Re: Is it worth it?
It can be assumed from the pictures in the ad that it has been outside. Most sellers assume the boat is solid without doing any real checking, so it is up to you to check closely for signs of rot. Fiberglass boats generally have wooden cores and they are NOT waterproof, only water resistant. Carpet also holds water for long periods and can help things get soft. I recommend you take a screw driver and a mallet with you when you go look at it. It wont tell you much if the cores are borderline, but tapping around the deck will show you badly rotted areas. Start in those areas that are most likely to hold water. (ski lockers, bilge recesses, aft areas, around the edges of the deck, next to seats..ect.) Make sure any hull plugs in boat are pulled and are notholding water. If you find a plug installed, have the owner remove it and watch for water coming out of the hole, even drips
can tell you something. Clear water means it has collected recently. Check the weather in the area for recent rains or snow. Dark brown water coming out of a bildge drain indicates it has held water for a time or the water has been discolored due to rotting wood. Any water is not typically a good sign. At very least it shows the owner has not kept the boat covered. Anyone who has owned an older used boat or owned a boat for a long time period knows leaving them in the elements without at least a cover is a bad thing.
At minimum findig problems at the time of the sale gives you a better idea of what you are getting in to and will help get the price down.
enjoy
drewp
