1996 Four Winns 258 Vista gas tank issue

[Galvez83]

I am looking into buying this boat. BUT, the one thing that is holding me back from pulling the trigger is the owner states that the gas tank needs to be replaced. I have not spoken to the owner in regards to the details as to how it was determined that the gas tank needed to be replaced. As per Four Winns for this model and year it is a 75 gal tank. I want to get some input and approach this as a "worst case scenario" deal. The boat does not have a deck access to lift up a cover and reveal the tank to inspect. Please advise.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if the gas tank needs to be replaced, the foam may be saturated. that would indicate that the stringers and transom are probably saturated and rotting.

so........ if that is the case, expect to pay about $3500 in materials and a year of your weekends working on the boat to restore the hull and replace the fuel tank

• you cut the deck
• discover the tank is foamed in
• foam is water logged
• start removing
• find rotten stringers
• pull drive, engine and interior
• pull cap off boat
• follow rot
• replace stringers, transom, bulkheads
• replace fuel tank
• re-do all systems
• put in new floor
• foam everything
• finish floor
• replace cap
• install engine/drive
• go to install upholstery, find you need to spend $2500 on upholstery
• wife leaves you because boat is a money pit

its a 26 year old boat designed to last about 15 years

consider it a project boat

 

[Galvez83]

I will avoid like the plague, thanks.