1984 SS 160...to much $$$$?

[ricohman]

Thanks again for all the input. The owner actually called me back and somewhat reluctantly agreed to $5000.
So I am going to go and have a look tomorrow. If it looks as nice as he described it I am buying it.
$3400 US is $4600 so taking the 30hp into account 5k seems about right.

 

[pastorbobnlnh]

hmm, I think the fact the OP has 30 more horse power and trim with all the fixings not sure if its the same. I will add your boat is a beauty and looks real sharp. Not sure if you will miss the 30 extra horse power but when you want to go some where or get off the lake it sure will come in handy.

I'm on a small lake (about 200 acres) so I have more than enough HP to keep me happy. But you make very valid points :thumb:.

ricoman, wow! I hadn't realized the Canada $ had devalued so much! Maybe I need to head north into Quebec and leave behind a few USD to help out the economy.

 

[ricohman]

Well, that went poorly. I drove 4 hours to have a look and when I got there I was very disappointed. I pulled the cover off the engine, to find a mouse nest and mouse droppings. The owner could hardly keep it running and said the carbs had been cleaned. There was water around one of the lower spark plug holes, and there appeared to be water leaking from some other place on the back of the engine. The spark plugs on top both had little balls of metal stuck to the electrodes. I'm not sure what that is. The Leg oil was milky. The owner said he often drains a little bit of water out after a while. The boat itself is in beautiful condition, it has some wear and tear but it is very solid and it looks very nice. But the engine hanging off the back is going to need some work and I'm not going to pay a premium price for a motor that needs me to work on it. A lot of work. The owner had new spark plugs and some carb kits and a new seal for the output shaft. The owner was firm on his price of $5,000, and I told him there's no way I would pay that with the engine in that state. So I'm coming home without the boat and have wasted an entire day.

 

[Watermann]

Oh man what a bummer, too bad the guy wasn't honest about the motor. :grumpy:

 

[Newbie@boats]

Well, that went poorly. I drove 4 hours to have a look and when I got there I was very disappointed. I pulled the cover off the engine, to find a mouse nest and mouse droppings. The owner could hardly keep it running and said the carbs had been cleaned. There was water around one of the lower spark plug holes, and there appeared to be water leaking from some other place on the back of the engine. The spark plugs on top both had little balls of metal stuck to the electrodes. I'm not sure what that is. The Leg oil was milky. The owner said he often drains a little bit of water out after a while. The boat itself is in beautiful condition, it has some wear and tear but it is very solid and it looks very nice. But the engine hanging off the back is going to need some work and I'm not going to pay a premium price for a motor that needs me to work on it. A lot of work. The owner had new spark plugs and some carb kits and a new seal for the output shaft. The owner was firm on his price of $5,000, and I told him there's no way I would pay that with the engine in that state. So I'm coming home without the boat and have wasted an entire day.

Been there many many times, unfortunately to many sellers are dishonest, the worst part is wasting your whole day! Good luck in your search

 

[ricohman]

I do not think this fellow was trying to deceive me. He is an older farmer and "if it ain't broke don't fix it" rules the day. He has never changed the impeller and he didn't even pull the cover off the engine before listing the boat. At first he didn't believe me when I told him milky oil is bad and water leaks on engine are bad.
I called my brother and ran it by him. He said I just wasted 4 hours driving and to get back in the truck and drive back, without the boat.
The owner was right about the boat, probably very few hours. But also very little maintenance.
He said he was going to get it sorted out and call me back. I doubt if I will waste 8 hours again to see it. One of the bearing buddies had no cap. And really, that speaks volumes.
When I sold my Lowe 1605 last week it needed nothing. Trailer bearings inspected and repacked with new seals. Motor ran like a clock. Everything worked. But I guess that's how I keep my boats.
At least I have learned enough from iboats that I avoided a potential money pit.

 

[jkust]

When used boat shopping you have to kiss a lot of frogs unfortunately which of course we know you know. I looked at a boat whereby the owner was talking up the fact that he replaced the impeller 6 seasons ago and he legitimately thought that was an appropriate amount of time to still think it was a recent replacement much less that it was 4 years over due. That was on a 60+k boat he bought new 6 years prior and still didn't bother or learn what is acceptable. That was in between looking at boats where excellent condition actually means fair condition and perfect upholstery means perfect if you are far sighted.

 

[ricohman]

When used boat shopping you have to kiss a lot of frogs unfortunately which of course we know you know. I looked at a boat whereby the owner was talking up the fact that he replaced the impeller 6 seasons ago and he legitimately thought that was an appropriate amount of time to still think it was a recent replacement much less that it was 4 years over due. That was on a 60+k boat he bought new 6 years prior and still didn't bother or learn what is acceptable. That was in between looking at boats where excellent condition actually means fair condition and perfect upholstery means perfect if you are far sighted.

