Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

[Island_Chica]

Hi all - wrote my intro post about a year ago, been busy having baby #2 and with life in general. We'd shelved the idea of getting a boat until next summer, but a friend has put their boat up for sale. It's very much a starter boat - 1995 Sunbird Skier (17' or 18', not sure), ski boat (not runabout), Johnson 150hp motor (don't yet have info on hours, age). Asking $2900 will take $2300. We live near Lanier, would use the boat on "off" hours mostly as I don't want to be on the busy lake with little ones. Makes for an uncomfortable ride.

The only known issues are (i) speedometer broken, and (ii) the gas line is tricky when filling - apparently you have to hold the line down when filling or else it registers full. Owner reports no problem with gas supply when running. Owner bought in 2008 for $3200, had no boat survey/mechanic check it out because cost wasn't worth it considering low price of boat.

Owner reports that it runs well and started up with no issues this past weekend. Obviously we'd take it for a spin or two first. We're very much newbies with used boat buying but are there any huge red flags given price? Could this be a decent starter boat/beater to learn on? Is this boat going to get beat with the traffic on Lanier, making the ride really uncomfortable? Any other thoughts/advice? We weren't looking but this is a good price and we know the owners personally.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

It might be OK, if you can sort out the fuel line problems. You don't want to have fuel line issues with family aboard.

Sunbirds were never regarded as Cadillacs, so if it comes into problems, probably not worth fixing. So, as long as you are getting for a real bargain and it is functional, then it might be worth a season or 2 to learn and then get into a bigger boat.

 

[Island_Chica]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Anyone? Bueller?

Also learned that new carpet installed last year, new speakers/cd player installed two years ago. Cosmetically, boat in good condition. $2300 includes trailer.

I know that rot and soft spots are things to look for in a boat this age - how does one test for this?

Still working on getting engine age/hours. All info thus far has come from the wife and the husband has more detailed specs.

 

[Island_Chica]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Thanks for the input, that's kind of my thought. Probably use it for a couple of years, learn on it and then sell it for $1000 or so less provided it still runs.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Get in it and walk around heavy footed, all weight on one foot and bounce up and down to see if the floor flexes anywhere. Sit down "hard", see if the seat boxes are good, just stuff like that will be a place to start.

 

[Island_Chica]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Okay - this is an evolving situation. Got some more info. Boat is actually a 1990, not 1995, and is a 20-footer. Have asked about soft spots, if boat sits low in water and rot, and Owner reports none of that. Owner has put only 10-12 hours on the motor since he bought back in 2008. He is not sure of engine age, but says he is amazed that it always starts on the first try, even if it's been sitting all winter. Did some minor repairs to chinks in prop when he purchased. Boat kept at family's lakehome (owner's father lives there FT) and he reports the engine always starts well and quickly. He is a "boat guy" and doesn't think it's a pile of junk, for what's its worth. He is selling because he's getting a wakeboard boat.

Here are a few pics:

 

[njrextreme]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Looks good for the price.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

A compression check on the motor would be wise. I dont understand the the ress down on fuel line thing though:

 

[Island_Chica]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Re: the fuel line, the Owner said he'll show us what he's talking about when we look at the boat. Basically, it has to do with the design, not a defect. I got that first bit of info from his wife.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Probably not a bad buy for the money. I love a good 'ol Johnson outboard, you almost can't kill the things! The only downside is going to be that it may be a bit cramped with more than 2 adults/2kids since it is a closed-bow. Hopefully the slalom ski pole in the middle is removable so that it isn't in the way all of the time.

 

[Island_Chica]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Yes, the small size is a concern, but for a starter boat, I'm not too worried. It is just to get out on the lake this summer/fall, nothing more. The Owner is a friend and grew up boating in Michigan. He apparently had fond memories of this boat from his childhood and purposefully sought out this model for a starter. He said the Johnson outboard is seemingly "indestructible." (Not true, but I take his point that she's behaved well so far). It's rated for 6 ppl, but he said that would be tight.

I'm reading more here on iboats and learning that a boat of this age typically has some rot issues. Curious, how much is a marine surveyor?

 

[Maclin]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

If he is using it now, and you can get a 30 minute test on the water, and it does not take on water, and the floor is solid everywhere you check then that would be good enough for me. Especially since the owner seems to be up front about everything, answering all your questions and offering the water test.

In lieu of a surveyor report be sure to spend at least 30 minutes on the water engine running the whole time. Spend at least 5 minutes at a good cruise speed. Slowdown, idle, and take off a few times. See if it runs the same each time. Try turning at speed, see if you like the steering or if it feels uncomfortable to you in the turns.

Be sure to pay for the gas, etc.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

It's $2300 with the trailer? Even if it's rotted, just run the damn thing and fuggetaboutit. Treat it like it's old, don't race it around at WOT all day long and don't go beating it up on chop and waves. Make sure the transom is solid. Try to move that outboard around with all of your might. If it don't move...the rest of the boat isn't likely to be rotted enough to be a real problem.

You've got the right idea...buy it now, sell it later. It's a great choice for that. You can take that motor and controls off and get a 1/2 your money back straight away. Sell the trailer and you're almost golden. That's pretty much what you're buying in this case so make sure the trailer is good and the motor has good compression and runs right.

I love my old '84 johnson 115hp...it always starts.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

If it runs, its a bargain.

If you think its a bad cheap boat, then pass on it and go spend 25g on a newer one.

 

[BugsBunnyBoater]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Looks good to me. You can part it out if you need to in a few years and get some of your money back.
Run it and enjoy it..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

That motor plus the trailer is worth close to the asking price. If it was a bunch more money I'd start getting into the Sunbirds were the absolute lowest quality and the layout of that boat is dumb...............but for that price I'd drive it like I stole it

I do kinda wonder why he's got a whale tail on it since a boat of that size with a 150 V6 motor on it should be a screamer.

 

[Island_Chica]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Thanks again all. I think we're going to take her for a spin this weekend. She apparently still runs quite well. Definitely not a dream boat or keeper in any sense, but I'm frankly afraid to have a nice boat my first time around. I'd rather learn on a small boat like this and if we scrape a dock, I won't be sick over it. We'll definitely try the test drive tips suggested and run her for 30 minutes or so, going cruising speed, idling, slowing, etc.

I refuse to finance a boat purchase, so this will give us a couple of years to save the cash for a nicer boat while still being on the water and getting experience. Shoot, it costs $400 to rent a boat for the day on Lake Lanier. Five rentals and we've bought this boat!

Re: the whale tail, I had to google that. It slows down performance? No clue why it's on there, and the owner probably doesn't know either. I'm pretty sure it came that way - was used in Michigan prior to 2008.

Sounds like boat is a decent deal if she runs. I sure won't be getting any jealous looks on the lake, but at least we'll be having fun!

 

[bnicov]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Bring a hammer along and tap the floor lightly, you'll be able to tell where there is rot because it won't be a solid 'thunk', it'll sound and feel soft and spongy. For a first boat, go for it, you'll pretty much get your money back on it after a couple of years. As long as it floats, runs and isn't rotted, that's the bottom of the barrel price.

 

[Island_Chica]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

Honestly, how ugly is she?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

She's not "ugly" at all. It's actually one of the better designs Sunbird had. I bet with some polishing, it would clean up the oxidized hull a bit a look a ton better cosmetically.