Ristin
Seaman
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2017
- Messages
- 58
Besides the fact this boat is 35 years old, was Sea-Ray build quality decent in the 80's? I read several threads on this forum about avoiding Bayliners from that time frame due to poor build quality.
The boat I'm interested in looks decent. Needs a bath and a good buff out but there are no scratches, cracks or holes in the gelcoat. The exposed wood in the exterior cabin area will need sanding and re-coating but the upholstery and canvas's are in good condition. The cabin area is clean, no water stains and doesn't smell of mold or mildew and the dealer claims everything works. I didn't notice any soft spots in the floor and the bilge area that I could see was clean and didn't smell of mold or mildew.
Has a Mercruiser 260 that has either been recently pressure washed or doesn't leak any fluids. Open cooling system, electrical looks factory and unmodified. Drive unit looks good, paint is intact, the skeg and prop are in good shape, no missing chunks or gouges.
Trailer was in decent shape as well.
I imagine $6500 is on the high side but I doubt the dealer will budge much, if at all. I once looked at a boat that was priced $3000 over Nada value and salesman told me they don't go by Nada values because this is a boating community and they will get their asking price. I offered $1000 less than what they were asking which was still $2000 over Nada value and the salesman wouldn't even take the offer to his boss. Thought the guy was a jerk but stopped in a year later because the boat was still there, talked to a different salesman and they still wouldn't drop the price. Boat disappeared so I assume they finally sold it.
While I would really like a houseboat, but our usage wouldn't justify $6000/year in mooring fees so I need something I can tow with my 1 ton dually while not freaking out the Admiral with a huge monthly payment.
Thoughts?
The boat I'm interested in looks decent. Needs a bath and a good buff out but there are no scratches, cracks or holes in the gelcoat. The exposed wood in the exterior cabin area will need sanding and re-coating but the upholstery and canvas's are in good condition. The cabin area is clean, no water stains and doesn't smell of mold or mildew and the dealer claims everything works. I didn't notice any soft spots in the floor and the bilge area that I could see was clean and didn't smell of mold or mildew.
Has a Mercruiser 260 that has either been recently pressure washed or doesn't leak any fluids. Open cooling system, electrical looks factory and unmodified. Drive unit looks good, paint is intact, the skeg and prop are in good shape, no missing chunks or gouges.
Trailer was in decent shape as well.
I imagine $6500 is on the high side but I doubt the dealer will budge much, if at all. I once looked at a boat that was priced $3000 over Nada value and salesman told me they don't go by Nada values because this is a boating community and they will get their asking price. I offered $1000 less than what they were asking which was still $2000 over Nada value and the salesman wouldn't even take the offer to his boss. Thought the guy was a jerk but stopped in a year later because the boat was still there, talked to a different salesman and they still wouldn't drop the price. Boat disappeared so I assume they finally sold it.
While I would really like a houseboat, but our usage wouldn't justify $6000/year in mooring fees so I need something I can tow with my 1 ton dually while not freaking out the Admiral with a huge monthly payment.
Thoughts?
I have friends who mechanic at the local marina and they handle bigger boats all the time. I know I could reach out to them for instruction. In the words of Jeremy Clarkson, "How hard could it be?"