Good Price? Ebbtide boat

[K20-69-POS]

I might be purchasing a boat within the next week, it is a 1993 Ebbtide 204 with a 265 HP 5.7L mercruiser and a yamaha outdrive I believe. I do not know much about boats as I am new to boating, I can get the boat for $3500 I need to know if this is a good deal.

P.S. the boat has 520.7 hours and its a one owner boat, the hull looks really good and the guy has another boat and 4 jet skis, I can't confirm obviously but he says he has always maintained his boats.

I re posted this from the ebbtide specific thread to this one because it wasn't getting very many views.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

5.7L mercruiser and a yamaha outdrive I believe.

find out which way it is. mercruiser or yamaha. if yamaha, ya really don't want it i don't believe. very little support for them best i get.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Yep. You really really really really don't want a Yamaha stern drive.

 

[K20-69-POS]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

I didn't get to call the guy today as I was feeling under-the-weather, but if this thing does have the yamaha stern drive whats the matter, how bad is it really? how much would it be for a new one? how hard would that be to install?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

but if this thing does have the yamaha stern drive whats the matter, how bad is it really? how much would it be for a new one? how hard would that be to install?

i've no idea if their good drives or not. but for sure ya can't buy a new one. they were only made for a very few years. hence, hard to get parts for, hard to find someone to work on it that knows what they're doing. if your gonna work on it. hope ya can find a service manual for it, as no one else will have a clue how to help you fix it. short of capt. ken i believe here on iboats. he's the yamaha pro best i know..

it's just something that if ya ain't already got it, ya should avoid it. they are not popular, like say, a mercruiser alpha1 where everyone has one and everyone knows how to work on one, service manuals that are avaialable, dealers that can help because mercruiser is still viable, and parts are available.

try the search feature here on iboats. ya should be able to find something out about them right here..

 

[K20-69-POS]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

If i did get the boat would it be possible to replace the outdrive with a mercruiser alpha or bravo like one of these:

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/boa/2028853927.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/boa/2076410154.html

 

[captmello]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

You'd need to replace a lot more than just the outdrive to convert to Merc. It's not a practical swap unless you get the boat much cheaper. The seller may not realize how obsolete those Yamaha stern drives are.

 

[K20-69-POS]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Well this sucks, i feel like an ***** letting this guy down, its gotta happen though I guess, well here are my back ups, which one would you guys go with ( just pretend that all of them are $3500):

http://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/2026990793.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/2001539541.html

http://reading.craigslist.org/boa/2056880145.html

http://chambersburg.craigslist.org/boa/2042661421.html

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

First choice: 90 Chap
Second choice: 87 Wellcraft
Pass on the other two. The Four Winns sounds excessively molested and the other Chap sounds like a scam. The guy can't even spell the brand of his boat and doesn't bother to post pictures?

And of course a thorough inpection of either by a competent party before you buy. This time of year a sea trial is probably out of the question in your neighborhood.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Well this sucks, i feel like an ***** letting this guy down, its gotta happen though I guess

yep. look at it this way though. better him than you. he knows what he has. you didn't, and now you do. your education kept you from being hosed too. ya did good by asking prior to purchase imho.

move on to the next item. there's always another one.

imho look for something extra common. 4.3 and 5.7 volvos or mercruiser come to mind. both common chevy engines. these ya can work with. whatever boat they come in, and they come in many too.

as for the boat. imho, it's boat before engine and drive. it's great and grand if ya can work on an engine or drive. but if ya got nothing to mount them too, like a solid boat (whatever mfg) it don't matter if ya can work on whatever engine.

look the boat over real good, if your not sure get it surveyed or the likes. get the common engine/drive and ya'll be out boating in no time..

