First boat is it worth it?

[JimS123]

Oh wow that’s a lot of work. Thankfully I am a bodyman and definitely not afraid of some work.. BUT obviously not $35,000 worth of it! See I didn’t know that. I wonder because he said the floor was all redone and interior all redone. I would assume they would not overlook that? But maybe they just did the aesthetics not the structural..

A buddy of mine had his 19 footer completely redone. He had a firm price quote from who he was told was an expert at fiberglass repairs.

When they pulled the deck ALL of the stringers were bad AND the transom, (what most people would have expected). He got called back and the mechanic said now the quote would be double because of unexpected problems - had to pull the engine, etc, etc. Now the price was more than the boat was worth, but he went ahead anyway.

Three years later the floor was soft.....again. NOW he calls in a marine Surveyor. The Surveyor said there were some shortcomings in the job and it was rotten again. Yet another big bill.

When he got it home the wife said she won't go in that boat again. After a total of $7800 in 2 repairs, he sold it for $1500. (pre-pandemic)

Please don't take offense in all these comments. They are not intended to be negative, but rather to inform. Be smart and have it surveyed. If you don't, you may be sorry later.

 

[JimS123]

EDIT it says SEA-DECK. Is that an alternative to carpet?

Yes, SeaDek is a closed cell EVA foam that sheds water. It is available OEM on many new boats today, but most are snap-in so that they are easily removed from a fiberglass deck for cleaning.

We're on our 3rd season with a complete setup and I'll never own another boat without it.

 

[Lou C]

A buddy of mine had his 19 footer completely redone. He had a firm price quote from who he was told was an expert at fiberglass repairs.

When they pulled the deck ALL of the stringers were bad AND the transom, (what most people would have expected). He got called back and the mechanic said now the quote would be double because of unexpected problems - had to pull the engine, etc, etc. Now the price was more than the boat was worth, but he went ahead anyway.

Three years later the floor was soft.....again. NOW he calls in a marine Surveyor. The Surveyor said there were some shortcomings in the job and it was rotten again. Yet another big bill.

When he got it home the wife said she won't go in that boat again. After a total of $7800 in 2 repairs, he sold it for $1500. (pre-pandemic)

Please don't take offense in all these comments. They are not intended to be negative, but rather to inform. Be smart and have it surveyed. If you don't, you may be sorry later.

This is why I said what I said. Take the $36k and please please buy a late model boat with outboard power!
Else you and your significant other may wide up HATING BOATING!

 

[Sprig]

That’s basically an old old flashy go fast boat. Those kind of boats usually get the poop beat out of them because they are driven flat out every time they are used. I’d suggest for a first boat you look for something a little less flashy, a little smaller and less $$$. Keep in mind that fuel Prices are skyrocketing and a boat like that really sucks the fuel. You’ll probably go through several hundred dollars just in fuel for a day of going fast and looking cool.And a weekend of speeding around you may have to take out a second mortgage. Also the resale market for a go fast gas guzzling boat will be quite limited as fuel costs go up. Obviously your call but that would not be my first boat unless I was a middle eastern oil sheik.

 

[Roccafellas]

A buddy of mine had his 19 footer completely redone. He had a firm price quote from who he was told was an expert at fiberglass repairs.

When they pulled the deck ALL of the stringers were bad AND the transom, (what most people would have expected). He got called back and the mechanic said now the quote would be double because of unexpected problems - had to pull the engine, etc, etc. Now the price was more than the boat was worth, but he went ahead anyway.

Three years later the floor was soft.....again. NOW he calls in a marine Surveyor. The Surveyor said there were some shortcomings in the job and it was rotten again. Yet another big bill.

When he got it home the wife said she won't go in that boat again. After a total of $7800 in 2 repairs, he sold it for $1500. (pre-pandemic)

Please don't take offense in all these comments. They are not intended to be negative, but rather to inform. Be smart and have it surveyed. If you don't, you may be sorry later.

Not offended whatsoever im more than appreciative.. Just shocked I wonder how many other boats are out there that are actually all rotten!

