

Well 2nd time in less than 2 weeks I was driving in a blizzard to go see a boat!! Left my house at 5:00AM just to be sure I’d get there in time. I got to his very nice lake home and as I suspected older gentlemen really take care of their stuff. The boat was absolutely immaculate. The floor was actually solid!! I got out the flashlight and the wood floor in any area I could see looked new. (Yet boat has original carpeting) The engine looked like I could eat off it. He kept every record of the book ever! Also have in instructions for the trim tabs, fish finder original manual, boat registered through 2015 and lifetime trailer license already done. Boat came with stainless steel prop, rain bimini, fitted cover, travel tarp, fish finder and trim tabs. I also got the 4.3, which I really wanted and she just purrs. I put my hand on the engine before he started as I knew it was the first start of the day. In barely over 30 degree weather it didn’t even need a full rotation and she fired right up.

I didn’t haggle him on the price. I knew I was getting a deal and for how polite the seller was and accommodating for letting me see it first I gladly let him take my money.

Boat will be going on the double door side and will have about 5 inches to spare after I split the tongue. Sorry for the garage mess I had to rearrange quickly to get it inside as the temp will be close to freezing tonight.

I have a 1995 Sea Ray 185 5 series.
I need help with *melting ice*

Anyways I suppose that is all for this thread now. I have a list that I will be starting in another thread for the items I can’t find specifically in the forum.

Thanks again!

 

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

 

[saumon]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Congratulations! Nice find. Yep, when one that clean show up, you have to be quick.

Now, you'll miss boats shopping!

 

[fireman_54]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

great job!! sweet find!

 

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Congratulations! Nice find. Yep, when one that clean show up, you have to be quick.

Now, you'll miss boats shopping!

Not at all!! I couldn't be happier to have this toy in my garage. Plus I have a small checklist of little things to keep me busy while we unthaw.

great job!! sweet find!

thanks!

 

[saumon]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Now you'll be parts shopping. Be ready for a little shock when buying marine parts. Every time you pick up something in a marine store and say to yourself "That thing must be worth $10", don't forget to double the total before you reach the cash register!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Congrats! Looks like a great find!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Nice work. Hopefully Spring will arrive soon :thumb:

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Excellent find! Good luck with it.

 

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Now you'll be parts shopping. Be ready for a little shock when buying marine parts. Every time you pick up something in a marine store and say to yourself "That thing must be worth $10", don't forget to double the total before you reach the cash register!

Ive been noticing. Glad I went well under budget with this boat. Even in the pristine condition I know I will have about $500.00 in her before I hit the water just in being preventative.

Congrats! Looks like a great find!

Thanks!!

Excellent find! Good luck with it.

Hopefully she will treat me as well as I treat her! Thank you!

 

[RSVRMAN]

Re: New to forum, buying a used boat.

Started a new thread. Have a few last questions and should be set for when the ice thaws!