Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

[Gibbles]

Well it looks like I'm going to pick up my first boat tomorrow as long as the hull is not rotted out, I made a nice low ball offer on some people moving and two others have left them hanging, so I get my first boat for $100 with trailer.

I don't know a whole lot about it, all I do know is it's a Mark Twain with an outboard, they bought it as a project and they said they never had the time to work on it.

I don't know what type of engine it has
Anything big to look out for before I decide to commit?
easy way to check to see if the engine is not toast?

It does not run, but they were told it needed some electrical work.

I was thinking for $100 and the hull doe not have a big hole in it, or signs of serious rot I should be ok, I just want something to putt around on the lake with this spring.

And i'm new, and from Salt lake city, Utah.

Update on page 2!

Got an aluminum hull boat!

thaks for the suggestions!

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

This is pretty close to what it looks like... but the trailer only has one axle
http://www.topekaboatworks.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Boats_007.80221250_large.JPG

Edit, that picture was pretty darn big... :redface:

 

[midlifeboat]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Good luck with it ...I just bought my first boat also ....I am excited going to take it out on the sound today...Let us know how yours goes

 

[steelespike]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Hard to go wrong for $100 but you need to be sure what you have or don't have.
Check the floors for rot,If they are spongy you can be pretty sure the stringers are bad .Look along the bottom for hollows or bulges.Is the trailer pushing the bottom out of shape.Take a hold of the motor and shake it front to back and look for transom movement.Do a compression check on the motor.100 psi is considered minimum ideal compression.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Hopefully it has a title ?

At that price I'd expect the stringers and transom to be rotted.
$1000 boats are often no better.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

We had to recedule for tuesday, but I went over and looked at it again.
The hull looks pretty darn good, it was last reg back in 2006, we don't title older boats in utah, so if it's not avail it's no big deal, the DMV said all I need is a bill of sale and they will do the rest.

All of the linkages look good, I was able to lower the engine but I had a hard time with the cowel, the underside looked pretty clean, there was a wear mark on the center rib from the trailer, and the engine turned to left and right pretty easy with the steering wheel.

They have it parked with the drain plug in the back pulled and I stuck my finger in there and it seemed pretty dry.
I saw no signs of softness on the floors, and I tapped on the back where the engine mounts and it all sounds pretty solid and uniform
There is some minor cracking on the front but it's not bad, and it's really high up, looks like a hard dock bump or three.

It has an evenrude 100hp, I was able to reach my hand in there and the crank turns freely, and if I turn it backwards the prop turns the wrong way... but the correct way and the prop does not turn...

The seats are old, but they will still work fine, it needs new carpet, but I was atleast able to look under it and everything looks pretty clean.

The trailer... the center support has holes in some areas but it's still supporting the boat fine with no signs of sag...

and I was wrong about the style, it has an open bow.

I looked in corners of the boat mostly near the back and I don;t see any exposed wood, so for $100 I think I'll take a chance, the engine is the only part I'm worried about right now.

I also snapped some pictures, I'll upload them a little later and shrink them...

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Here are the pictures
We had our first real snow of the season yesterday...

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

 

[86 century]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

In the spring the trailer would go for $100. I don't see you going wrong.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

I'm thinking if worse comes to worse I can pick up a used smaller engine and stick it on there (hopefully) what would be the smallest engine I would dare to stick on there?
I really only want it to explore some of our lakes and to do some fishing, if I could pull a tube that would just be icing.

 

[Fisherball]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Don't discount that motor. Those are very repairable. The prop not turning may just be what gear it was in. Check the Johnson/Evinrude forum here, you'll see many old motors like that one still running. I have a 1981 Johnson & it appears all parts are still available. Runs like a champ, never turned over more than 10 times without starting & most of the time (99%) it fires on the third time over. Even after sitting all winter. Spend $30.00 & buy a manual for it.

This should give you a starting point.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086

If you lived closer, I would offer to take it off your hands for you!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

I agree it's tough to go wrong for $100. Old glass boat exposed to the weather though typically have rot issues. And that outboard is an electric shift model. They're fine when they're working but there are crucial not longer available parts for them. If you can get it running...great. If not, I wouldn't throw a bunch of money at that motor. As far as a smaller one....you need about 70% of the hulls max rated horsepower for acceptable performance. Mark Twains were nice heavy solid hulls. Good luck with it.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Cool thanks!


If I can get this thing going with spending the smallest ammount that would be great, and that's what I'm hoping for, and my wife will have nothing to nag on me about. :redface:

I'm buying this thing from some poor guys nagging wife, he has really only been there for any details about the boat, anything else I'm dealing 100% with her, and she wants it gone!

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

If I go to a manual shift model, I'm guessing I need a new shift lever?

is there an easy way to see if the electric shift still works before I start spending money on the engine?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

before you buy it, price a replacement motor and controls. If you would not buy it at that price plus the $100, don't, or you will be the next one selling a project boat for $100.
Alos, if you don't have the rigging, price that as well: tanks, paddle, anchor and line, PFD's, etc.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

I'm finding lots of local motors ranging from 300 on up.
the $300 one that caught my eye is a little newer evinrude and seems to have the exaust going through the prop, from what I have red in the past hour it means it has the better shifting, but its only a 55hp.

I think it's worth a shot, if worse comes to worse, I store it till spring and see if I can sell it for $300...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

1973 and newer don't have electric shift.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

I don't see how you could go wrong for a hundred bucks.

 

[rbh]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Very nice for a hundred bucks

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Going to buy first boat tomorrow...

Thanks, I really hope this works out, I would love to have a working boat one day

One quick question, where would I find the ID plate for the boat it self?