Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

[Bubba1235]

Had a phone call from a friend of a friend of a friend (you know how that works) and he has an "old boat" he wants to sell. He is not a computer person and doesn't own a digital camera so not even a picture.

It's a 1970 Aristo Craft 19' I/O with a chevy 6 (I think its the 6, owner is unsure) and the engine is frozen. Comes on a trailer and owner says has "fair" tires so I assume I can tow it home. (I have quick mountable lights if the trailer lights don't work.)

Thing is, I have no real clue what the boats condition is but it is stored in side and has been the last three years so I told him I would take it. He was asking a hundred bucks and I figure the trailer is worth that even if the boat is total kaw kaw. Right?

I've been hunting the internet for some quality pics but have found little more than bad thumbnails. If anyone has a link to better oens it is appreciated. I may have found another project or I may have found a donor, I'll let you all know when I know.

 

[redfury]

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

I think Erikgreen had an aristocrat with an I/O. I saw it, it was at least a 19ft...don't remember the year, but I think it might be close. Perhaps he can help you out with an idea of what you just bought.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

For a hundred bucks it's hard to go too wrong, but you might lose the $100 possibly... if the boat is a total loss, has no usable parts, and you have to pay to get rid of the hull*

On the plus side, as you mentioned the trailer may be worth something as scrap, and parting the boat out you'd be almost certain to make your money back. You might even get a good boat for $100 that you can fix up.


Erik

*Yes, you can put the boat in your front yard with a "free" sign, but personally I think that's a little on the mean side... unless someone is basically a DIY type like one of the folks here, they're probably not going to have the drive to fix the boat up so it's safe and useable. So giving away a boat for free to passerby means you'll stick someone with a boat they have to pay to get rid of, or you're putting someone on the water with an unsafe boat, or potentially you're even going to sour someone on the concept of boating if they have a bad enough experience with your junk. Just my opinion, though.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

I used to have a formula thunderbird, plus a Sea Ray (I still have the other Ray). No aristo-craft though.

Erik

 

[lucid484]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

well there are alot of places that will come and haul a boat out for free....same with junkie cars....but really for a 100 you cant go wrong!

got my buddies 22' for free...almost paid 1500 and then 750 a few months later before he just dumped it in my yard lol...look at my post "rotted Transom" though for what you might be gettin in to!

 

[fuzzeywiggler]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

Fiberglassics.com has some

http://www.fiberglassics.com/forms/forum818/ShowProfile.asp?mode=public&uname=Mark_Murphy

could be a pretty slick boat if it still has the hard top!


Fuzzy

 

[lucid484]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

Those are unique boats..even if I had one of those that was as completely rotted as mine...id restore her!!! some people think im nuts for taking on my project!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

Go to Fiberglassics.com they have some photos of the late 60's brochures.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

I did a google search and found lots of good pics. Try this http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=257372

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

Better yet, try the aristocraft forum here.http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=224

 

[redfury]

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

Re: Buying sight un-seen ???

I used to have a formula thunderbird, plus a Sea Ray (I still have the other Ray). No aristo-craft though.

Erik

I thought you had the one with the sliding top on it that had the trolling motor mounted on the outdrive....perhaps I am mistaken.

 

[oops!]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

To my eye, a rebuilt boat like this has real appeal and its lines really are classic. Now I am kind of stoked to go get it.

heh heh heh.....be prepaired for some work if you wanna restore it

were all here for ya bubba...!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

i think it is Ziggy that has the aristo craft. they are really neat boats, especially if it still has the sliding hard top. sent him a pm to look at this.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

for a hundie with a intact hardtop. go for it. the hardtop alone is worth that.

cool that yer stoked bubba. ya should be. these boats are the cats meow. i can't imagine what my next boat will be after this. the nineteen is a most versital boat.

best place to get the low down on these boats is here. http://www.aristocraftboats.com/ go look at the vintage boats, fiberglass brochures they got. plenty of pics, good info on the features they come with. these boats are billed as all glass. no wood. though, i believe there's a board just in front of the drive. but it's not a full transom. only other wood is in the seats themselvs. other than that. all glass. this was a good selling point for me since my last boat got rotten stringers and transom.

i really can't say enough good about this boat. i just fell into it. knew nothing of them prior to getting it. but once ya have one. like i said. can't imagine what the next boat will be. the sliding hardtop is sweet. ya can go from slid open for the hot day to full enclosed w/a rear canvas canopy.

aristocraft is still around too. cluade turners (inventor of arsitocraft boats) grandson scott still produces one or two of the wood models, they also restore a few. like this one. this link will make yer mouth water... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=275852
some oem parts are still available for these boats too. though on a hit and miss basis as to whats available.
here's a review i wrote of my aristocraft... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=228881
i have since changed my attitude about the handling of this boat. it can pound ya a bit, but with good helm control, this can be kept to a minimum.
here's a few pics of my boat in this thread. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=222039
i use my boat as a pleasure boat. but if i were a fisherman, there'd be plenty of room to fish from the back or i've put a camp chair on the bow deck and just sat up there. this would be a great place to fish from.
i learned i can camp with this boat this summer too. like in camping in the boat, no tent. me and the gf camped many times in it after our discovery this year. we got rained on. no big deal. as i have the aft curtain. so nice and dry inside. the seats fold out into lounges that are real nice and soft for sleeping.
these boats are pretty durable too. here's how i was abusing mine this year... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=277316
i came out of that w/o issures other than a sanded down starboard side keel. which i consider pretty good as for how hard i was getting pounded on the beach that night and day.

anyways. these are dandy boats. hope all goes as ya want it too. ya can't go wrong with the 165 L6 either. great engine. performance wise, mine does 42 or 43 mph @ 4300. not to bad for a old scow.... any specific questions, let me know... good luck....

thanks for making me aware of this thread td. i had missed it..


edit... forgot to mention the vertical sliding center window panel. man, this is a great idea. ya can have it open a inch or three or half open or whatever suits yer fancy. very nice for controlling temp and wind inside the boat.

a pic or two..

 

[oops!]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

wow......ziggy....that is really a class vessel !

 

[ziggy]

Re: Buying a boat sight un-seen ???

I will pick it up this coming weekend and see what it is I have bought.

exciteing. let us know what ya got too?

that is really a class vessel !

yep, aristocraft had some pretty good ideas for 70's boat. to bad no other mfg. pickup up on how hip the sliding, removable hardtop is.... they really work well... along with the many other ideas incorporated into this boat.... the one thing they forgot was a heater......