Friend selling Sunbird starter boat - waste of cash?

[laserbrn]

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

I agree. Nott too shabby. It's a little oxidized, but that can be fixed. Just get to work compounding, polishing and waxing and she'll spiff right up.

 

[Maclin]

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

I like it.

 

[spoilsofwar]

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

At $2300, if the motor runs (in the water, not on the muffs) and its not rotton, I would buy it.

 

[26aftcab454]

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

with the boat on the trailer tilt the motor high enough to step on. bounce up & down a little a little and see it the transom rolls back & forth. To make it shine I would polish it with Vasoline! No joke -try it.
I see you have studied up on rotten boats. Unless it was done recently, would also change the water impeller and new plugs or a tune up if needed. If you like it buy it!

 

[MTboatguy]

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

I don't think she is ugly at all, a little spit shine and she would look great, at that price, with a water test to check things out, she would be sitting in my driveway right now!

 

[Island_Chica]

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

I am pretty sure she will be ours within a few weeks. Owner is no hurry to offload and we're out of town next week. Probably testing her July 1st. I'll keep everyone posted. It's funny, I fully expected everyone to say "don't buy that POS!" Knowing little about boats, the age scared me, but considering we have very humble dreams for this boat, I think it will fit the bill and it's a nice, smaller boat to start on.

 

[ezmobee]

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

I think it will fit the bill and it's a nice, smaller boat to start on.

Agree. Good luck! You will be longing for an open bow after about a week though

 

[BRICH1260]

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

The only drawback that I could see for the price is the size and seating. I think you would be much happier with an open bow, but for a starter boat it will work just fine.

 

[CoffeeHound]

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

IMHO you have a winner ! Even though it is a smaller boat,,that can be a MAJOR advantage on a family outing !
You can reach a kiddo that wants to visit the fish that he can see under the boat without climbing over everything !
Good luck ,, enjoy ,, and above all travel safe and watch all the kiddos all the time !!

 

[Island_Chica]

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

Oh, we know for a fact we'd rather have a bowrider. However, I'd rather have a used closed bow in good condition to cut my teeth on than take a chance on a bowrider we know nothing about. In a couple of years we plan to upgrade to a bowrider - at that point we'll be sharing with my BIL and his wife, who used to own a really nice Crownline 21 foot bowrider. We plan to go in together on a nicer boat once all our kids are old enough to enjoy it.

 

[jestor68]

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

I'm curious as to how he's been using it here in Georgia with an expired MI registration.

I guess the water cops just haven't noticed YET.

Any marine dealer can provide you with the registration form.

 

[Island_Chica]

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

Yes, he told us about that. Honestly, he cranked it up last weekend but hadn't used it in about a year. He's already started the GA registration process.

 

[Philster]

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

If the boat is even marginal at best, and the engine is running well, go out and run the snot out of it.

If you have a 2k budget and are trying to squeeze into a boat above your price range, and you really need this thing to be perfect to 'luck out' and have years of boating fun, then the story changes.

She runs and doesn't leak? Run the snot out of 'er.

 

[Island_Chica]

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

Philster - nope, in about two years our budget will be around $15K, so this is well under what we could technically afford. We're just ready to have some fun over the next couple of summers, and this seems cheaper than renting ($400 a day around here).

 

[Hvymtl]

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

Boat looks ok. Don't want to hurt any feelings here, but if I were the seller I wouldn't want to jump through a bunch of hoops and be questioned about every little thing on $2300.00 - 1990 boat. If he does he is a patient man. Be realistic with your expectations. Follow the advice and check out the drive train, and good luck with your purchase.

 

[Maclin]

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

Leave SOME of the snot in it, I may want to look at it when you are done in a couple of years!

 

[Island_Chica]

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

Hvymtl - seller is a friend, and he was the one who offered most of this info. Plus, he won't be in town when we test drive it, so we can test it out all we want with no fear of offending him. No worries, we're not going to act like we're purchasing a yacht.

Maclin - I'll remember that!

 

[Philster]

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

Leave SOME of the snot in it, I may want to look at it when you are done in a couple of years!

Nah... they run best snotless, and only a good run will get it all out.

 

[Solittle]

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

Friend or not remember that his goal is to take money out of your pocket and put it into his. Listen to all he says but check/verify everything with your own eyeballs and take some one with you who is an experienced boater. There are a huge number of threads here which staart with "The seller said ran fine * * * * " but now it * * * "What do I do?" - - - And then the tale of woe begins.

 

[countryboy26047]

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

First off let me say that is a very nice looking boat there, and for the price, if she runs out as good as your friend said, and the floor and transom are solid, sounds like one heck of a good deal!
Secondly, This:

It's funny, I fully expected everyone to say "don't buy that POS!" Knowing little about boats, the age scared me, but considering we have very humble dreams for this boat, I think it will fit the bill and it's a nice, smaller boat to start on.

As for age, all you have to do is scan through this forum, look at the age of some of the boats on here.. I've read quite a few posts and seen in siggy's of people have mid-late 60's models.. heck even my '75 is a decent example, if the boat was taken care of, age doesn't mean too much.