milehighjc
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2014
- Messages
- 155
I guess I am experiencing a late mid life crisis - at 54, I am interested in purchasing my first boat. Given current financial commitments (college, weddings, etc etc), I am in the market for a used boat. I want something we can ski from (Hope to be able to get back up on a slalom ski, and Im a bit bigger (50 lbs) than in my younger slalom skiing days). I would like to keep it at least 5 years, maybe more. and want it to have enough power to get me up on a ski with 5-6 people on board.
I have my eye on an 1997 Crownline, but am looking at every option I can. I have not seen the boat personally yet - but I have looked VERY closely at the sticky thread on new members buying a boat (a GREAT resource, in fact, have created my own spreadsheet version of that as a checklist when I do go to see a boat). This particular boat has a 5.7L Alpha Drive, so I think it will have PLENTY of power. It appears to be well cared for, but who knows looking at pictures on the internet.
One thing that kind of has me spooked is rot. I have read so much about soft floors, and rotten stringers in the past three weeks that I am starting to question my sanity of buying a boat this old, given my intended use, and desire to keep it for so long. Im not afraid of a little sweat equity in a boat, but replacing a floor and/or stringers is beyond my skillset, and available time, so Im a bit sensitive to it.
I've read about doing tap tests, looking for spider cracking, etc etc etc. I get that its all about how well a boat has been cared for - but given my level of experience would I be better off waiting another year to save some cash up, and buy a newer boat? The clock is ticking... figure if I am going back for some slalom skiing, I don't have TONS of time...
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...
jc
I have my eye on an 1997 Crownline, but am looking at every option I can. I have not seen the boat personally yet - but I have looked VERY closely at the sticky thread on new members buying a boat (a GREAT resource, in fact, have created my own spreadsheet version of that as a checklist when I do go to see a boat). This particular boat has a 5.7L Alpha Drive, so I think it will have PLENTY of power. It appears to be well cared for, but who knows looking at pictures on the internet.
One thing that kind of has me spooked is rot. I have read so much about soft floors, and rotten stringers in the past three weeks that I am starting to question my sanity of buying a boat this old, given my intended use, and desire to keep it for so long. Im not afraid of a little sweat equity in a boat, but replacing a floor and/or stringers is beyond my skillset, and available time, so Im a bit sensitive to it.
I've read about doing tap tests, looking for spider cracking, etc etc etc. I get that its all about how well a boat has been cared for - but given my level of experience would I be better off waiting another year to save some cash up, and buy a newer boat? The clock is ticking... figure if I am going back for some slalom skiing, I don't have TONS of time...
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...
jc