Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

[hostage]

First off thanks for all those 100 questions that you guys have answered so far. I am very cautious when it comes to purchasing anything that cost more than a few hundred dollars.

I am looking at this 1994 Glastron SSV-199: http://rochester.craigslist.org/boa/1739798571.html

The boat is about an hour drive away from me and I do have some concerns. The owner has been pretty good on responding back, but he hasn't always answered all of the questions I have asked. It looks like he has been trying to sell the boat for a while on craigslist as he has many posts. http://rochester.craigslist.org/search/boa?query=glastron+1994
He latest post said, "$5000" when I spoke to him he said he was firm on the price of $5500 and that someone made a typo on craigslist. He seemed to talk more like a sales man more than a private owner. He also claims to own a moving business, don't know if it is because he is a small business owner or what, though I don't know if I liked his pushy attitude. He says he is the 2nd owner. When I asked him if he has any maintenance records he says he might, but he had the marina do all the maintenance on the boat. He told me the Gimble Bearing was replaced last year and the boat needs nothing, but to be put into the water etc. He said he will do a Sea Trial. When I asked him when the oil and impeller was left changed, he said this boat needs nothing.

He even gave me a story about how some guy came to look at it a couple days ago didn't want to pay what he was offering and ended up buying a boat that didn't work to well. He also said the guy was kicking himself that he didn't buy the boat that this guy was selling. I am just curious why someone would tell him that information? I am wondering if this is just a "story".

I don't know if this guy is just callus from "tire kickers" and doesn't know much about the boat, since he got a marina to do it all, but I don't if I want to drive an hour for this. I just don't want to get a boat and then be kicking myself for it.

What do you guys think?

-Doron

Edit: Note he calls it a 18foot boat, but 19 in others. I checked and it is a 19' boat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

I'm concerned about the structural integrity of that rusty trailer. Boat looks pretty good and the motor looks clean. Little hesitant to recommend spending $5k on a 16 year old boat. More like $3500. I would want, at minimum, a mechanic to inspect the motor and drive.

 

[hostage]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

Around the price he is asking is what looks like many Cuddies with the same year/engine are going for.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

I'm concerned about the structural integrity of that rusty trailer. Boat looks pretty good and the motor looks clean. Little hesitant to recommend spending $5k on a 16 year old boat. More like $3500. I would want, at minimum, a mechanic to inspect the motor and drive.

EXACTLY what I was going to say about the trailer. Looked to have some issues in the key areas I could see.

As long as there is no issue with the drive train, any of the basic maintanence you can due (oil change, lower unit lube, impeller)...all of that stuff can be done rather inexpensively and will give you a piece of mind. The boat looks clean and in good order.

As far as price...

I think you are in that weird price range...the 5K area. It seems that NOONE ever wants to dip below that, even though as EZ said it is probably more around the 3500 range. I think all boats from 5-8K always seem to be overpriced...generally quite old, and people just dont think they should let them go for less than that range.

Funny dicotomy is, if you just double the 5k range, you can be looking at solid boats only a couple years old with larger engines! I know that sucks to hear, and there is really no way around it...

And I completely doubt you will be able to get him to drop to the 4k area. Perhaps bring the NADA value with you, be prepared to pass the cash if the test drive is good...and you may get it a little bit cheaper.

I got on bit of a soap box there: back to the boat, it looks all good, and as long as it's mechanically sound, and the water test works out, all of the little extra work you put into it wont be that much...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

Well that's the thing with boat markets and especially this time of year. Not the best time to be a buyer. From what I've seen in my time on here...that boat in Canada or the PNW would be somewhere around 7 million dollars

Check it out carefully, especially the trailer to make sure that's just surface rust, and get a mechanical inspection or at LEAST a good long water test.

 

[brick75]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

Not sure what your price range is, but as RL Gman said, if you get up closer to $10k it makes a world of difference. Looking back at my first boat purchase, I ended up rushing into it a bit just because I wanted one so bad. After a year or so of using it, I was kicking myself for not finding out that spending a couple more thousand would have gotten me a much nicer boat that didn't need as much repair.

But anyway, if you're not able to do that, just be certian that you're getting what you need/want and don't be pressured into the sale. And I would echo the concern on that trailer. Looks pretty rusty. If nothing else, you should be able to use that as a price reduction argument.

 

[hostage]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

I emailed the guy who was selling it and said "i'll pass".

I started to think about what you guys said and took a look at some boats that were a little more than I was initially wanting to spend.

I found a boat on craigslist that looks pretty nice: http://rochester.craigslist.org/boa/1725488601.html

It looks like the owner took good care of it, I went to inspect it. I took a look at the bellows and it look like the rubber was cracking a little bit in the grooves. He also said the ladder was broke/fell off when he was driving it some where. Lastly the prop has some small bends in it he said he hit some rocks. Other than that it seemed like it was in great condition. What do you guys think for a couple more thousand I can get a boat that is 6 years newer, much better condition, a less creepier seller, and 10 more HP. This one comes with a Bemini top as well. I like the fiberglass floor with removable/button-down carpet.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

That looks like a nice boat and those issues sound pretty minor. Just budget some cash for catching up on the deferred maintenance on that I/O. Bellows replacement and drive servicing ain't going to be cheap.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Boat Buying: Picking your Brain (1994 Glastron SSV-199)

That looks like a nice boat and those issues sound pretty minor. Just budget some cash for catching up on the deferred maintenance on that I/O. Bellows replacement and drive servicing ain't going to be cheap.

AGAIN! Exactly what I was going to say! Damn you're good!

And to add on to what EZ said...you could use the bellows condition as a bargoning chip...there's 150 in parts there, another 100 in the impeller, add "service cost" and your somewhere around 500 dollars (actually probably more, I've never had a dealer do that work for me). Then do it all yourself (as it isnt that bad to do, especially with the help around here!).

Now you're looking at only a 10 y/o boat, and in the end, with maintanence ect, prolly spent the same amount of money (not to mention, everyone always inflates on CL, so right off the top they are willing to deal)!

Oh yeah, I didnt mention earlier...ensure this guy did proper winterization, NY got realy cold this year. Ensure that block is in good condition!