Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

[rauch0812]

Considering buying the following boat as our first boat and would love any input we can get! Pictures of it look great! Seller willing to take us on a test ride. Ad reads...


1997 Wellcraft Eclipse 20' Bowrider. 5.7 L 210HP V8. Great condition and runs strong. Lightly loaded, will do 50+ mph on current prop and weighted down will do 45 mph easy. Extremely clean condition and well taken care of. Vinyl is in really good condition with little to no sun fading. Comes with 6 life jackets, new bimini top and Monster tube. Note, boat does not come with trailer and has been kept indoors in a high and dry. $7000.

Thanks,
Desera

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Wellraft is a great boat, the 5.7 is a good combo, not trailer is a big drawback. $7,000 for just the boat is too high, with trailer is still pushing the high side for a 1997. also it could be due for some major deferred maintainance. outdrive off to be serviced, gimbal bearing alignment, exhaust manifolds.

 

[Tommy Monsoon]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Speed is all that you are looking for??? It should not be!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Yup, Wellcraft makes a really good boat. But, this one is 13 years old. Your price point warrants having a professional survey and mechanical inspection done.

One tip- Outdrives require annual maintenance. If the owner can't produce proof of maintenance, then your mindset shouid be that it wasn't done.

Also, you didn't state the make of the outdrive- I assume it's either Mercruiser or Volvo (either is good), but you should check. You don't want to unknowingly buy the last OMC they ever made. I say that only because it'd be just my luck

Good luck!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Even if it was an OMC, that year would actually be a Volvo drive anyway because after 1994 it was the joint venture.

I have a 24' 1998 Eclipse. Its a good middle quality boat like a 4 Winns or a Chaparral.

 

[Philster]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Will do 45 MPH.

Survey will be required to insure it.

You sound excited. Don't be.

Have $2500 in reserve for immediate repairs and deferred maintenance.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Thank you everyone for your replies! Ok, I'm waiting for an email back from the seller letting regarding what type of outdrive the boat has and whether or not he can show me maintenance records. I will plan on negotiating the price. I really appreciate the sound advice!

as for Tommy - I'm not sure why you thought speed was all i was looking for... i simply copy and pasted the sellers ad. I don't care one bit, as long as we can tube behind it. We were looking at boats just a few years older and i'm so tired of looking at rotted floors, so we decided to step up a few year and get into the years with the molded fiberglass floors... which led me to this 97 Wellcraft. That's pretty much been my criteria (since I don't know other criteria I shoud even have...)

as for Philster - I am not insuring the boat... Are you a "glass half empty" kinda guy? I am excited! We're going to have so much fun! I love the water and I love that we're getting into boating! I have set aside emergency boat money. I'm hoping if I follow all of the helpful advice given by the people above I can stay excited AFTER I own the boat, lol.

I posted a second (post? thread?) about a 2002 Maxum that we are also considering... I'd love your input on that boat too!

Thank you!
Desera

 

[Philster]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Your excitement precludes your ability to be objective. Anyone excited at this point needs someone to step in and tell 'em all the stuff they don't want to hear.

Getting excited can lead you to a very bad purchase.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Uh-oh. The dreaded insurance vs. no insurance debate

Insurance isn't just in case you lose your boat- it covers the liability for injury or damage that you might cause. As a brand-new boater I wouldn't be too quick to decide I didn't need it. Boats are heavy when you hit another one or a person. Somebody (like you) is gonna have to pay for thje damage to the boat next to you when your docking attempt goes sour. A spinning prop can really ruin a swimmer's day, or a diver's day. Having a passenger fall overboard is no fun, either.

I don't drive or boat without insurance. I carry towing insurance through BoatUS, too.

my .02

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Agree with the above re insurance. Not only a smart, prudent, logical move to have it but depending upon where you boat you might be prevented from launching without it. Here in the peoples republic of bankrupt calif, many lakes and harbors REQUIRE proof of insurance - just like with cars. And, if you elect not to have it, please let me know where you will be boating LOL. Just my .02 cents. Good luck.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Your excitement precludes your ability to be objective. Anyone excited at this point needs someone to step in and tell 'em all the stuff they don't want to hear.

Getting excited can lead you to a very bad purchase.

+1

Most of us have been there, and many of us have made some really bad choices as a result. We aren't trying to rain on your parade, guy, just telling you to take a step back and generally look objectively at what you're getting into. Trust me, "glass half empty" folks don't own boats. If anything, we're eternally optimistic that the "hole in the water" will somehow get smaller as time goes by...

 

[rauch0812]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Alright, alright... I just left a message for my insurance agent to find out what I'm getting into.

Didn't mean to offend one bit, was just trying to be upbeat about this whole process (us GALS can tend to be that way). The reason I'm posting in this forum at all is I want to do this the smart way.

Again, thank you to everyone for your posts.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Alright, alright... I just left a message for my insurance agent to find out what I'm getting into.

Phil... didn't mean to offend one bit, was just trying to be upbeat about his whole process (us GALS can tend to be that way). The reason I'm posting in this forum at all is I want to do this the smart way.

Again, thank you to everyone for your posts.

LOL! SO sorry for assuming you're a guy- it's an age thing, and no offense intended Forgive me.

You've already impressed me, at least. You're actually LISTENING! There's a ton of great advice on this site, and real experts in every boating subject you can imagine (I'm not one of them).

You're starting on one of the funnest things ever. Ask a lot of questions. We're all happy to lend whatever help we can.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

rauch0812 don't be offended this is the best place for information and advise on boating you will find anywhere on this planet! PERIOD!!!! If I were you though I would use a surveyor to appraise the boat of choice and make sure the seller offsets the cost of no trailer.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

I'm now leaning more toward my post asking advice on purchasing the Maxum. Here's the deal now... since the Wellcraft does not come with a trailer I was trying to find out what a trailer would cost. Apparently since the wellcraft is over 3200lbs the trailer would require brakes. NOBODY around me has a used one (a safe one anyway) for sale and a new one is over $3000 dollars - yikes. Add that to $7000 for the boat (assuming he won't negotiate, he hasn't responded to that email, surprise) and like someone said earlier - I'm talking $10000 minimum for a 13 year old boat.

The 2002 Maxum is listed for $8500 and the 4.3L engine just may be smarter gas wise. This really is tough, I'm nervous, but the glass is still half-full ha!

One thing I did learn in this process was about taking a boat for a test ride (wasn't going to before, now I'm insisting) and you'd be surprised how many people tell me no. Some even say that's completly unreasonable... whatever, on to the next boat...

P.S. the insurance agent gave me a rough quote of $600/yr off the top of his head - he'll get me real figures and options tomorrow...

 

[Philster]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

They'll need a survey from a certified surveyor.

$15/foot is about the going rate.

The survey will list things that need repair, etc. The insurance company will requires these things to be addressed.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

You can probably do way better than that rate on insurance. Try BoatUS.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

I'm trying to get a BoatUS quote online and I have to enter the boat type... would a bowrider like this be considered a Cruiser-Power or Runabout?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

Runabout

 

[superpop]

Re: Should I buy a 97 Wellcraft Eclipse?

The insurance quote you got is way to high. I pay around $250.00 a year for a declared value policy of $28,000.00 on my boat. On my old 1996 Wellcraft Eclipse I was paying about $100.00 a year for $7500.00 of declared value. Both also include max liability coverage as well as towing, which I did use once, best 8 dollar part of the policy I spent. Spun a bearing on a Sunday night on the way back from the lake, no parts stores open and had to get it home. Flatbed truck showed up, loaded it up trailer and all and dropped it in front of my house.