Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

[dzignr_tastz]

Alright. I'm considering purchasing a 2006 Stingray 185LX with a practically new aluminum trailer for basically a wholesale price (or less) that was taken in by an RV dealer on trade. It's in good to excellent shape from what I and a well-versed boating friend of mine can tell; a few minor scuffs and scrapes on the hull with light fading on the gelcoat (most of which which will buff out); the interior is pristine and you could practically eat off the 81-hour Volvo Penta motor; it started right up and idled fine while flushing water through the engine; the floor is rock solid, and while the ski compartment and ends of the stringers were still considerably wet (probably from them washing the entire thing down), there was no apparent moisture damage or rot; brand new battery; all gauges work; etc. The only thing I can see that is obviously wrong is the walk-thru windshield won't close and is off by about 3/8".

Now I've read this last issue can be a hull problem (but there are no apparent stress cracks or anything), a simple adjustment issue (which it's obvious someone has tried to do before, albeit a poor job), or even just from sitting on the trailer (which taking it off and into the water would identify). That noted, the primary problem is that I think the dealership just really doesn't want to bother with a water test as they don't deal in boats and are flipping it for next to nothing. I'm also thinking maybe he realized after the fact that he priced it a little low and would like to see me back out at this point (as I put a small refundable deposit down), and given all the circumstances, I just hate to pass up a potentially awesome deal solely on the lack of an on-water test (which my boating friend said he would not buy the boat without).

So - opinions? I know people sometimes buy boats at auctions and whatnot without water tests, so I guess it happens on occasion. And are there any other possible protection options? Ask for a 3-day guarantee? Buy a 3rd party boat warranty? I'm just curious what the experts think, and thanks in advance for any quick answers you can provide (as this is a somewhat time-sensitive issue)...

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

Do not buy without an on the water test drive.

 

[dzignr_tastz]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

And what makes you say that in my particular situation (other than it just being the general overall consensus and an obviously good rule of thumb)?

 

[sschefer]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

I would only buy a new boat or one from a friend without a water test. Any thing else and a water test is a absolute must. Dealers spend a lot of time making stuff look good that aint.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

1st. sellers may have reason to lie.

the walk-thru windshield won't close and is off by about 3/8"

that would worry me a lot. it fit when it was new, why don't it fit now? what caused someone to want to adj. it?
that along with the seller that don't want you to have a sea trial imho is reason to leave.
an engine may perform great on the hose (no load) but then be a pos when under load when put in the water.
i think pass... good deal or not..

no sea trial, no sale.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

The last time I bought a boat without a test drive was when I bought my Tahoe. It was $2100 when the book was almost $15000, so I figured I was ok. If you are getting a miraculous deal, and dont mind having to spend money on an engine or outdrive if it turns out to be junk, then its ok. Some deals are worth the chance. I had mine for 4 seasons before any major work, and we think that was a Mercruiser factory flub.

I ended up selling the boat for about $500 less than I had in it total. Including the trailer rebuild and everything I put in it, and we used it for 5 years. So all in all it turned out to be fine.

If its only a few hundred less than you can buy one for someplace else with a test drive, then I would say no way.

 

[dzignr_tastz]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

To clarify, average retail (on just the boat... no trailer) is roughly $12k ($10,500 low), and I'm looking at about $8,500 with the immaculate $1000 trailer (and there can't be too much wrong with that - LOL). And yeah - the price sort of has me thinking "too good to be true" (of course) but they also have a long-standing advertising relationship with the company I work for (which is how I found it) so I would somewhat hope they wouldn't purposely work me over. They did, after all, give me first dibs on it. But that also means I can also only "push" so far before simply walking away to avoid any unrelated business repercussions.

So... even though the guy I'm working with is still a salesperson, probably doesn't know the first thing about this particular boat, and has certainly never had it on the water personally... for the price and given circumstances that I am aware of would you consider it without a water test? I realize it's still a good chunk of change (and I still might be able to get a 1-day written warranty as I haven't explored all those options as of yet), but are the savings worth the potential risk in this case? I mean - I would at least hope the dealer had their RV techs do a simple compression test on the engine (not like it's rocket science or much different than any other vehicle) before accepting it on trade..

