drummerdaveb
Cadet
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2017
- Messages
- 10
So I now live on a 200 acre lake, and decided it's time to get a boat. I have never owned a boat, so this is all new to me, but I am a car guy, so I know my way around vehicles in general.
Im looking at bowriders in the 18-21ft range.
At this point, I have 2 that I am interested in, because they fit my budget (everything else in the 2000s and up with the 4.3 or larger within a 4 hour drive from me are all at least $9k), seem to be in good condition, and have the size/engine combos that i want.
Boat #1) 2001 VIP Valiant. 19' 4.3 EFI engine (a Big Plus). 156 hours. Price $7000 (final, not negotiable). Mostly garage kept, but sounds like not so the last year. It is on its 3rd owner, the current guy owning it only a year. He has no maint records, but says he changed the oil prior to winterizing it, and replaced the starter, but has done nothing else. This worries me, since who knows what has or has not been done. But with very low hours, maybe its not as big a deal? .... I'd say at a minimum, before I run this boat I would want to replace the gimble, impeller and lower unit oil. Would you agree?
Cosmetically, it appears to be in very good condition, except for a couple small cracks (2) in the rear bench seat bottom, and a few (3ish) moderate on one side of the seat back. They seem to be pretty repairable. Also the gauge surround plastic is cracked by the screws, so either someone has fixed something w/ the gauges and got ham-fisted or just crappy plastic was used for that piece. Construction appears to be composite floors, not wood. Big plus. Is this boat too big a gamble?
Boat #2) 2000 Bayliner Capri 2050. 20' 5.7 V8. List Price $8000. This boat is one I have less info on. But Im seriously considering it, because it looks mint, the owner also says it is mint w/ "very low hours". Original owner. Garage kept since new. He says it was used 1 week per year. He's not good at communicating via email, so Im trying to talk to him more to get better details regarding maint and whatnot. My understanding is it will have wood floors, which is not a plus, since it will be outdoors (though probably covered when not used. And given that it is a Bayliner, it's built to a lower price-point, which will mean lower quality hardware and
My use:
It will be stored in the water through the summer, on my lake, and garaged the rest of the year.
What do you guys think?
Im looking at bowriders in the 18-21ft range.
At this point, I have 2 that I am interested in, because they fit my budget (everything else in the 2000s and up with the 4.3 or larger within a 4 hour drive from me are all at least $9k), seem to be in good condition, and have the size/engine combos that i want.
Boat #1) 2001 VIP Valiant. 19' 4.3 EFI engine (a Big Plus). 156 hours. Price $7000 (final, not negotiable). Mostly garage kept, but sounds like not so the last year. It is on its 3rd owner, the current guy owning it only a year. He has no maint records, but says he changed the oil prior to winterizing it, and replaced the starter, but has done nothing else. This worries me, since who knows what has or has not been done. But with very low hours, maybe its not as big a deal? .... I'd say at a minimum, before I run this boat I would want to replace the gimble, impeller and lower unit oil. Would you agree?
Cosmetically, it appears to be in very good condition, except for a couple small cracks (2) in the rear bench seat bottom, and a few (3ish) moderate on one side of the seat back. They seem to be pretty repairable. Also the gauge surround plastic is cracked by the screws, so either someone has fixed something w/ the gauges and got ham-fisted or just crappy plastic was used for that piece. Construction appears to be composite floors, not wood. Big plus. Is this boat too big a gamble?
Boat #2) 2000 Bayliner Capri 2050. 20' 5.7 V8. List Price $8000. This boat is one I have less info on. But Im seriously considering it, because it looks mint, the owner also says it is mint w/ "very low hours". Original owner. Garage kept since new. He says it was used 1 week per year. He's not good at communicating via email, so Im trying to talk to him more to get better details regarding maint and whatnot. My understanding is it will have wood floors, which is not a plus, since it will be outdoors (though probably covered when not used. And given that it is a Bayliner, it's built to a lower price-point, which will mean lower quality hardware and
My use:
It will be stored in the water through the summer, on my lake, and garaged the rest of the year.
What do you guys think?