Yes, you are very right.
If he takes it to a shop and gets a tune up with the carbs rebuilt, compression tested, ignition sorted, headgaskets replaced, water diverters replaced, exhaust manifolds inspected for leaks, lower leg inspected, tested and fitted with a new seal, impeller replaced then I would consider it.
But I got a feeling he is going to spin some new plugs in, change the leg oil and tell me he got it fixed.
I would assume the above work on the powerhead along would cost $1500+ up here. The leg is another $500 in work.
I would be willing to do this on my own if the price was appropriate. $2500-$3000 would be about right.

 

[astronutski]

change the leg oil and tell me he got it fixed.

Lurking along this thread, but for the life of me I can't figure out what a "leg" is. Sorry to hear about your wasted time, but on the bright side noobie guys like me are getting a great treatise in used boat shopping

 

[southkogs]

... for the life of me I can't figure out what a "leg" is.

The outdrive portion of an I/O (or sterndrive) is also called a leg. Some folks will refer to the lower drive portion of an outboard the using that term too.

 

[ricohman]

The outdrive portion of an I/O (or sterndrive) is also called a leg. Some folks will refer to the lower drive portion of an outboard the using that term too.

I have owned I/O's and for some reason I call it a leg now. Not the correct term.
But in this case, for the fellow with a question, I will also say the powerhead needs work

 

[ricohman]

Well, the seller contacted me today. He says all the issues have been addressed.
The water leak was loose bolts on the heads and all they did was tighten them up. He replaced all the plugs and cleaned out the one carb again and says it now runs very nicely. He bought a lower kit and replaced all the seals and changed the leg oil. Also repacked the trailer bearings. The mechanic that did this works on his ranch, he is not a marine tech. But these are jobs most guys do in their driveways.
My concern is the Johnson 90. He says it was only running on 3 cylinders when I was there. But this motor only has two carbs so I can't see how that is possible.
And if one carb was plugged would the lean condition heat and score the cylinder? The loose bolts on the head are another thing. I would rather have new gaskets than just loose bolts and I can see the gaskets falling apart in the future. But this is not a big job I guess. These heads have a gasket that is exposed in the plug well, not the smooth later heads.
He said he would meet me halfway this time. Is this boat even worth considering anymore?

 

[Maclin]

nope

 

[Watermann]

Sounds as though he doesn't have too many nibbles on the line and he might me thinking if he jiggles the lure a bit more you'll bite. If you do decide to bite, take the boat out for a sea trial first to be sure everything is working as it should.

 

[pastorbobnlnh]

Another thought is to ask what he'd sell the SS for without the motor. The seller believes the whole package is worth $5000 CD. Considering the biggest expense in any 32 year old boat is the motor, maybe you could get the boat for $2000 CD? Just my 2 (USD ) cents worth of newbie advise!

Watermann 's suggestion for an in water trail run makes a great deal of sense! :thumb:

 

[roffey]

Another thought is to ask what he'd sell the SS for without the motor. The seller believes the whole package is worth $5000 CD. Considering the biggest expense in any 32 year old boat is the motor, maybe you could get the boat for $2000 CD?

I agree %100, the boat is over priced to start with. Offer 2k and go $2500 tops and make the offer over the phone that way both parties know what money is on the table. You've seen the boat in person so he knows you are a serious buyer. If he leaves the motor on the boat you can work with it, if he sells it separate then its one less thing you have to take off the boat. I sold a boat to a buyer 400 km away, we did the deal over the phone. If all are completely honest and transparent it will work. If buyer or seller tries to upsell or low ball then the deal off.

 

[ricohman]

He has now offered to meat me over halfway at an lake where he will let me take it on a trial to shoe me everything is working.
This has got my attention. That would be about 1.5 hours away. I like the idea of a sea trial.
Nearly 99% of boats sold on the prairies are driveway deals.

 

[Maclin]

Just sayin' , your post #32 had all the reasons that I would not consider it any more "even if"

 

[ricohman]

No Title

I know...but this old boat is so nice inside. It really has been cared for on the inside.
There is nothing to do as far as carpet and seats ect.
I got a feeling I will be calling this fellow back. If we meet at the lake and it runs like he says it does, I think I should buy it. Slim pickings up here for this type of boat.

 

[ricohman]

I went and bought this boat. My first question is about the trailer. There is no tongue weight. It appears a new winch post was added. If I move the winch post forward can I winch the boat forward? Its a roller trailer. Or does it have to be in the water? It looks like the boat was about 4 inches farther forward at one time.