Should i buy this???? HELP PLEASE!

[Kounterfeit]

So my parents own a '88 bayliner, with a 125 force, which could be mine for $1,000. The hull seems solid, motor runs, trailer is solid. Needs to be re wired but that's cake for me. Anyways, the deck is in pretty rough shape I think. I was thinking of doing some patch work but I'm afraid that I'm getting in deep with this deck. The bow between the seats is so soft I pretty much fell through it, right around the edges of the hatch is soft and falls in if you step on it, hatch itself is real soft, pretty much the front half of the deck is probably going to need to be replaced. Stern seems to be ok, but then again you're standing on the fuel tank.

Here are some pictures. Tell me what you guys think, and what I'm getting into, and if it's even worth $1,000.

 

[Maclin]

Just say No. Soft to the point of "almost falling through" should be enough to make you walk away once you get your foot back out of the mess. You cannot just replace the deck because there is structure underneath that has rotted away. Boats rot from the bottom up, so if the deck is that soft there is nothing left underneath. That era of Bayliner has a reputaion for not lasting very long if not treated well.

 

[MTboatguy]

Well, around my parts, the motor is worth close to a grand, so it would be a good buy for a guy who is good with projects, just to let you know, it won't be just the front part of the deck that needs to be replaced, by the way you are describing it, I would say the whole deck needs to be replaced along with the stringer and probably the transom. If you are falling through the deck, you can bet the major damage is underneath the deck in those stringers. This is not uncommon for a boat of that age and there is a whole bunch of us that hang out in the restoration section that can give advise on the best way to do it. One thing to remember, unless you are real motivated, it is probably not going to be a quick one and will take time and hard work to do. The good thing a lot of them older Bayliners are pretty desirable boats.

 

[roscoe]

Its gonna cost you a grand and 80 hard hours of labor to get the floor and stringers in shape.
Another 500 and 40 hours for the transom.
2 grand for seating.

And then you have that motor, which may be good, but is way underpowered for that boat.
And most shops won't work on it.

So you have to ask yourself if you are ready, willing, and able, to stick $4500 and 120 hours of labor into that boat.

Or are you better off finding a turnkey water ready boat with a more modern engine, for $3500 - $4000 ?????

In the midwest, thats a 400 trailer and a $200 parts motor. The hull is junk.



http://madison.craigslist.org/boa/5092053154.html


http://madison.craigslist.org/boa/5110271713.html

http://madison.craigslist.org/boa/5115487751.html




or..........

http://greenbay.craigslist.org/boa/5106142124.html

 

[southkogs]

If the motor runs well and strong, then it might be worth the purchase ... Force is kinda' a funny motor. Some folks like 'em, others don't. I have a feeling that hull is full of problems.

If you're wanting something that'll get on the lake right away and you can go have fun with ... pass on this one.

 

[MTboatguy]

A 125 on a small boat like that is way under powered? I am going to have to disagree on that, yes it might be a Force, but there are still many places to get parts for them if you look and in my area there are two shops that advertise they work on them, in fact I can find a shop to work on a Force much easier than I can find one to work on a Tohatsu!

That said as Southkogs said, it is not going to get you on the water this season, unless you are real motivated, but if you are like most of us, it would be at least next summer before you could start having any fun with it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

since the boat is your parents boat, you may have sentimental attachement.

However before you let sentimental heart strings pull more than wallet strings

read the stickies http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...r/295740-how-to-s-and-other-great-information

specifically read the entire thread http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...nature-deck-and-stringer-restoration?t=510077

I see a mid 80's bayliner that was left outside in the elements uncovered. without the pictures and your original post, those two statements indicate that the stringers, transom and deck is rotten. (any boat left outside will rot, and mid 80's bayliners did not have enough encapsulation of interior wood.) your post just confirms it.

boats rot from the keel upward. I tend to agree with Roscoe's assessment, however depending on where you are, the fiberglass and wood may cost a bit more, and the interior a bit less. but definately $3500-$4500 range for a restoration to make the boat useable. I also think that the 120 hours is light, more like 200 hours.

 

[smokeonthewater]

I know a guy with an identical boat to that one... He payed $500 for it and wishes he hasn't.
It was supposedly in the water the day before he bought it and just had a "couple small soft spots in the floor"
He thought he was gonna fix it up and make a huge profit.... A few months after he bought it he was moving it in his driveway and the fiberglass transom ripped because the wood structure was rotten and the motor nearly fell off....

His boat and that one are both dead...

A soft spot in the floor may as well be a bullet to the head.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Run, Forrest, Run!
Anyone who know me knows that I am a Force fan (I own about 20 Chrysler and Force engines) and that I believe that Bayliners get a bad rap.

HOWEVER---That boat isn't worth stealing. You may have had fun on it and may be emotionally attached but in this case you are stepping into a deep hole--very likely over your head.

Inform your parents Thanks, but no thanks. That boat is just too much for your repair skills.



My question is this: Are your parents in such need that they MUST sell the boat to you? Sounds hard from here. But even if gifted to you, It still is not worth it.

 

[batman99]

knowing what I know today, run away very fast.

Boats are like that iceberg thing. One only sees 1/3 of the object. The other 2/3 is hidden from one's eyes. If the top 1/3 is ripped, torn seats and rotten surface boards, the understand is that bad as well. The underside is even more dangerious. Bet the Captain of Titanic sad the same thing. re: I didn't see that unseen danger..

If it were me, I'd run away "very fast". Life is too short to be renovating / fixing boats. One should be using them instead...

 

[WIMUSKY]

If your parents would "give" it to you and you don't mind gutting the whole thing, then go for it. But, you'll have more money into it than it would be worth. In other words, you would want to keep it quite awhile to get your money out of it.....

 

[JASinIL2006]

Here's a thread you might want to read. It's currently happening in the Restoration forum, and it's titled "How long does a rebuild take?" http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...l-repair/9957015-how-long-does-a-rebuild-take

Your boat would not be toward the low end, either in time or money, because of the structural issues (it looks like you'd be gutting it totally, down to just the hull) and the cosmetic issues (all upholstery looks shot).

I saw a couple of boats in this shape when I was shopping for my boat. You might get your $1000 back if you parted out the motor, the trailer and any hard-to-find parts (e.g., sometimes windshields can bring in a few bucks), but that boat really isn't worth repairing. Sorry, man.

 

[Maclin]

I do understand the appeal, those were pretty cool looking boats when new or new-ish. But unless all you want is the motor and trailer, well, that is not a good way to spend money just to get out on the lake.

 

[Kounterfeit]

Yeah thanks guys. Decided I'm going to pass on this. Will wait for a better deal to come along. I pretty patient when it comes to spending money. No emotional attachment at all, if anything frustration. Been dead in the water more than once with it.

 

[mercurymang]

I would like to think that Mom and Pops would cut you a better deal than that. Like free.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Mom and pop are PROBABLY like the majority of uninformed boaters who think it "just needs some tlc". They likely think it's a $3500 boat with minor repairs and that they were offering him a killer deal.... Just my $.02

I suggest telling pop that he should advertise the engine for $800, when it sells, haul the boat to the dump and pay to get it gone, then advertise the trailer for $450....