good deal? and fiberglass repair

[SteevieO]

I have the opportunity to purchase a 95 Maxum 1700, 3.0 Merccruiser I/O with trailer. The boat is in great shape mechanically, inside looks new. The downside is a 12 by 18 inch hole on the side of the boat above the water line. I can get the boat for $2500. Do you think this is a good deal?<br /><br />Can someone also give me a quick walk through on how to repair this? I am a hobbiest woodworker so I am handy but have never worked with fiberglass. <br /><br />Thanks in advance.

 

[Solittle]

Re: good deal? and fiberglass repair

SteevieO - Here is my two cents which you may not like to hear.<br /><br />Can it be repaired? - Structurally it can be but cosmetically you will probably not like the result if you do it yourself. It is extremely difficult to get a smooth surface that matches the compound contour of the hull. This job is best left to a professional especially if you have never worked with fiberglass. You may get more and different input if you ask this question in the Project Boats Section.<br /><br />Is it a good deal? - Lets see - would I buy a nine year old boat that had had a large hole poked in the hull even with a decent repair job? Naaah I'll pass on this one. <br /><br />Whenever I have bought boat - and I have bought a few in the past 30 years - I ask myself how saleable will this be when I decide to sell it. My guess is that this one would sit in the driveway a long time no matter what the price.

 

[lilthundr]

Re: good deal? and fiberglass repair

You asked for opinions so here is mine:<br />If you plan on buying this boat to fix it up and sell it to make money, you will not likely be successful, especially if you have not done fibreglass before.<br />But if you want a boat that is functional and mechanically good like you say, this may be the boat for you.<br />Go ahead and repair it yourself. If you like the result, great. If not then take it to the pros to be done so it looks great.<br />Either way,it will be a learning experience and you will not have lost too much money.<br />I would do it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: good deal? and fiberglass repair

And, of course another way to look at it is,<br />If Everything went Bad......<br />You Could Junk it Out....<br />The Engine, Outdrive,+ Trailer Should get your $2500. Back.....

 

[salty87]

Re: good deal? and fiberglass repair

anyway to get an estimate from a pro? if so, that subtracted from the NADA blue book will give you an idea.<br /><br />if not, or if you want to do the work, are you planning on keeping it a while? like everyone's said, it'll be worth more to you than anyone else. what if the repair goes badly?

 

[NCOffSeason]

Re: good deal? and fiberglass repair

My two cents: If everything else on the boat is in good to excellent shape and it has been well cared for, it's worth it if you plan on keeping it. I know several body shops that could make it look like new. It will cost, but with only $2500 invested, it would be worth a quality repair job.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: good deal? and fiberglass repair

I'd buy it in a heart beat. Only a fool thinks he will ever make money when he goes to sell a boat. You buy it, you fix it, and you use it. The good times you have on it with friends and family are what you get a boat for, not to make money. It is not hard to fix damage like that, but it is very hard to make it look good. You just have to decide if that one flawed area is livable when compared to the rest of the boat. Good luck, and really make sure there aren't other problems like floor rot or transom issues...