old boat should we buy or skip it

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irishmik54

Recruit
Joined
Apr 21, 2011
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2
1994 Brunswick Freedom 240 DXL. Rough shape. Motor turns,(mariner 90) but we don't know if it will run since we have no way of checking it. Some seat covers should be replaced and so should the carpet. The guy wants $4500 . A commercial fisherman down here (Tittusvile) Fla. said the boat without a motor would be a good price. Any ideas on the value for this area? My wife and I thought it might be fun to restore, but we don't want to get in over our heads either. Any idea for value?
 
J

Jeep Man

Commander
Joined
Oct 17, 2008
Messages
2,803
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

Pictures would help. Is trailer included? Need to REALLY check the floor, stringers and transom for rot. IMO, for that price for a '94, it would need to be running well and be in good shape with a trailer. Also, as it is a fisherman's boat, it's most likely a salt water boat with lots of hours. Sight unseen, I'd run away, far and fast.
 
T

tschmidty

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 24, 2010
Messages
462
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

Sounds like way too much for a boat that you don't know if it runs.
 
Frank Acampora

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

NO boat NEEDS to be bought! Walk away. There will always be another coming down the canal.

Restoring ALWAYS takes more effort that you thought and more money than the boat will be worth. BUT: If you really like the hull and WANT to spend the hours and money, then make an offer.
 
'78 Crusader

'78 Crusader

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
407
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

Tell him you'd give him $800 to haul it away for him.

Dude....he's trying to rip you off. $4,500 is a joke.
 
25thmustang

25thmustang

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
1,849
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

It's sad when 1994 is an "old" boat.

With that said, $4500 for a 24' boat in rough shape? Doesn't sound like a deal at all.
 
J

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

If you have to ask given its condition, I think you may already know the answer. Many people that buy boats in rough condition are excited to restore them and know the deal going in. No comment on the price.
 
4

444

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
704
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

While I'm not familiar with that specific boat, I wouldn't pay 4500 for a restoration project boat.
 
S

smallboatlover

Banned
Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
1,179
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

that seam like a lot of money for a boat that you don't know that works and if you plan on doing a resto on it than why would you pay that much for a boat and put even more money into it for a resto. if you haven't done a resto before just buy a cheaper 14-16' runabout and do a resto on that. a lot easier to handle and will show you what a resto is like. but for the boat your looking at that price and motor not sure it runs pass on that boat. unless you get to test ride it before and you know that it runs and you could use it as is and just have to do cosmetic working go for it.
 
I

irishmik54

Recruit
Joined
Apr 21, 2011
Messages
2
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

I didn't feel comfortable and thats why I turned to you guy's. Thanks for your opinion that confirms what I felt. I have never tried to restored a boat before, but I did a car and it damn near killed me.Problem is it came out so good that it now resides in a trailer because it' s to nice to drive and it ended up costing all most twice what we figured. I case you are wondeding the car is a 1958 Nash Metropolitan that my wife wanted. Great show car and pulls lots of trophys but it's just not practical anymore.
 
I

infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
802
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

LippCJ7 said:
I love how every one of your threads has this in it


"This is all in good fun, so no hurt feelings allowed."

Thats like saying "Watch this"!!
Click to expand...


More like "enter at your own risk" :D
 
scoutabout

scoutabout

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
1,568
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

irishmik54 said:
...I have never tried to restored a boat before, but I did a car and it damn near killed me....
Click to expand...

This right here should get your spidey senses tingling. Pop on over to the restoration section and get a sense of what it is you could be diving into. You will also notice, few people starting those threads are crowing about how much they're coming in under budget... :D

Welcome to iboats and keep us posted!
 
Knot Waiting

Knot Waiting

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 23, 2006
Messages
761
Re: old boat should we buy or skip it

If the seats and carpet are shot it's probably a good assumption that everything below has been subject to the same neglect/deterioiration. That being said I think you'd be getting in waaaay over your head. All too many people dive head first into a "fixer upper" boat without having any real idea how deeply involved and expensive they are. One thing leads to another and pretty soon you're surrendering by putting your partially gutted, semi-restored hull on Craigslist for the next guy wearing rose colored glasses to buy. $4500 is too much to invest in this one.
 
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