 

[oops!]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

i aggree...if its a screemin deal that you can afford to spend and extra 3k on and still be under.....then go for it....

however.....if you can get a one day refundable warranty......then you have one day to crawl every inch of the boat, as well as peer into the holes and find out the compression.

most boat sales are conditional on a water tryal..... thats kinda like taken a car for a test drive......but at the water tryal....the deposit is non refundable unless there is a major wrong.......you cant back out cause.....you have to think about it....or the color is not right.

as far as the walk thru.......this is a serious thing.......that means the hull has shifted......however....i have seen it on quite a few boats. some need adjustment......some its worse.... on an 06 i would think its adjustment

 

[dzignr_tastz]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

Well when you say "hull has shifted"... how bad is that, and would a water test in any way help determine the severity of it? If not, how would one go about doing so? And regarding the walk-thru... I actually read on another forum earlier today that a dealer told some guy with a similar issue on his own boat that due to normal hull flex it can be from nothing more than sitting on good, tight trailer, will loosen up when in the water, and then showed him how some brand new ones in the showroom would not close as well. That obviously wouldn't explain why someone tried to adjust it before, though! So is that even remotely possible (as it didn't seem out of square, but off all the way down the seam, with the screws holding the latches in place basically hitting the starboard side frame).

 

[BonairII]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

Has the seller told you that you can't test drive it? I would ask for some kind of warranty.

 

[chrome dome]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

l'm going against the grain here but l can think of probably 15 boats that the family or friends have bought over the years without a water test,
most expensive was just recently at 20k,
ski boats, runabouts, half cabins, tinnies
none has been a problem,
not every seller has a water supply handy or could be a number of reasons why they are unable to do a water test,
it doesn't mean that they are ALL shonky ALL of the time, just some of it sometimes LOL

just do all the mechanical/electrical/hull/transom/floor/trailer tests etc etc,
is it a decent brand?
if you like it...and if the price is right.. your experienced mate says it's a good buy..

 

[ErikF]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

I've owned four boats, three of the four I bought without a water test or sea trial. I don't regret buying any of them. However I bought them all for parts value or less so I wouldn't be out much at all if they didn't work out.

However if I were spending $8,500 I would want a one day warranty to allow for you to take your own sea trial.

 

[mpdive]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

I have an 03 180LS. I purchased it with no water test. Has the 3.0 which is a tank. 70 odd hours on it? I would not be overly concerned. If no water test is available then you gamble with the best walkaround and inspection you can do. Better yet, hire a marine surveyor to go over the boat with you. They will meet you at the location and thoroughly do a dry land check. Mine blue books for around 7500.00 and I have 112 hours on it. That boat is 3 years newer so 8500.00 in clean condition is a good deal. I always ask myself if I am willing to dump some money into something if the overall condition is great. I usually will. Look at the posts on here of people taking thirty year old boats and dumping buku bucks into them. Some may never see a return on thier investment, but there is no price tag on the personal enjoyment or fullfilment that that boat brings to them. I love my Stingray and would buy another one in a heartbeat.

 

[JWFails]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

As others have said, it's a no brainer, no water test no sale. You wouldn't buy a used car without driving it first would you? It's a buyers market right now. Do your homework and dont get in a hurry. It is close to the end of the season. When boat dealers are worried about having too much winter invetory I wouldn't be in a hurry to buy one from an RV dealer. Like you said, they are not a boat dealer,they dont have the foot traffic of people looking to buy boats. He just doesn't want to sit on it all winter. Look at the mayday post on iboats, the guy is losing his job and cant sale boat for what he owes on it. No deal is too good to pass up. You found this deal and you can find another one. If they know you are a serious buyer they shouldn't care about a water trial. Happy boating!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

As others have mentioned, just make a successful water trial a condition of the sale. If they aren't willing to do that, then there's probably a reason why.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

The one in my sig was bought without a water test (CT in march with a boat 20+ miles from any water means no water test). The price made it worth while.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

My boat was bought brand new. It was shipped to the dealer with the windshield off. When he installed it he stripped the screws ever so slightly and when I'm in real heavy seas it will move slightly. All I do is give it a tug and its right back in place. Bowrider hulls do flex a bit at the windshield position. Give it a push and see if it moves into place.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

My last 2 boats and 1 pwc were all bought without a water test. (mainly because there was the issue of a couple of feet of ice on the water at the time...) Starting and listening to them run is critical obviously. A compression test on a 2 stroke isn't quite as important as it would seem, if you pull the plugs after it has run. If it is down on compression one is going to be wet/oily/sooty. (if any of the plugs are vastly different than the rest, its an instant red flag)

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

Buy it. We boated in Michigan for 50 years before moving to GA and we ownd 20 boats. We bought several of them out of the water without a water test. Some were bought in cold weather. You can usually look at the boat and if you know anything about the boat, tell weather it's been well taken cared of.

The only thing that I would want in writing is that the engine is in good working order. I have never been burned yet by doing it this way.

Go for it.

 

[Knightrider2]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

I would only buy a new boat or one from a friend without a water test. Any thing else and a water test is a absolute must. Dealers spend a lot of time making stuff look good that aint.

I agree with sschefer, or at least verify that you have a 3 day return policy. If the dealer just wants to unload it and they are not hiding anything, they should have no problem with that option.