dodge trucker
Cadet
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2014
- Messages
- 10
I have owned a couple of boats in the past; the 1st we got most of a season out of it, and I wound up cutting it up and having a bonfire (fiberglass trihull Chrysler) because I went to fix it up over that winter, it wound up being in a lot worse shape than I thought. bad floor, waterlogged foam etc.
the 2nd was a lot better deal and easier to "tell" what shape it was in as it was aluminum, with no plywood subfloor. that one we got several good years from and only had to sell because of "life" issues--- needed cash then more than a boat.
I am again in the market and have been starting to scout around. I can't afford brand new, and even if I could, I do not mind having to put "some" work into something to make it a decent machine. My preference for "TLC needed" is mechanical/electrical, as opposed to upholstery or fiberglass/gelcoat/structural type work. I have worked on my share of outboards for people over the years and I am a fleet mechanic (automotive) for the State...
I am looking at a couple of boats and have a few questions about "what to look for" though from some I have seen (and owned) I know "some" of the pitfalls;
One that I am looking for is a '69-70 Larson deep V with a closed bow. I have not seen it in person yet but it is a 1-owner, garage kept, by the CL pics it looks a lot nicer condition than most; has lower unit issues (something with the gearshift) '70-ish Evinrude; My question/concern about this boat is the design of boats then vs now; my Dad had closed bow V hulls when I was a kid (incl a wooden one) other than not having seating positions ahead of the windshield is there any reason I should :shy away" from this design of boat? I mean if it's in as good a shape in person as it appears in pix, is this a case of "newer designs= better"? the engine issue don't scare me.
There are 2 others (both outboard powered and fiberglass) that I see that have had stringer/transom repairs/replacement, both fiberglass; one shows a few pix in the ad of "in process" the other just says that the transom has been redone but no pix in the ad like the 1st one; would there be any reason to be afraid of these?
this time I think I am going to go with a V hull, previously I had a trihull and a "modified V" (basically a jon boat with a wide beam)
I am looking ~15-16' fish/ski type boats.
the 2nd was a lot better deal and easier to "tell" what shape it was in as it was aluminum, with no plywood subfloor. that one we got several good years from and only had to sell because of "life" issues--- needed cash then more than a boat.
I am again in the market and have been starting to scout around. I can't afford brand new, and even if I could, I do not mind having to put "some" work into something to make it a decent machine. My preference for "TLC needed" is mechanical/electrical, as opposed to upholstery or fiberglass/gelcoat/structural type work. I have worked on my share of outboards for people over the years and I am a fleet mechanic (automotive) for the State...
I am looking at a couple of boats and have a few questions about "what to look for" though from some I have seen (and owned) I know "some" of the pitfalls;
One that I am looking for is a '69-70 Larson deep V with a closed bow. I have not seen it in person yet but it is a 1-owner, garage kept, by the CL pics it looks a lot nicer condition than most; has lower unit issues (something with the gearshift) '70-ish Evinrude; My question/concern about this boat is the design of boats then vs now; my Dad had closed bow V hulls when I was a kid (incl a wooden one) other than not having seating positions ahead of the windshield is there any reason I should :shy away" from this design of boat? I mean if it's in as good a shape in person as it appears in pix, is this a case of "newer designs= better"? the engine issue don't scare me.
There are 2 others (both outboard powered and fiberglass) that I see that have had stringer/transom repairs/replacement, both fiberglass; one shows a few pix in the ad of "in process" the other just says that the transom has been redone but no pix in the ad like the 1st one; would there be any reason to be afraid of these?
this time I think I am going to go with a V hull, previously I had a trihull and a "modified V" (basically a jon boat with a wide beam)
I am looking ~15-16' fish/ski type boats.