First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

[Corryn]

After having trouble with my recently purchased (used) boat, I found a mechanic to look it over. Besides needing a tune up, it also has a cracked engine block. I don't have the resources or knowledge to undertake an engine replacement. Do any of you have suggestions for reselling this boat - with full disclosure of course. I wouldn't want someone else to go through this. I don't even know where to start, price wise, or if it's worth anything at all.

1981 Four Winns Marquise 160, 120 hp - pretty good condition, a few cracks in the vinyl, but otherwise everything is intact.
trailer - great condition, needs a couple of lights replaced on the side. Has a fairly new wheel dolly in the front, and would accommodate a larger boat.

Price suggestions? Keep it? Part it? :facepalm:

 

[oldjeep]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

Going to be tough to get more than a couple hundred out of a 31 year old boat with a blown motor. Put it on craigslist with the description you posted above and hope for a fool woth some money.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

What do you have in it?

Assume you paid fair market value. Get a ball park price of installing a rebuilt engine block, subtract that from your price, and that is your top price. If replacement cost far exceeds FMV, it's a loser.

trailers have little value b/c every boat comes with one.

Is there any way you can get the hull evaluated? If you can get it "certified" as being in sound shape, you may be able to sell it.

and when you sell it, always take the first legit offer.

 

[Corryn]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

Just made a craigslist posting, asking for offers or trade. oh this just makes me sick. Lessons learned I suppose.

NADA low value (poor or non working condition) is 800.00. I assume that is NOT what I will get offered lol

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

To the right person, it is worth whatever the trailer is worth to them plus whatever the parts on the boat are worth to them...

Its summer, people (the sane ones, which generally aren't on iboats ) want to buy a boat and get on the water, not get to work fixing it... The market is not big for this sort of thing right now. I would ask about $200 more then the absolute minimum amount you will accept, and go from there.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

If this boat is in otherwise nice shape, perhaps you might want to look into finding a "donor boat". Lots of rotted out glass boats out there with good motors.

 

[Maclin]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

Hang with it for a bit, it may not be as expensive as you think if you get lucky and find that donor boat, just sayin'.

 

[Fingerlakes]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

Honestly over the years I have found that it may be cheaper to find a used engine for it rather than rebuild the old one.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

Does the engine run? You might be able to patch it to get you by for the summer.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

Does the engine run? You might be able to patch it to get you by for the summer.

He said it had a cracked block, and that he had neither the money or skill to swap an engine.

 

[price chris craft]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

if you know where the crack is you can clean it and patch with jb weld. I had a boat with a crack in front old old crack 4 inches long jb weld that 2ce still running today.

 

[Maclin]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

If the crack is on the outside maybe it can be patched to a degree, but if it is a cooling passage that cracked on the inside then the crankcase will fill with water. Don't know what the mechanic saw or found by testing.

 

[Corryn]

Re: First boat - giant mistake...suggestions?

A pretty significant amount of water pours into the engine compartment when it is running. It also has nearly zero power once on the water, although the engine does start up and run. I will keep the craigslist post up, and talk to my brother who is an auto mechanic. Maybe he will want a project...haha

The boat mechanic I took it to said it would be about 600.00 for him to pull the engine and put one back in, not sure what rebuilding would run...if I could find the replacement parts.