 

[K20-69-POS]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate your help, I'm only 18 and I really can't afford to make a bad purchase, I've worked for 2 summers for minimum wage to get to this point and really don't want to buy something that is going to break on me.Ill throw this boat into the ones I already listed, except this on is only $3000:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2076737625.html - its a little far from me but it didn't seem like a bad deal

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate your help, I'm only 18 and I really can't afford to make a bad purchase, I've worked for 2 summers for minimum wage to get to this point and really don't want to buy something that is going to break on me.Ill throw this boat into the ones I already listed, except this on is only $3000:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2076737625.html - its a little far from me but it didn't seem like a bad deal

From this location "Wilmington, Delaware" I would imagine this boat has been run for 8 years now in tidal/salt water. That can be real tough on engines and trailers. Be patient, you have all winter to look and I know there are some good deals local to you. You just have to find them.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate your help, I'm only 18 and I really can't afford to make a bad purchase, I've worked for 2 summers for minimum wage to get to this point and really don't want to buy something that is going to break on me.Ill throw this boat into the ones I already listed, except this on is only $3000:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2076737625.html - its a little far from me but it didn't seem like a bad deal

I would stay away from this one as well, it has an OMC outdrive. It is kind of like a yamaha, hard to find parts for as OMC has been out of bussiness for quit a few years. And it is a huge and expensive pain to try and transplant a mercruiser into an OMC boat. I do not know first hand as I have a mercruiser, but have paid attention in the forum and everyone says to stay away from an OMC due to the parts issue.

 

[mj05]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate your help, I'm only 18 and I really can't afford to make a bad purchase, I've worked for 2 summers for minimum wage to get to this point and really don't want to buy something that is going to break on me.Ill throw this boat into the ones I already listed, except this on is only $3000:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2076737625.html - its a little far from me but it didn't seem like a bad deal

OMC is kind of a nono also! (sorry) Stick to a Volvo-penta or a Mercruiser.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

ditto on the no omc too.

to reiterate. nothing out of the ordinary. nothing that's been totally out of mfg for years...

when i was lookin to buy any thing odd was out. anything with an omc was out. anything with a mercruiser 470 version engine was out. after that it was fair game..

consider where your nearest dealer is too. merc or volvo. you'll end up at that store for wherever it is before yer done. in my case. volvo dealer is 50+ miles away. merc dealer is with in a mile. 2 of them even. it was no brainier i wanted a merc preferably for service and parts convenience..

 

[K20-69-POS]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Thanks again everyone, I know I was advised to not get the 4 winns, but i emailed the guy before getting that badvise, anyway heres some more info on it:

It is a small block zz3 engine, steel crank, flat top pistons steel head w/ port work, only 30 minutes in water since rebuild at the end of season.

 

[Biged007]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

I've been looking at the different boats you have posted and I gotta say imho I would be going to look at that wellcraft be sure to check the floors and the transom any sign of soft spots Run away!

 

[captmello]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate your help, I'm only 18 and I really can't afford to make a bad purchase, I've worked for 2 summers for minimum wage to get to this point and really don't want to buy something that is going to break on me.Ill throw this boat into the ones I already listed, except this on is only $3000:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2076737625.html - its a little far from me but it didn't seem like a bad deal

If your on a tight budget, you may want to consider a smaller older boat that is in good shape. I see a lot of really well taken care of older, smaller boats for very reasonable prices. I was boat shopping this fall and could not find a boat like your looking at, without rot. You don't want to blow all your money on something you can afford to maintain and operate. I'd set aside 1000 to put into any boat you buy.

Unless your on big water...Then a bigger boat is better...

Look for freshwater used boats.

 

[mj05]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate your help, I'm only 18 and I really can't afford to make a bad purchase, I've worked for 2 summers for minimum wage to get to this point and really don't want to buy something that is going to break on me.Ill throw this boat into the ones I already listed, except this on is only $3000:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2076737625.html - its a little far from me but it didn't seem like a bad deal

How about an older starcraft in really well kept condition? Here's why... They're made out of aluminum instead of fiberglass so they're lighter which means.... less power and fuel needed to tow and also you need less power in the boat to achieve equal performance of a glass boat(using less fuel) which means...... more fun with less money!!!! WOOHOO!!!

 

[K20-69-POS]

Re: Good Price? Ebbtide boat

First choice: 90 Chap
Second choice: 87 Wellcraft
Pass on the other two. The Four Winns sounds excessively molested and the other Chap sounds like a scam. The guy can't even spell the brand of his boat and doesn't bother to post pictures?
.

I emailed the 90 Chap guy and he said it has a beta outdrive, is that a good one, no one has commented about that one.