Need advice on purchasing boat

[musictrek]

Have a oppurtunity to purchase a 14ft Duroboat Aluminum boat with Trailer and a 40HP Mariner Outboard Motor (w/ electric start)...<br />The owner says the motor is in good shape and<br />run with no problems...<br />However the boat has a patch on the bottom front of the hull, which he says he couldn't get the rivets to stop leaking on the patch...he says if one sits in the boat on the water (like for fishing) an entire day, it's takes on about a gallon of water..<br />He wanted $1000 (US) for the boat, but I offered him $800, and he said he'll take it..<br />Im still thinking if i should get it or not...One should think the motor itself is worth that amount. Fixing the leaking rivets shouldn;'t be too much of a problem?<br />Is this a good buy?<br /><br />thanks<br />Martin

 

[quang]

Re: Need advice on purchasing boat

so this boat would be mainly for fishing in a lake? <br /><br />it doesnt sound too appealing to me! aluminum boat with 40hp :\ my first boat was a 18 foot fiberglass 120hp boat for fishing and ski'n.. and my mistake? TOO SMALL! its now got a for sale sign on it-- hope'n for a bigger boat!!<br /><br />i wouldnt ever get a boat with a hole in it, thats what it is. how did he get the hole? did he crash into a rock or something? if his hull hit a rock, think about what the prop has hit!

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Need advice on purchasing boat

I would try to take it out on the water yourself and see just how bad it leaks. Anything is fixable, if it is within reason. A gallon of water in a day isn't much, but you have to ask yourself how someone punches a hole in an aluminum boat. You have to hit fairly hard. I think it is worth the $800 if the motor runs good, and the leak is minimal. If it runs bad, and it leaks like the Titanic, then you should run away with your bank account intact. Good luck...

 

[quang]

Re: Need advice on purchasing boat

i dunno about aluminum boats are, but im guessing that its a 1-peice mold with an engine attached on the back.. so the fact is, it shouldnt leak at all..<br /><br /><br />my boat is the kind that will usually take in water.. at the end of the day you have to remove the plug and let the water come out (and remember to put it in the next time you're gonna launch your boat, or else you'll sink)

 

[quang]

Re: Need advice on purchasing boat

i also just thought of something<br /><br />if he says it takes in a gallon then its probably like a pinhole-type leak, you can always try to weld it back.. just to cover up the hole

 

[fone_man]

Re: Need advice on purchasing boat

If I was going to buy this boat... I would do one thing....<br /><br />Pull it out of the water (if it was in water), put on trailer or saw horses,... AND FILL IT with WATER!!! Mark leaks w/tape then depending on numbers of leaks determine price. Then have them repaired whether cuts in bottom or rivets. The reason for this statement is it could be worse. My brother had a duck boat like this one time & when he came down to making/building his next boat purchase, he had the company add ice breaker ridges, etc to his new boat because this is what was causing his trouble. It adds up quickly!!!<br /><br />