Can't seem to find MY boat

[PatinIdaho]

So another one sold. To my neighbor of all people!
So it's usually me and the wife going out for a day or two on the weekends. Home every night. Lake is 20 minutes away
We usually do a little fishing then swimming then finish with just some light cruising around before home.
We do like the 24ish foot boats and would like to find one with a small cuddy and more deck room but just no luck!
Anyway
So now im looking at this boat. Price seems about right for my area of the world and 5k is what i have. Now there is no way im going to pay 5K and here is why from the pics.
It looks like it sits out in the sun baking day in and day out as the rear seat shows bad sun damage. That rear part is a removable option that some don't even have.
So i don't really care about it but it is a clue. I would remove it even if it was perfect.
Back of drivers seat has a small tear
There is no mention of canvass. So IF there is none thats another down side.
756 hours not bad. Bout normal i guess
No listing about maintenance
I have watched a few vids about boats just like it on youtube and i love the layout looks and size.
They all seam to list to the right when under power.
I will check for rot EVERYPLACE i can get to this time
I know for value its all about condition, condition, condition but if there is no rot and all looks good what would you think a fair offer might be?

http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/5108218878.html

So whatcha all think?

 

[airdvr1227]

For a 28 year old boat it doesn't look that bad. Of course how it looks means little in comparison to how it was maintained. How much less than $5K do you think will buy it?

 

[oldjeep]

5k is a down payment on a boat that size. How much are you prepared to pay monthly for repairs and deferred maint on a nearly 30 year old boat?

 

[oldjeep]

And in answer to the question you asked. 5k for a boat that size on a trailer is far less than I would expect to pay.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Well i think it all depends on condition. If it only needs a buff and wax job I would pay 5K but there is a big lack of description in the ad so one has to assume it needs some maintenance items as there may have been none sense 1995 when he bought it.
5k is a pretty normal starting price around here.
Guess we will find out tonight after he gets off work and i go look at it.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Well here is the story.
It needs a buff and wax really bad.
The power steering is way low and whiny so a leak someplace.
The engine does run good and starts right up from cold and when warm.
The interior is not to bad but needs cleaned really bad.
Tapped around with a screwdriver on the inside and it sounded nice and sharp with no dull thuds everyplace i hit it.
Auto Halon fire suppression system.
Some gauges work some don't.
No canvas at all.
Power trim/tilt work fine as well as the trim tabs.
No Gimbel bearing vibration or noise.
After about 20 minutes heading back to his dock i looked under the engine hatch and green antifreeze was coming out of the filler neck and the left exhaust manifold seemed to be getting hot.
It was in the water so i could not pull a outdrive drain plug to check for water or a leak.
Sounded fine and shifted fine.

So if he will accept the offer im thinking 3K and ill fix it my self as i can do the work its just parts cost and my labor.
Sound reasonable?

 

[PatinIdaho]

Well made the 3K offer but he would only come down to 4900 so its a no go anyway.
So still looking

 

[airshot]

Ever considered an aluminum hulled boat? I have a 22' starcraft Islander and absolutely love it. Light weight, easy on fuel, easy to trailer. Cuddy cabin and large open fishing area. Best of all no rotted sub floor to worry about. Only wood is in the transom so easy to check and easy to replace if needed. Mine is a 1983 and all original except the floor/carpet. Been boating for more than 50 yrs and this by far has been my favorite boat.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Ohya looked at a number of Aluminum boats but there all 11K or more around here for that size and sold in a instant!
So i need to stick within my affordable budget. Maintenance i can do. Engine/outdrive rebuild i can do my self.
Its the initial cost for me and my situation. That is why im having a hard time finding a decent sized boat that is in decent shape

I bought one today though.

1984 Bayliner(i know the bad rap they get)
Its 24.5Feet. The cabin interior is in great shape.
Full canves
Volvo Penta AQ225D/280. I even have spare parts for it. Transmission. Props.
The outside deck interior is a little rough but usable as is.
He would not let me drill anyplace but i could rap on it with a good size screwdriver and it was all a nice sharp sound with no dull thuds. So i believe it is solid.
Has been stored in a barn out of the weather when not in use. It was in there family sense new and passed down. I have manuals and some other stuff with it.
It is not shore power capable but i would most likely never use that anyway.

At the lake it fired up easy enough but the choke is either adjusted wrong or the carb needs rebuilt. Other then running rich there were no problems with it running.
It tops out at 39MPH
Trim tabs work fine but one ram has a very small leak.
No water showed up in the bilge
Outdrive worked as it should.

It does need a good bath and a wax job but over all it will shine up on the outside
Ummm cant think of anything else interesting

 

[mr 88]

What did you pay for it and did it come with a decent trailer ?

 

[PatinIdaho]

Did not think anyone cared about that.
It has a Easy Unloader trailer 2 axle. Surge brakes but they seem to not be working. Needs new tail lights also but over all decent shape.
Paid $4,700
Forgot it also has a almost new Humminbird 688Ci, Hd, GPS fish finder(but don't tell his wife he sold it with the boat)

I know it sounds like a good deal but thats kinda normal around here. There are a lot of bigger ones like this.
http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/5168586156.html
Called about 5 times but no answer. Who knows.

