[demolish50]

Ok guys here is my situation, I am throughly disgusted and need some advice. I purchased a 95 Larson 174 for about $5250 from a guy in december. Ran it briefly before the sale and bought it. Now knowing what to look for nothing stood out as being a problem. I have since invested, $950 in motor repairs, oil seals...Also another $400 in other misc items, shift cable, steering cable, etc...

I don't have the means to repair this boat, I was givin a rough estimate of $1500 to fix the transom. I am supposed to get a firm estimate tommorrow...the shop currently has the boat...

What do I do? Do I cut my losses here? I cant' sell it, I would feel like an ***** so that is completly out of the question. I can't take it back to the guy or even so much as whine about it...as is sale...

Do I ditch this and just go buy new? Do I keep on fixing problems as they come up. The way I see it...stringers/floor are good. Motor is good, outdrive is good. What else should I check? I mean $1500-$2000 is cheaper then a brand new boat. But then again...

ideas?

[dodgeramsst2003]

At this point in the game, I would fix it. You have already put so much in the boat. You have roughly 6500 into it already, and you need to put another 2k into it, or lose the 6500 you already sunk into it. By dont have the means to fix it, are you talking mechanically? monetarily? If it were my boat,I would do all the reading I could and then jump in, but thats me. I know how you feel about selling it, and its the same way I think, I cant pawn my problems off on someone else. ( although it appears this was done to you) Hopefully you will be able to fix it and enjoy it.

Chris

[demolish50]

I mean mechanically. As far as the money goes I can work that out I suppose.

My biggest worry would be other big expense items. Is there anything else I should check before I sink another $1.5k into it.

[Coors]

does the shop think the powertrain, etc are fine for a long time now?
If so, $1500 sounds cheap, but- are the stringers, etc ok? You need to have them check that.

If just another $1500, plus what you already put in it; welcome to used boats.

Then hopefully, with proper care, several years of small $ flying into it.

[a70eliminator]

I like optimistic approach, I was disgusted as you when bought my used 1990 boat, didn't know what I do now as I've since learned what to look for in a boat or rather how to find hidden issues. I had to sink a bunch of work into the boat granted your boat I would have to see but you could just cut you loss get rid of it now buy a better boat for less cabbage your going to get for it, transom is a big job. You didn't say what repairs you done to the motor, or even what motor and srive it is unless I missed it.

[erikgreen]

Yeah, if the transom is the last thing to fix, then I'd fix it.... make sure you keep receipts for all that in case you sell it.. you won't get your money back out of it, but with receipts you can get a higher price than otherwise.

Make sure there's nothing else wrong that will require major work though... stringers and deck come to mind. Even if the deck needs work, if the stringers are sound then you can safely run the boat for a year or two before putting any more cash into it.

If this is your first boat, count it as a learning experience anyway... expect to run it into a few things, run it aground, etc, before too long

Erik

[salty87]

seals, shift cable, steering cable, etc are all pretty much standard for any used boat. i'd also say that transom and or deck is to be expected unless it's already been done, just a matter of time. that's 13 years old now, builders don't make em to last forever. at least at this point you know the control cables and other stuff are in good order. if you're just a transom away from a solid boat, that's alot closer than starting over.

i/o?...has the outdrive been looked at?

[dsiedt]

I was in your shoes with my first boat...ugh...I would donate your boat and they will come and tow it away and whatever they sell it for at auction is what you deduct from your taxes next year (can't get back less than $500 no matter what it sells for). Don't sink another nickle into that boat unless you would rather be in your yard instead of out on the water. Maybe my experience was extreme, but I learned an expensive lesson and have not repaired anything on my new boat (4 years old) so far.

Go to the next big boat show and finance a brand new boat that has no wood and a 10+ year or lifetime hull warranty...You get good deals at these shows and you have a nice variety to choose from. I walked away with a brand new 18' SeaPro with trailer and 90hp yamaha at the Chesapeake Bay boat show for 16,000 out the door. I will never buy used again unless it is only a few years old, top brand (Whaler), and NO WOOD. My 3 cents.

[Bamboo]

Does the outdrive and/or motor need to be removed to perform the transom repairs? If so, does that 1500 include removal/re-installation and alignment? What about the motor mounts? (I'm assuming it's an I/O)

Maybe go through with the repairs (assuming it is only another 2 k or so), use the boat this year, sell it, and count the whole experience up to learning. You will be much smarter about what to look for and what you want in your next boat.

BTW - I have been in your shoes, did the wood repairs, and sold it because I lost my love for that boat. Really, what you are going through is pretty typical boating stuff...you know what B.O.A.T stands for, right?
Good Luck!

[tashasdaddy]

i agree fix it, use it for several years to the get the investment out of it. after the repairs, and proper care, you should get a good 10 years out of it. boats, and boat repair are not investments, they are disposable recreational dollars.

[ezmobee]

I'd fix it. You'll really be eating a lot of money if you ditch it and buy new. Are you sure you can't do the work yourself? Removing an engine and drive from a boat is a lot less complicated than removing an engine from a modern car. And there's lots of information in the Restoration section on here to help you out.

[cbavier]

We've all been taken to the cleaners before. So don't think your the only one. I agree FIX IT then chalk it up as a learning experience. Use and enjoy the boat for a few years to recoup some of your money. If you sell it now or get rid of it.. you have your conscience to deal with and probably will take a big loss financially too. So just bite the bullet and learn. Apparently there were some features about the boat that appealed to you so after the repairs are completed you will be confident the boat is safe and in good running order. Good Luck and hopefully many years of happy boating.

