[onemeanfisher]

I joined this site and am looking forward to getting information and hopefully giving information, however I not very knowledgeable about boats but if you want information on how to catch a limit of Speckle Trout in the Gulf Coast surf I'm your man......lol (did it yesterday biggest was 23" about 3.5 pounds)

ok on to the purpose of this thread!!!! I inherited a 1986 Bayliner Trophy W/ 125 Force it hadn't been tagged since 1988. Took the top off the motor was very clean boat has hardly any rust on it (so probably hadn't been used in saltwater) I hooked a battery up and cleaned out the carburator bowls and filter got a new gas can with new gas. The motor turned over easly but I wasn't getting gas to motor. I've decided to take it to a local boat shop and pay 85.00 for them to test the motor and see if it's a runnig motor. I have 0 dollars in this boat so far. Question # 1 How much money should drop into this boat before it's a lost cause?? Is this a solid boat?

The lights, the trim, the horn or the steering wheel wouldn't work, it turns maybe 10%, so does that mean the hydraulics are out?? It may also mean the wiring needs to be rewired. Since I have 0 dollarts invested I can spend some money to get it running, I was thinking a 1000.00 the limit, any thoughts?? I love the shape, dept & and overall feel of this boat. But I don't want a bottomless pit here either. This would also be a 1st boat for me so it's got be reliable and forgiving of beginner mistakes I might make. Thanks in advance for any advise, you guys are old pros at boating and I'm fresh to the sport anything will help!!!

[sho3boater]

If the structure/etc of the boat are nice and it is worth doing, then start with the motor since it costs the most. Take a look at the fuel pump and hose, vents, is the tank full of water or something? If it has a floor tank and you don't know, just get a 5gal tank and hook to the motor and put new fuel pumps in it, that is cheap way to find out if it runs. If it runs, you can always shop for used steering cables/etc to fix it up cheap. If you have to do major repair or buy major parts, then get out the $$$. Lights are likely to be a wiring issue and that should not be expensive, providing you can do a little wiring.

[onemeanfisher]

Thanks sho3boater I took it to the shop today to see if it runs that is step one if it does I'll get better picture of what I'm up against.