 

[Roccafellas]

This is why I said what I said. Take the $36k and please please buy a late model boat with outboard power!
Else you and your significant other may wide up HATING BOATING!

Definitely appreciate it. Thank you. I will keep looking for newer but no outboards. Not trying to be that guy just. I definitely know you’re looking out. If I can’t find a good big block v8 that ya’ll accept or think is worthy I won’t get a boat at all until I can save for a new inboard.

 

[Roccafellas]

That’s basically an old old flashy go fast boat. Those kind of boats usually get the poop beat out of them because they are driven flat out every time they are used. I’d suggest for a first boat you look for something a little less flashy, a little smaller and less $$$. Keep in mind that fuel Prices are skyrocketing and a boat like that really sucks the fuel. You’ll probably go through several hundred dollars just in fuel for a day of going fast and looking cool.And a weekend of speeding around you may have to take out a second mortgage. Also the resale market for a go fast gas guzzling boat will be quite limited as fuel costs go up. Obviously your call but that would not be my first boat unless I was a middle eastern oil sheik.

Thank you I love the last quote lol. Definitely acknowledging the fact it will be anything but cheap. I’m prepared. I know very well I can spend thounsands in a weekend if I get on it. Which is not the plan at all. I don’t plan to be cruising long distances it’s more so for going to camp and back. The road is 1.5hour or a 15 minute boat ride. And just cruising in the middle of the lake or docking it on the sandbanks and going out in the water. And that road beats the heck! Outta your vehicle.

 

[Lou C]

Keep in mind that I/os used to have big cost advantage over outboards with respect to parts prices. This is no longer true and one reason is the they all have EFI now and after 2010 many have cat converter exhaust. This greatly increases repair costs and to me was the nail in the coffin for I/Os. I could put up with their designed in headaches when the engines were simple and the parts were cheap, not true anymore. If you need convincing go on a Mercparts site and check parts prices. Outboard is safer by a lot, easier to winterize by far and just less trouble overall. If I want a Chev big or small block I’ll buy a hot rod!

 

[JimS123]

Not offended whatsoever im more than appreciative.. Just shocked I wonder how many other boats are out there that are actually all rotten!

The 1950's were the golden years of boating. When the Greatest Generation came back from the War many wanted a boat. We all grew up in classic woodies. Some of the oldie boats even survived.

The 80's and 90's were the years of growth. The Boomers that grew up with Dad's 25 HP outboard now wanted to move up. Fiberglass now took over and the builders made them cheaply. To answer your question, if you find one from that era that ISN'T rotten, it has either been rebuilt or is a one-in-a-million gem.

Many rebuilt D-I-Y boats are just fine. The problem is mechanics that do it right are not necessarily all that good, and they charge so much that only a few use them. Hence rebuilt boats are a crap shoot.

Inboard motors that are well maintained and have not had the crap run out of them should last literally thousands of hours. A boat that has a rebuilt engine is certainly a red flag to me. Also one with a rebuilt floor.

Its like the hot Babe that you want to show off to your friends. Then you find out her D-cups were filled with closed cell foam, and the makeup was there because it was a necessity.....

 

[JASinIL2006]

Did the owner say why a 30 year old boat only has 65 hours on it? That's pretty unusual, unless the engine was replaced.

I'd be very hesitant about sending anyone money - even a deposit - for a boat I have not seen or touched. It would be very easy to pull pictures of someone else's boat and post them to lure in unsuspecting buyers. At the very least, I'd find a reputable marina OF YOUR CHOOSING in his area and ask him to take the boat there for an evaluation.

 

[BWR1953]

Roccafellas...

Just an FYI for clarification of terms.

You refer to "inboard" when you're really talking about an "inboard/outboard" (I/O) drive. Sometimes also known as a "sterndrive."

An inboard is different. See pic below.

The great attraction to the I/O type is because many folks are familiar with the "car" type of engine, so they believe that the I/O is easy to work on and maintain. Not always the case! There are some folks who believe that the I/O setup is actually the worst of both worlds... outboard and inboard combined.

As for the boat you're currently considering it... I wouldn't. Too old and will likely have some major issues. Even without the hotties!

Just my $0.02.