Having purchased a Sunbird sailboat at the end of last summer, I was reminded of two things: how much I like being out on the water, and how few days there are where there is sun, 8-14mph wind, docks in the water, and no expectation for me to be at work. I also learned that a 15ft cuddy sailboat wasn't very conducive to restless dogs, groups of more than 3 people, fishing/trolling, tubing/skiiing, stretching out and sunbathing, or shade under a canopy. Plus it's difficult to eat or drink when your hands are busy with ropes and a tiller. So decided a motorboat was in order, for the days I wanted to do any of the above.
Shopping on Craigslist wasn't much unlike my experiences in internet dating. What looked good presented in photos and a promising description turned out to be real disappointments when visiting in person. I saw all sorts of hideousness: waterlogged hulls, wet rotten wood, over-max engines mounted to cracked transoms, engines running on one cylinder, pinstriping and "Fear This" permanently embedded under rollered paint because the owner didn't bother to scrape with a razor, hulls "patched" with hot glue, and moss/algae growing on the deck and interior. The only thing more astounding than the number of untarped and uncovered boats are the prices people ask for them. I learned that if I saw dead leaves in the boat online (mind you, this is July/August), not to bother visiting -- as they inevitably turned out to be soaked on the inside, despite a lack rain for past week. If an owner wasn't caring for the boat to sell it, they likely weren't caring for it in ownership.
I was at my wits end, and two hours from home, when I gave the guy who listed this Super Sport a call. His photos were taken from inside a barn, which was promising in light of my prior waterlogged disappointments. He not only knows the guy who he bought it from, but also knows the owner before him. Visiting the boat, it became obvious the interior was all original. The carpet is consistent with the "maritime pile" mentioned in the 1978 brochures, and the seats (albeit cracked, split, and a little mouse-chewed in places) match those in the brochure photos. The floors do flex a little at the very rear corners, and will likely have to be replaced within five years, but I think the overall condition of these wearables is testament to the care that was taken by prior owners. It came with all the original soft top, windows, bow and aft covers, and misc canvas... a *little* worn, but all in usable and clean condition. He asked $2000, but accepted the $1800 I had. I don't know whether I overpaid, but compared to the $1000-$1500 dregs I looked it, this boat seems worth it.
I'm aware of the detractors of the OMC 400 Stringer sterndrive... but the motor has start up on the first or second crank, each and every time. GPS speed read about 31mph at WOT with 550lbs of gear/people/dog, using a 13-3/4x15 prop. Blower, bilge, lights, horn, tilt all work. The hull doesn't seem to collecting any significant amount of water, and the rivets all seem to be seated as the should be. What appear to be creases and dents in the photos are not, the marks are just some messy dock/bumper rash.
Things I'd like to address, in order:
(1) The tach is not reading consistently. Sometimes it was reading 0 when at low rpm, other times it times it was at 3000. When I gave it juice (3/4s to WOT), it would skip the 4200-4600 range and go straight to 6000 (end of gauge). I'd like to get this fixed to make sure I'm propped ideally. I've been searching the archives, meanwhile I'm open to ideas here.
(2) The 13-3/4x15 prop looked patched (smoothed out JB-weld? or is that how repaired aluminum is supposed to look?) when I bought it, and had a 1inchX1inch chunk missing from the blade when I took it out of the water yesterday. We hit (soft) bottom once or twice... and did some pretty sharp, high rpm turns at speed... either of which, I suppose, could have done the damage. I don't mind spending $100 for a prop in the ballpark, as long as I know it's in the correct ballpark. I don't feel my tach was accurate yesterday, would anybody have an idea as to what pitch this boat should be running?
(3) One of the Doyle Fins is missing from the outdrive, I'd like to get that replaced.
(4) The Select-Trim is stuck in the (front of the motor lifted) up position. Pressing UP just causes the nut/washer atop the spiral jack to spin round and round and round. (I can't tell if the spiral jack itself is rotating). Pressing down does nothing... no noises, no movement. Thoughts?
(5) The fuel gauge doesn't work, consistently shows E.
And without further ado, a pic from yesterday and some from the ad:
Shopping on Craigslist wasn't much unlike my experiences in internet dating. What looked good presented in photos and a promising description turned out to be real disappointments when visiting in person. I saw all sorts of hideousness: waterlogged hulls, wet rotten wood, over-max engines mounted to cracked transoms, engines running on one cylinder, pinstriping and "Fear This" permanently embedded under rollered paint because the owner didn't bother to scrape with a razor, hulls "patched" with hot glue, and moss/algae growing on the deck and interior. The only thing more astounding than the number of untarped and uncovered boats are the prices people ask for them. I learned that if I saw dead leaves in the boat online (mind you, this is July/August), not to bother visiting -- as they inevitably turned out to be soaked on the inside, despite a lack rain for past week. If an owner wasn't caring for the boat to sell it, they likely weren't caring for it in ownership.
I was at my wits end, and two hours from home, when I gave the guy who listed this Super Sport a call. His photos were taken from inside a barn, which was promising in light of my prior waterlogged disappointments. He not only knows the guy who he bought it from, but also knows the owner before him. Visiting the boat, it became obvious the interior was all original. The carpet is consistent with the "maritime pile" mentioned in the 1978 brochures, and the seats (albeit cracked, split, and a little mouse-chewed in places) match those in the brochure photos. The floors do flex a little at the very rear corners, and will likely have to be replaced within five years, but I think the overall condition of these wearables is testament to the care that was taken by prior owners. It came with all the original soft top, windows, bow and aft covers, and misc canvas... a *little* worn, but all in usable and clean condition. He asked $2000, but accepted the $1800 I had. I don't know whether I overpaid, but compared to the $1000-$1500 dregs I looked it, this boat seems worth it.
I'm aware of the detractors of the OMC 400 Stringer sterndrive... but the motor has start up on the first or second crank, each and every time. GPS speed read about 31mph at WOT with 550lbs of gear/people/dog, using a 13-3/4x15 prop. Blower, bilge, lights, horn, tilt all work. The hull doesn't seem to collecting any significant amount of water, and the rivets all seem to be seated as the should be. What appear to be creases and dents in the photos are not, the marks are just some messy dock/bumper rash.
Things I'd like to address, in order:
(1) The tach is not reading consistently. Sometimes it was reading 0 when at low rpm, other times it times it was at 3000. When I gave it juice (3/4s to WOT), it would skip the 4200-4600 range and go straight to 6000 (end of gauge). I'd like to get this fixed to make sure I'm propped ideally. I've been searching the archives, meanwhile I'm open to ideas here.
(2) The 13-3/4x15 prop looked patched (smoothed out JB-weld? or is that how repaired aluminum is supposed to look?) when I bought it, and had a 1inchX1inch chunk missing from the blade when I took it out of the water yesterday. We hit (soft) bottom once or twice... and did some pretty sharp, high rpm turns at speed... either of which, I suppose, could have done the damage. I don't mind spending $100 for a prop in the ballpark, as long as I know it's in the correct ballpark. I don't feel my tach was accurate yesterday, would anybody have an idea as to what pitch this boat should be running?
(3) One of the Doyle Fins is missing from the outdrive, I'd like to get that replaced.
(4) The Select-Trim is stuck in the (front of the motor lifted) up position. Pressing UP just causes the nut/washer atop the spiral jack to spin round and round and round. (I can't tell if the spiral jack itself is rotating). Pressing down does nothing... no noises, no movement. Thoughts?
(5) The fuel gauge doesn't work, consistently shows E.
And without further ado, a pic from yesterday and some from the ad:
