I need advice before i buy.

[FirstTime]

Hows it going all, I am a new boat buyer and was looking at a 77-80 McKee craft 14' boat with an older 70hp evinrude vro motor (which works great). the seller wants 1200 for the boat,motor and trailer but my problem is that the boat has not been moved since 09, the hull is discolored, and the big thing that gives me pause is there is a 2inch round hole in the floor at the very front of the boat. I am worried that the whole hull is full of water or the foam has been rotted out but I cant be sure any help would be awesome. sorry didn't have my phone with me to take pics or I would have posted them.

 

[FirstTime]

Re: I need advice before i buy.

Anyone?

 

[gatorfan6908]

Re: I need advice before i buy.

As you said, this post needs some pics. With this purchase, if the motor/trailer is in a good enough condition then the 1200 may be warranted. But as far as the structural integrity of the boat deck and structural supporting underneath, you would have to provide some pics and do some more investigating before making this purchase. If there is a hole in the deck, then yes... the foam is probably waterlogged, the stringers are rotted, and the deck is giving way to the weight of your foot every time you step on it. Tread softly on this one... unless you want to start on a project that will take up a good amount of your life overall (money, time, social life), pass on this one and find you a better deal!

 

[GT1000000]

Re: I need advice before i buy.

Hi FirstTime,
Welcome to the dry dock...
It is very hard for anyone to give you accurate advice as to whether or not to buy this boat...
Pictures will help, but if this is a fiberglass boat that has been left to the elements, uncovered for any length of time and received its share of downpours and standing water, the age of the boat would immediately indicate that it may very well be rotten underneath where it is very difficult to see or feel, and would require some invasive core sampling of the underlying wood structure...
You will have to do your due diligence in trying to assess whether or not this is a good deal for you...
IF, this is an aluminum boat, you can rebuild it fairly easily and quickly...
IF, this is a fiberglass boat, you are setting yourself up for a major project...
Hopefully it is as good a deal as you hope, but you need to be realistic about what you are getting into...
Let us know what you end up finding...
Best of luck!
GT1M

 

[gatorfan6908]

Re: I need advice before i buy.

Completely agree with the above...

 

[FirstTime]

Re: I need advice before i buy.

O wow ok well the boat is fiberglass I think not sure but the brand McKee is supposed to be built solid and I didnt feel any give on the hull when I pushed on it. thank u guys for input and I really dnt have the knowledge to do anything major in fixing it

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: I need advice before i buy.

You can learn everything you need to rebuild from this forum. But, if you have no tools, that part of expense will add significantly to the project. I have read on here with an older glass boat, assume it is rotted and look for evidence to prove otherwise. You could possibly take a core sample of the foam through the hole in the floor with a piece of PVC pipe with teeth cut in the tip. Twist it and push down to cut out a round plug as a sample.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: I need advice before i buy.

If you're a new boat buyer the best thing you can do is educate yourself by reading the restoration threads in this forum so you can make good decisions when buying a boat. You'll know what to look for and what will need to be done before you buy the boat. Depending on "word of mouth" or trying to have someone else make your decisions for you doesn't always work out too well.

... or you can do like someone else I know and buy 2 rotten boats in a row and learn your lesson and restore at least one of them.... aint that right mwe?