I have another boat in my sights. UPDATE 12-24-2010 SEA RAY 220 FOUND!!!

[Jet Wrench]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Start at 5500 and work with the owner from there. It looks like a nice hull. 8000 is too high for a hull that old, no matter what the condition. Point out every blemish/issue that it has.

JW

 

[produceguy]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Maybe tell him that you have a few more boats you want to look at before you make your dec. That might get him thinking and he might take the lower offer. I dont think you will scare him off he wants to sell it as bad as you want to buy it. He might be playing games.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

I just have to go look at it to make sure. I think this thing is worth that kind of money for sure... if everything checks out.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

After sitting that long remember the impeller and bellows should be replaced.
Oil,filters and drive service.
That is another bargaining tool...

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

oh you bet. It needs a complete service, and that costs money.

 

[captkevin]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Here is a similar Cobalt I found on craigslist for comparison.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/boa/2090418551.html

 

[dsiekman]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

For comparison sake, last spring I sold my '94 Cobalt 252 with a 7.4/BIII for $16,800. No trailer and the price included the need for new manifolds. She had about 480 hours on her but the compression was good. I had also just put a new MSD marine ignition - module, dist, wires, coil - and done the gimble and u joints.

Unfortunately, two weeks after the new owner picked her up a spark plug came apart and tore up a valve. The mechanic thinks the guy ran it hard before he had the manifolds done damaging the plug in the process. I felt bad for him, but what are you going to do? Once it leaves your dock you have no control over how it is run or maintained.

Anyway, good luck. I think 6-8 sounds good.

 

[thesledhead]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Just keep in mind that right now for some sellers a low offer is better than no offer

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Ok, now I am really confused. When I was driving around today near our lake I spotted a 97 four winns 2000 Horizon. I stopped just to take a look and was taken back by how nice it was. 5.7 Volvo penta, no rot anywhere, showroom clean, and the color we like. The asking price was 8000, but after talking with the guy he came WAY of the price. He said tomorrow is going to be a nice day and we should put the drain plugs back in and take it to the lake. I just might have to do that.

So my quandary is, do I take a chance on an older (but possibly more luxurious) boat that I might now be able to lake test (no lakes near the guy), or go with a newer boat that I can beat up before I purchase.

Decisions Decisions!

 

[NYBo]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Four Winns and Cobalt aren't really in the same class. That Cobalt probably cost around $45K new, and it will retain better resale value, all else being equal.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

I know they are different, but I have been really thinking the past day or so. I am going to have to get this boat right in order for me to go with it. There is WAY to much out there in this price range locally. Yes Cobalt is nice, but 600 miles one way and not being in the water since 2006. What is nice is this guy is super cool and very helpful, and that one reason I am still thinking about this.

Here is where we are. He stated he has no idea what to ask for the boat so he threw out the number of $8500 per NADA. On the surface that sounds ok, but here is the list of what will need to be done, and other considerations. I need to put a dollar figure on this soon and get the ball rolling.

1. Stale gas will need to be pumped out
2. Carb will need to be rebuilt for sure
3. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, points
4. Complete outdrive service
5. Full deep buffing
6. No lake close to the seller, and I would not want to just drop it in and go due to the sitting issue.

Anything else? If you were going to take this to a boat mechanic to have this done, what would it cost? That is how I need to figure my offer.

BTW I showed the Four Winns to the wife and she loved it. She likes back to back seating, and the Four winns has it. personally I really would like to go with the Cobalt, but I am really nervous.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

1. Stale gas will need to be pumped out
2. Carb will need to be rebuilt for sure
3. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, points
4. Complete outdrive service
5. Full deep buffing
6. No lake close to the seller, and I would not want to just drop it in and go due to the sitting issue.

1. see how much is in it if 1/2 full fill it with premium and go if not pump to half and then fill with premium and go maybe stabil the gas thats in it.

2. $150 to have done

3. $100 and you do it

4. my guy $200 at his place

5. this is pricey probably around $10-$12 a foot but could be worse

6. if the floors solid, forward and reverse work good no growling, Steering is good I would jump on it for $8000

 

[superpop]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

I would have a hard time believing that this guy went out and started this thing up every year but did not use it. Regardless, I would plan on removing the motor to replace all gaskets and seals because you are probably going to have lots of leaks from dried out gaskets and seals. Also I would plan on replacing the bellows and any other rubber parts along with the control lines if they are stiff. As you may know, the worst thing you can do to a boat is stick it on a trailer and not use it for years on end. Also, I had some of that pink coloring show up on my Vinyl on my last boat and there was no getting rid of it. The other thing to look at are all of the gauges and electrics, once the gauges loose their seal they are on borrowed time, also check out all the connections under the dash for any corrosion. Four Winn's is not a Cobalt but you can get a lot more Four Winn's for the money. Have you checked out the Chaparrals in your area. For me it came down to a Cobalt or Chaparral and I just could not find a big enough difference between the two I narrowed it down to to make enough of a difference to justify the Cobalt price premium. Others will disagree but I just could not tell that much of a difference between the two boats on my short list. You just don't pay for the name as much with the Chap.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

1. see how much is in it if 1/2 full fill it with premium and go if not pump to half and then fill with premium and go maybe stabil the gas thats in it.

