1st time boat owner needs big time advice !!

[rocks beware]

I am looking seriously at purchasing a used boat. It's a 16 or 17 ft MFG tri-hull bowrider with 50hp merc outboard. Owner says it's somewhere between a 1972-74. The boats in pretty good shape but the owner says the motor dies when the idle is real low and then it's hard to get started . He thinks it has something to do with the choke? Does this sound like an expensive problem? Also, will an engine this size push this boat okay? What might be a good sized motor and what would the price range be for a used one? We,ll be using it for fishing and putting so speed is not that important. This is our first boat and I don't want to make any major mistakes.I'm paying $1500 for boat,motor,trailer W/extras. Any info & advice at all would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! This is an excellent forum. Thanx

 

[Walter]

Re: 1st time boat owner needs big time advice !!

If you aren't even sure of the length of the boat, then I'd say you haven't done enough research. Don't buy this thing on a whim...a boat/motor/trailer combo of that vintage (72-74) could be the mother of all money pits. $1,500 may seem like a good deal until you dump twice that much into it trying to make it reliable/seaworthy.<br /><br />I don't know what horse power that particular boat is rated, but a 50 hp on that hull will net your no more than approx. 30 mph....and that's a generous estimate.<br /><br />It's easy to get caught up in the excitment of purchasing a boat...but be cautious that you're $1,500 investment doesn't quickly double...just to get her seaworthy and reliable.<br /><br />Walt

 

[JB]

Re: 1st time boat owner needs big time advice !!

Sounds like too much for a thirty year old package.<br /><br />JB

 

[lonewolf5347]

Re: 1st time boat owner needs big time advice !!

sounds like more than a choke?SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM

 

[norman158]

Re: 1st time boat owner needs big time advice !!

your 50 hp merc will push that boat as long as you dont get in a hurry or put all your buddys in it my 16 ft tri hull has a 45 hp on it i plan on repowering 1500 is a little spendy for that old a boat

 

[wa3ipb]

Re: 1st time boat owner needs big time advice !!

Beware! We just bought our 1972 Gypsy MFG trihull with a 1977 85HP Johnson in early May for $500. The boat is in fair shape and came with a almost new bimini top, Hummingbird fish/depth finder, oars, 4 life preservers, 32 fish nets/1 crab (decent shape, crab tongs,and a like new round throw out life preserver worth $40. Also the motor has an almost new carb and starter. The owner said it had been sitting over a year and the last time he used it, it ran great for about 15 minutes but would drain the battery dry. Hubby bought a rectifier and that worked but we've since had problems galore (ask the experts here, they know! ) and we've only been in the water four times each time with another problem. We've since added, fuel pump, plugs, head gaskets, water pump/impellar, salinoid, ignition coils, torque wrench, fly wheel puller, etc. It still isn't working. Hubby also made the mistake of starting it without "muffs" hose and blew another impellar. He learned a hard lesson! We're going to have the heads milled this hopefully this week. Yes, I do believe $1500 is too much!!!!!

 

[wa3ipb]

Re: 1st time boat owner needs big time advice !!

OOPS! That's 2 fish nets, not 32!!