[dsiedt]

I am betting your stringers and floor are soft and water logged if your transom is rotten. Do you feel your performance is not up to par? seat mounts feeling loose?.. It could be you are lugging around a lot of wet wood and foam under the floor. To get this boat safe and sound, you will drop another $4,000 in my opinion (having someone else do the work). I would bite the bullet and buy new or spend that 4k on a used boat that needs not work so you can enjoy the water...quick search shows for this amount, you can find a nice boat:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/649754378.html

[demolish50]

I am 90% sure the stringers and floor are solid. I had pulled a big peice of plywood from the floor already to get to the fuel tank sender. I could see a lot from that vantage point. I am going to get the shop to check though before I make any decesion.

I don't have any sort of engine hoist or place to really do the repairs myself. The boat is kept underneath a covered carport.

[Dakota47]

Sell it and buy a New Boat.

[Chinewalker]

I'd be concerned about the rest of the boat. A 12-13 year old boat that already has the transom rotted out of it has not been cared for all that well. You've already dropped more money into the engine to get that right. At this point, in for a penny, in for a pound. Fix it and use it. As it is, you'd be lucky to get anything approaching half of what you've got into it if you disclose the issues up front...
- Scott

[ezmobee]

Originally Posted by dsiedt

quick search shows for this amount, you can find a nice boat:
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/649754378.html

I don't mean to start anything but that's a really bad deal. 5 grand for a 15 year old boat with an underpowered, obsolete drive.

[CATransplant]

I see an economic dilemma that nobody here can decide for you. Knowing that the transom is bad means that if you sell it now, you should disclose that to the buyer, which probably means you will lose a good deal of money.

Fixing it should give you a good workable boat that is, admittedly worth less than you have in it. Still, if everything else is sound, you'll get a good use out of it, and be able to sell it without being morally obligated to disclose a major defect.

It happens.

The following is not for you, but for others reading this thread:

If you're going to drop several thousand dollars on a used boat, an invesment in a professional survey of that boat is really cheap insurance that you're probably not buying hidden flaws. A surveyor would have spotted the rotten transom, certainly, and you probably would not have bought the boat.

I hope those reading this who are looking for a boat will learn from your mistake and go ahead and pay the nice surveyor to have a disinterested look at the boat you're considering.

[dsiedt]

I agree that getting a survey is essential when buying a used boat...The good thing is that he did not go out and buy an expensive used 25' rotten boat as his first boat...I have seen many do that and they never looked at another boat since.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[demolish50]

Anyone want a slightly used boat ? 3k will get you in the water, really, it will get you in the water.

Anyway I'm going to sit on it for the weekend and think about it.

[wajajaja02]

If you choose to scrap this boat, I would piece it out on Ebay, you will do better, and save the trailer,as many nice boats are available but often sans a trailer. so to have one is a big head start on a used boat. I just bought a used cruiser in great shape for the indoor storage fee bill that the marina forclosed on in Michigan. Havent found a tear. or fade spot or anything else wrong with this 1985 boat.

[Coors]

Demolish50;
You are almost home, if you feel comfortable about the stringers.
Boats are never-ending repairs. Even a new one-as soon as the loan payments end, payments for repairs/up-keep continue.
I like tasha d's statement, "disposable"
Yep, but if you enjoy the boat, it is worth it.
And everything you repair, better than factory, gives it more life, and dependability.
Good luck with it; the forum is always here to help.

[cordell]

I am in the same boat as you so to speak. I just purchased a 1970 Glaspar and was told no leaks, solid boat beside the floor, due to no cover the last 3 years. I bought it and went to mount my motor and drilled me a hole and found weird shavings from the drill bit. I posted a thread and sure enough it is rotted. This is my 3rd boat of the season 1st to small for 85 horse, 2nd I bought for the trailer so I guess it dont count, 3rd is my current boat. I went ahead and mounted my motor and just came back from takin her out. The transom handled better than I thought it would, in fact it looks like it will get me through the season. Leaving my repairs in the winter. I will do these myself, and for a engine hoist I bought a $15 tow strap and a $40 come along, works like a charm. From forums here I have read that transom work ca be done by anyone who sets out to do it. Is your situation that far gone that you cant get by for a few months and then do your repairs in the winter like I plan to do? If so that would be the best thing, if not maybe sell and get a better hull. They are out their just be careful next time we dont want to make the same mistake twice! Hope it all works out for ya...


cordell

[demolish50]

I decided to have it fixed. It was interesting the way he did it, since most of the Transom was in ok shape somehow they repaired just the rotten part in the center, even in the center it was only one corner near one of the bolts for the transom assembly. They said it looked like the hole for the gimbal housing was cut to big and that is the part of the reason of the premature failure..

It ended up costing me about 1600, 800 of which was the actual transom repair, I had to have some other work done as well.

I've gotten about 10 hours on the water with it and so far so good, not a single drop in the bilge.

Keep my fingers crossed.

Man was it nice to FINALLY get to be able to enjoy my boat..

[oops!]

congrats.....

personally im glad u decided to fix it.....

a transom can go as long as 25 years with average dilligence...(keep it covered, proper winterization)

have fun.....when you decide to up grade in a few years....check back here for shopping tips and what to look for