Also checked the trailer hubs when i got home. All 4 were slightly warm after being towed home 50ish miles and 89' degrees out.

So here is my plan for the rest of today and a bit tomorrow. Give it a bath, polish, change outdrive oil, fix brakes, tail lights. Take to lake Saturday after noon.

Wife loves it so far but you know girls. She is gonna whine about the ride OR its hard to get in OR its hot OR what ever else a woman can find to drive us perfectly happy men crazy with

 

[mr 88]

So you wouldnt pay 4900 for a 87 Sea Ray with a 350 mercruiser that was 3 years newer and probably has a higher resale figure along with heavier trailer because it was too much .Then spent 4700 on a Bayliner with a Volvo drive,[not sure what Chevy block it is] and that was okay,got me baffled on that one.Good luck with "her",the boat and the wife in no particular order .

 

[PatinIdaho]

The sea ray was in worse shape by far and I was just not comfortable buying it.
At this level resale has nothing to do with it.
I'm not buying to make a profit.
The bayliner is a boat I'll keep and have pride in ownership. The searay was a pos compared to this one.
Also a AQ225 is a Chevy 305 and a 280 out drive is one of the best.

 

[NYBo]

1984 was before Bayliner's quality took a nosedive.

BTW, you haven't fulfilled your obligation to the forum: Pictures!

 

[PatinIdaho]

Ah yes meant to get some today and post them but was kinda busy. Ill for sure post some tomorrow evening.

 

[PatinIdaho]

No Title

Well did not get it all done. Had a big list i wanted to do but here is what i got done.
New lights on the trailer.
Check out trailer brakes and it needs a new master cylinder. Want to just order a new hitch but i dunno what size. Thinking 8K ? Its a bolt on style.
Engine bay was not to bad but some soap and water made it look great!
Once i started digging around in there i noticed the engine was painted black and it has heat tabs on it and none are melted.
So that can only mean at some point it was replaced. No idea when though. Waiting for the guy i bought it from to call me back.
Tires are in great shape.
This winter ill order all new gauges for it. Want to do something to make the dash look better also. Need to find some ideas for that though.
The fold out bench seat in the back is getting removed.
The L seat is going to need some work. It is broke where it bends and i think is a common thing so should be able to figure out what to do with that.

Now for the two bad surprises.
The drain plug fitting fell out. The whole damn thing! So that is/was a problem. When it was out i poked around in the hole with a screw driver and its all solid wood from what i could tell. The screw holes are all stripped out. When he was putting the plug in he was reefing on it pretty good so i think that is what caused it. After the lake he removed it and no water came out.
Well when i went to put it ini noticed it was moving. Put my finger in the hole and a slight tug it popped out!
So drilled 3 new holes and filled the old ones with 5200 then installed the fitting with 5200 and new ss screws. It should be there forever.

 

[PatinIdaho]

No Title

So problem number 2.
When i opened this little hatch in the floor there was a little water in it. Not much but you could tell it was there for a while. Maybe a gallon in the shop vac.
Figured there was something blocking the drain or the bow was not high enough.
Raised the bow all the way up and it did not drain. Then i shop vacuumed it out.
Took the camera and snapped a pic so i could see what was blocking the drain.
As you can see in the pic it might be covered with fiberglass. It looks like you can see a drain hole but i dunno if there is supposed to be one or not.
Anyone with a boat like this one know?

Honestly i think i have a pretty good boat. I know some are going to disagree but i got $4,900 in to it so far.
The L seat and new carpet are gonna cost a few hundred though.

 

[mr 88]

As far as the water in the bow of the boat without knowing whats on the other side its a crapshoot if you open it up. It is common for a cruiser to sit at rest and be bow heavy. Most have a forward/bow bilge pump because of that,you may just want to add one instead of opening up a can o warms by drilling out the area you think was glassed up by mistake.There should be numbers on the master break cylinder and if you punch them in a ebay you probably will come up with one for 80-90 bucks.Volvos are as you noted chevy blocks that were once black and are always painted orange,so maybe you are seeing a area that was not painted so well at the factory.If it was replaced the odds are a black Chevy block would of been put in,the pictures tell me it is original and very clean.Get a weight on the boat and trailer then figure out what hitch you need.

 

[mr 88]

The gauges go they are all universally sized and hook up the same way so all you have to do is search ebay/ amazon or here for gauges and see what catches your eye.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Yes. That is why im asking the question before i try opening up a hole that might not supposed to be.
Cant add a pump. Its only about 4 or 5 inches tall
The engine is definitely a reman. There is no mistake about that. Yes these years they were all red
Gauges are pretty easy. Just about any will fit as they are standard sizes. Just need to find what i think looks good
Good idea! never thought about weighing it for that!