HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

[johnbuczek51]

First...thanks to all of you who responded to my first posting. My 14 year old grandson now realizes that the right way to go is a 13/14 foot aluminum with a small motor as a starter for fishing. Again many thanks to all of you for your help.

So now we start to look for one and we have found a 14 ft. unknown manufacturer and year with a 15HP Evinrude unknown year. Seller is asking $975.00 with trailer. I think it is overpriced and may be worth $700.00.

See pics.

Any and all opinions will be appreciated.

Thanks again.....john

 

[BlkY2k]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

I`m not sure on tinny prices but that looks like a decent little boat to me. I would think that with the console it would bump the price up there. The tinny guys will be along and they will know for sure.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

It took me about 30 seconds to find this one. Hardly any comparison for condition. The boat you are looking at is not in the same league.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/boa/3058051020.html

 

[lncoop]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

It took me about 30 seconds to find this one. Hardly any comparison for condition. The boat you are looking at is not in the same league.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/boa/3058051020.html

Agreed, but john is in the Boston area (I think). I'm sure the used tinny market is a little different there than in the midwest. Also, while the second boat is indeed in completely different league, the first motor is about half the age of the second one. In any case, the rig is too much.

 

[bgc]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

I cant help ya with pricing info...
..but that's a nice lookin tinny! He should get many years out of it and the motor parts aren't too pricey.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Don't know your market but I would guess that $800.00 would be tops. That engine in good condition in my area is around $500.00
That boat would probably also be better suited with an 18 to 25hp engine using the remote steering.

Has he changed his mind about the boating safety course? Who is going to pull this boat every time he wants to use it or is it going to be wet moored?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Grab it. It's a little high for my market but not too much; it's only $275 more than your estimate--the two tanks and other equipment makes up for it. And is saving $275 worth more time looking? One less weekend on the water? Life's too short and summer is even shorter.

The motor is $350-500; trailer $150-250, hull $300, controls $300, steering ??? in my market.

Boats like that, you seldom if ever get to run them before buying. If you can, get a 2 day "bring back" warranty for the motor, that would be good. The transom is the only thing you need to check on the hull.

I can't tell from the pics for sure but is that a long shaft OB on a short shaft transom? not the end of the world for that rig but something to consider--or use for bargaining.

Can't see hull numbers. No title, no deal. It's not worth the time to try to register it for that boat and price. Deal breaker.

PS you don't need 2 6 gallon tanks--sell one. Or are they 3's? if so, nice to have a spare, but use one to keep the gas fresh, or if you use two, run one out and rotate. Other than the fact that he's 14 with his own boat, 3 gallons will last a while. While I'm htinking about it, drill nito him the importance of oil. You have a lot to teach and the 14 year old male brain is defective, so good luck!

 

[Maclin]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

It looks like to me the first one controls and steers from the console which I consider an upgrade over rear-steered boats, plus has the tiller handle as a backup. If all the controls work well then that to me is a big plus (console versus rear-steer). And it has been outfitted thru the years for fishing, so while it appears a little beatup it is what I might consider "seasoned" and mature, all rigged up. The 2nd one posted is all tiller steered, no console, etc. A console controlled boat is better balanced I think, as you do not have to move from the rear to the middle or front to get to the fishing, just my observations. If the condition is more or less cosmetic and just well used with no real damage affecting safety then I think if you bought similar at $700 you may end up spending up to and over the $975 in just stuff and not have a console.

 

[Maclin]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Looks like Home Cookin' and I are neighbors on this

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Very well worth the money. The console adds value!

A regular tinny 14', motor and trailer can go for a grand at this time of the year with tiller steering so the console is an added bonus!

That boat will be real zippy with that 15 too. I would buy that rig.

Add a coat of rustoleum over good self etch primer and it will look brand new

 

[johnbuczek51]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Thanks so much for finding the brand.......john

 

[johnbuczek51]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Thanks for the quick reply. Boston area yes. "Rig to much" ??? dollar-wise or to much for a 14 year old.....john

 

[johnbuczek51]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Thanks...john

 

[johnbuczek51]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Thanks for the reply... so you are of the opinion the the price is OK and given what you estimate the extras are, I guess you are right....john

 

[lncoop]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Thanks for the quick reply. Boston area yes. "Rig to much" ??? dollar-wise or to much for a 14 year old.....john

Little too much dollar wise for my area john, but boat pricing is heavily impacted by geography. In my neck of the woods one can't swing a dead cat without hitting an aluminum boat, but that's largely because so many of them are made here. That applies to a lesser extent to Silvertip's midwest, which is why I mentioned it. Any way, it's a boat motor and trailer for a little less than a grand, so even if it is a little high, who cares, right? As to whether it's too much rig for a fourteen year old, I certainly don't think so. Personally I prefer tiller steer for that age, but that's just me. I wouldn't overthink it too much. Also, in addition to boat handling don't forget to teach him trailer maintenance. That's a big part of the equation.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

Looks like a great first boat for anyone.

You can fish out of it now and work on it to make it better too!

Offer the $700 and see if the owner goes for it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

I think a steering wheel is safer for a young or learning boater; a tiller can be counterintuative, you have to turn around to shift gears, coordinate the throttle--remember, mishaps don't occur at the straightaway, it's around the docks and other boats.

My sisters and I, and then my daughters, started on a 13' whaler (console) when we were around 12-13 years old. I have been around teens on 14' jon/tiller at the hunt club, and can say it's a lot for their brains to handle. Witnessed a scary close call when the kid came nito the dock, thought it was in neutral (not), pulled the choke to kill the engine (I think) and jumped the dock. We were very lucky that day, no one hurt much, even the one thrown off the bow, across the dock and overboard on the other side.

Also if they let go/lose their grip, a tiller can whip to one side and over you go. Steering is usually slower to react that way.

Not to say I wouldn't start a boater on a tiller; many did, just comparing if you have the choice.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

$1000 vs $700 won't make any difference in the long run. If it runs and has good compression with everything working that's worth a lot. You can waste $300 trying to do anything with it. The console alone makes it worth more than the comparison boat that was offered. If he's good n' spry he can clean that tinny up without any problems and it'll make a great console boat!

I would've loved that thing for my first boat.

 

[salty87]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

does the electronics in a baggie come with it?

i'd be more concerned about the motor being in good shape. tell him he needs to take the both of you out for a spin at that price. if it checks out, there's some peace of mind to be had knowing your grandson is in a seaworthy craft.

buy something cheaper and you may be rolling the dice a bit more.

 

[gozierdt]

Re: HELP!! Grandson wants a boat..follow-up

In my area, I'd jump on that rig for the price. Those Evinrude 15's are nearly indestructible if
properly taken care of. Feel how "hard" the motor pulls over on the rope gives you a feel for
the compression. Can you at least run it on muffs? Especially if you do any kind of mechanical
work, anything on these motors can be fixed or replaced. The same basic engine was built from
'72 through '92, so there are a couple million of them out there. I agree that a steering wheel at the
helm station is best for a beginner.