Where’s the sweet spot?

Smalls · April 16, 2018, 05:02:38 AM

I know, I know, this is somewhat of a loaded question. I'm aware there are a ton of factors that I will miss. I know that any potential purchase should be gone through by a reputable mechanic.

With that out of the way, my main question is- in a bare bones, floating, in good mechanical condition, old, ugly but sturdy boat, where should my price range start?

I'm looking for that old '91 that has the original carpet peeling off, the livewell doesn't work, and there's a very peculiar looking stain on the front deck. The engine is small, but it's got rebuild papers from 2 years ago, with a solid hull and transom. The electronics are...from this decade, but they work.

I don't care about much except that it floats, it's reliable, and it isn't going to need structural repair or an entirely new motor.

Should I keep scrolling when I see that 93 for $2k? Or can it be an ugly, yet solid "fish it til winter and fix the small stuff in the off season" deal?

The way I see it, if it's solid, but ugly, it'll lower the buy-in for me. I can deal with relatively small issues.
I've never worked on a boat, but I have worked on airplanes. So I imagine I'll be able to straighten out the small issues I'm sure it will have.

Or am I throwing money away going the "cheap route"

Where's that sweet spot where you find the diamonds in the rough?

Kris · April 16, 2018, 05:45:18 AM

I have bought used, abused and trashy boats for many years. Maintenance paperwork, good inspection and an engine inspection by a tech YOU trust are my suggestions.
You mentioned good points in your post about solid hull and transom which are important in older hulls. Early hulls used wood covered in fiberglass for stringers and transom. Be cautious and you will find the right fit.

Princeton_Man · April 16, 2018, 07:34:43 AM

Kris nailed it.

The key is verifying the hull is sound and the motor has no issues. Forget about electronics. There are a lot of quick buck turners out there who'll find a junker, slap some used electronics, TM, and/or outboard on it, and then put it up for sale saying they haven't had time to fish and just want to sell it.

Bud Kennedy · April 16, 2018, 08:40:41 AM

As an owner of an old boat the only thing I can pass along is that there aren't any sweet spots. If you are hankering to buy a boat and are looking for a "starter" style boat then of course an older boat will initially seem more affordable. Unfortunately it does not take long before you will want more from your boat and that is when the it starts becoming more of a problem. As you mentioned there are the core things you can do when making a selection of a boat but that is just the price of admission. I have spent far more in my boat than it is worth on the market place but fact is it makes me happy and I am not making those dreaded monthly payments.

The big ticket is always going to be the motor. All the other stuff can be updated using market available products and can be accomplished on an as needed basis. Replacing the motor is just so expensive you have to ask yourself if it is really worth it. I would love to have a new motor on my rig but I just don't have the resources to spend but I do realize if I want to keep the boat that someday I will have to re power.

If you like tinkering with this stuff then you just might enjoy the attention the boat will need. You just need to accept the inevitable need to do so. Your old boat won't be something you can just ignore. It does require a lot of attention and failure to do so will just result in having a new lawn ornament to mow around. The past three years for me has been a severe drain on my financial resources. Yes it has been less expensive than a newer boat but it is still a significant chunk of money. This year I completely updated with a new trailer, a new boat cover, new carpet and although it looks great, it is still an old boat. My expenses this year alone are near the $7K mark. If I decide to re power then I will have to spend another $15K. All of this will be on top of all the other money that I spent in the last three years just to keep her on the water. Power Head at $4K, Lower Unit at $1K, It does not take long for it all to add up.

With all of that being said, my boat is paid for, taxes are cheap, insurance is reasonable and my old Ranger provides a lot of pleasure for us and does just fine. Now at least it looks good too.

Good luck on your quest for a boat. Just be prepared for the expenses of the future both near and far.

Mike Cork · April 16, 2018, 08:45:40 AM

Smalls, I'm not sure where you're from but here in Louisiana, there are hundreds of boats like you are looking for. Price can range from 2-4k depending on several factors. New tires on a trailer will drive up the cost but can be a negotiation factor. Trailer condition, does it need new bunks?

Once you find one you like, make sure to do a compression check or take it to a mechanic. Also make sure you cover over the hull very well, push on every square foot of the bottom

Just look hard. If ugly is okay, it won't take long to find the deal for you.

Wizard · April 16, 2018, 08:55:37 AM

All good ideas. Safety is important. Check the steering. If it's tight the boat may need new cables. If the motor is too small, it will be hard to get on plane. Put the boat in the water and test it. If it feels too slow and logged down, water may have gotten into the wood and the boat is deteriorating.
An old boat can nickle and dime you to poverty. Often, that is the reason the owner is selling it. Having said all of that and assuming the hull and engine are sound, an old boat can be a good buy. And check out the trailer as well as the boat.

Wizard

Oldfart9999 · April 17, 2018, 07:26:14 AM

Quote from: Wizard on April 16, 2018, 08:55:37 AM
All good ideas. Safety is important. Check the steering. If it's tight the boat may need new cables. If the motor is too small, it will be hard to get on plane. Put the boat in the water and test it. If it feels too slow and logged down, water may have gotten into the wood and the boat is deteriorating.
An old boat can nickle and dime you to poverty. Often, that is the reason the owner is selling it. Having said all of that and assuming the hull and engine are sound, an old boat can be a good buy. And check out the trailer as well as the boat.

Wizard

It can be rewarding to restore an old boat but like Bud said, it can be very expensive. If you can do the work it'll save some cash but is it what you want to do? There are some questions you and only you can answer. You might want to save your money and buy a better used boat, they are out there and can give you years of good service and you can upgrade what you want as you go.
Rodney

Smalls · April 18, 2018, 12:36:41 AM

All very good points, I appreciate the input guys. Any boat I plan on purchasing will definitely make a trip to a mechanic to have a once over before any money changes hands.

I don't mind a project boat, but I don't want a complete money pit. There's a big difference between "could use new carpet and seats reupholstered" and "transom is toast and one cylinder is dead"

I'm seeing boats in the $3-4K range that are a little older, but look to well taken care of. But being a virgin to boat ownership, I didn't know if something like that was even worth considering.

FD · April 19, 2018, 02:00:15 AM

In 08 I bought a 91 Stratos 201 Pro with a Johnson 200 GT on it for $6000. She was ugly and worn but ran good and everything worked.

Fast forward a few years and I had repowered, rewired, added good electronics, Hydralic steering, new seats, carpet, pumps and on and on and on.

I basically had an ugly new boat for under 20k. I like doing those things and had the time.

The key is starting with a good hull. Everything else can be fixed.

swim/bike/run....repeat

Sent from the end of the paved road.....