2. $150 to have done

3. $100 and you do it

4. my guy $200 at his place

5. this is pricey probably around $10-$12 a foot but could be worse

6. if the floors solid, forward and reverse work good no growling, Steering is good I would jump on it for $8000

WOW!! Those prices are low where you live.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Cobalts are the Cadillac of boats. Four-winds are like a Lincoln . I have trouble paying what a Cobalt is worth due to the fact that a Lincoln is all I need. I for one am a long time boat owner, I keep my junk for years and years. When you are dealing with 25 to 30 year old boats names are not that important, just will it run. If you might want to trade up soon get the one that has maintained most of its resale value with best set of records with it. Unless it was done recently you will want to do a tune up, drive refresh anyway. Add that into the cost of the boat.

 

[thesledhead]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

I know they are different, but I have been really thinking the past day or so. I am going to have to get this boat right in order for me to go with it. There is WAY to much out there in this price range locally. Yes Cobalt is nice, but 600 miles one way and not being in the water since 2006. What is nice is this guy is super cool and very helpful, and that one reason I am still thinking about this.

Here is where we are. He stated he has no idea what to ask for the boat so he threw out the number of $8500 per NADA. On the surface that sounds ok, but here is the list of what will need to be done, and other considerations. I need to put a dollar figure on this soon and get the ball rolling.

1. Stale gas will need to be pumped out
2. Carb will need to be rebuilt for sure
3. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, points
4. Complete outdrive service
5. Full deep buffing
6. No lake close to the seller, and I would not want to just drop it in and go due to the sitting issue.

Anything else? If you were going to take this to a boat mechanic to have this done, what would it cost? That is how I need to figure my offer.

BTW I showed the Four Winns to the wife and she loved it. She likes back to back seating, and the Four winns has it. personally I really would like to go with the Cobalt, but I am really nervous.

sounds like its time for that way low offer and ya have a backup plan if he tells ya to stuff it

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

sounds like its time for that way low offer and ya have a backup plan if he tells ya to stuff it

I think you might be right. It will be a huge risk for me to buy this boat, but it could have a HUGE reward.

 

[captkevin]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

I have a 99 Four Winns 200 & it is a great boat. Has the 350 Volvo set up & couldn't be happier. Being able to test drive & having it nearby are worth a lot. Have you seen the Cobalt in person? Pictures tend to greatly improve the way things look compared to what they look like in person. 1200 mile round trip drive is a long way to go to find the thing is a not what you expected.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. Let me know what you guys think.

WOW!! Those prices are low where you live.

Well thats just off the top of my flat head(ask my wife it was her fault) but right now labor costs are very competitive around here and I bet if I am off its not more then 20%, as for the carb rebuild anyone thats charges more then $150 for a four barrel carb rebuild is a thief. problem is the closer we get to boating season the more its going to cost as I'm sure you will agree. Great time to get into a boat and get it fixed cheap all the marine mechanics are trying to stay busy, this economy is beating up all of us. Like I said thats around here though things may be different where you guys are.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: I have another boat in my sights. UPDATE 12-11-2010 New pictures.

Re: I have another boat in my sights. UPDATE 12-11-2010 New pictures.

Ok, here is an update. After going back an forth with the guy in south Texas, I am not sure we are going to make this happen. He is avoiding some really crucial questions, and still has not sent me the HID number yet. With that being said my wife was looking around the other day and found this 97 four winns Horizon 200 that we really like. I really want the cobalt, but it just might not happen. Now that we have looked around, we realized that the Glastron just does not have the room for friends when we head to the lake. It is alot of fun, but it beats your fillings out due to the small deadrise. My wife HATES that. So in order to keep her loving the lake I think we are going to have to find a new boat with a steeper deadrise.

So anyway, this is what we found.

97 Four Winns Horizon 200 with a 5.7 Gl with a Volvo penta drive system. It is a one owner from Possum Kingdom where it has been since new. I have spent alot of time in and around this boat, and I am impressed EXCEPT for the sludge in the bottom of the boat. I am not sure what is is, and I will find out. I just wanted to run this buy you guys first before I move forward.

We are at $7k right now. Still have not hit the water, but will do that as soon as we get some decent weather.

Also look under the outdrive. What does this look like to you?

Here is the sludge