New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

[gregmercer]

I'm 18 years old and would like to buy my first boat. Since I am pretty good with my hands I was looking to rebuild one and have been reading a lot on this forum. I have never worked with boats before though and know very little. I have worked on everything from cars to golf carts to dirt bikes to snowmobiles but nothing for the water. I can rebuild engines as well as do some good body work on cars so I thought with enough reading and learning I could fix up a boat. <br /><br />I saw this boat on the side of the road the other day a few miles away from my house. I took a good look at it and took some pictures but I don't really know what I am looking for. It is definitely beat up but on a low budget and looking to do some work on one, that is what I was looking for.<br /><br />I would like a boat that I can take to the Chesapeake bay, Ocean City (the beach), go fishing on as well as wake board behind. Will this kind of boat get the job done? <br /><br />The two things that made me a little nervous about buying this boat was the plywood on the floor...? I don't know what is under it.... What should I be looking for to know that I shouldn't buy it? And the crack on the outboard motor casing. <br /><br />I talked to the owner briefly and he said that the boat runs well. I am a perfectionist so I doubt it runs to my standards but I think I could work on it a little. What should I be looking out for if I buy this boat? <br /><br />Any help would be greatly appreciated!<br /><br />The Boat is a Dixie 17' 150hp Suzuki, 6 persons. He was asking $1800 for it but I thought I could get him down to $1500. Good Price?<br /><br />

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[alden135]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Plan on spending another 2 grand after you buy it. It obviously spent lots of time out at a mooring (notice the bottom paint on the lower unit) uncovered to weather. Plywood on floor=rotted floor and maybe more. I wouldn't pay more than $500 for that boat.

 

[gregmercer]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

So how does a boat floor work.... Is their the fiberglass hull at the bottom, then wooden joists running across with foam in between, then a flooring on top of that? Is that right?<br /><br />So you would be guessing I would need to replace the wooden joists and foam in between, then put new flooring down?

 

[alden135]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Originally posted by gregmercer:<br /> So how does a boat floor work.... Is their the fiberglass hull at the bottom, then wooden joists running across with foam in between, then a flooring on top of that? Is that right?<br /><br />So you would be guessing I would need to replace the wooden joists and foam in between, then put new flooring down?

That is generally true. Some makes have glass over wood stringers, some have hollow glass stringers. Most have foam. <br /><br />The problem with suspected rot is you usually don't know the extent until you open it all up. <br /><br />There are plenty of posts on that subject. DO NOT spend a lot of $ on buying a rotten boat.It's fine to buy one to re-do if the price is right.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Judging from photos is guesswork as much as anything else, but I agree that the plywood between the front seats indicates that he original flooring has probably rotted away. <br /><br />This is one of those projects that starts innocently enough, but once you start digging in you'll find that the entire floor probably has to be replaced. That in and of itself isn't too bad, but you won't know how much more needs to be replaced until you get the old floor up and see the stringers. <br /><br />I can't speak to the crack on the lower unit. One thing's for sure - it's not good. <br /><br />In general a boat along these lines should suit your needs so you're on the right track.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Im sure you are a handy mechanic but an old Suzuki is a motor that a Suzuki mechanic does not want to work on.Charlie

 

[G DANE]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Take a look at Jasons Entire Web-site, explains a lot with great pictures : http://70silverline.250free.com/Skankybeast.html

 

[G DANE]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

The crack in the lower unit probably only goes into the exhaust, but for the strength of the l/u it has to be welded, chances are it wil run further with time.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

It could be a really cool boat, and you never know, the floor might be sound. I know someone who has a Bayliner Capri, early 90s, that never covers it, treats it like hell, and has a floor so solid it feels new. Sometimes you are lucky. My 1st boat was one that had sat next to a barn for 15 years, full of leaves and apples, and the floor was solid. You just have to feel your way around the floor, put your weight on it, try to feel for spongyness or flex. Just be careful, I bought my boat with what I thought was a solid floor until I pulled the carpet back and realized someone had nailed down some 3/4 ply. The entire floor and stringer system was rotted away. The most important aspects is the engine needs to run well. It is pointless to buy a project boat with a bad motor, especially for that asking amount. If the motor runs well, you should remove that lower unit and have the crack welded. Good luck...

 

[gregmercer]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

I can't really test the floor because he has 1" plywood covering the whole thing. I'm guessing it is all rotten and the stingers and floor will need to be replaced. I have been searching topics and reading on this site for the past 4 or 5 hours and am really excited to get a boat and start on it, to try to finish before it gets warm again here. I still don't know if I want to buy this boat... I can't find anything better around here though. I would think that their are 1000's sitting around considering I live within 30 minutes to annapolis and the chesapeake bay . I have searched Boattrader.com and Iboats.com as well as checked my local classifieds but cannot find a project boat.<br /><br />Someone know anywhere else good to check?

 

[kfraser]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Try E-bay. LOTS of boats from that area. Don't jump on a boat because you think it's the only one around. Find a project boat that is complete. Missing parts = $$$. The boat you posted is nice looking, but with the motor issue and plywood being putdown over the floor, I'd question it. I'm with Alden. Thats a $500.00 boat.

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Let's say the floor is "soft". Aside from it being flimsy, what else could potentially happen???

 

[CN Spots]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Unlike your other projects, you most likely will not get your money back on a boat project. Chris Craft maaaaybe. Do it for the fun/experience. Also keep in mind that the motor is probably 75% or more of the value of the boat. If it's toast, you got yard art for eternity. I checked on another boat selling site (name omitted so's JB won't yell at me) and there were several boats like yours but in different sizes. His price is average IF the motor runs and the floor is sound. <br /><br />Welcome to iboats.<br /><br />spots

 

[gregmercer]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

So I talked to him for a bit longer tonight and asked a bunch of questions. He says that the crack on the motor has been their for the past 3 seasons and never gotten any bigger or changed. I still would want to fix it though. As far as the floor goes. He claims he put the sheet of plywood on there because the rear of the floor has a soft spot. He claims that the rest of the floor is sound and that he thinks the stingers would not be rotted out. I would guess that since this boat is kept outside without a cover and the rear floor was soft that a bunch of water is sitting under the floor and that everything needs to be replaced. I might go ahead and buy it for $1500. I still am not sure though. I checked ebay and all of the boats within 200 miles of my house are too expensive or don't have working engines.

 

[84CJ7]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

That lower unit will have to be completely gutted to be welded, make sure you can either do that yourself or get prices on fixing it before you buy. <br />That looks like a crack from hitting something extremely hard and solid like a pipe or concrete wall with a stainless prop, there may be more damage inside since it was everything getting shoved over inside that made the crack. With the stress from the prop that crack will get bigger, itll have to be fixed. If the inside of that lower unit is threaded there like most that will complicate welding things terribly.<br /><br />I know how eager a person gets when you find a boat, but I had to give up on the first boat I really wanted to buy, and when I found my current one I was glad I did.<br /><br />Also look around and tell me how many Suzuki's you see, not a bad motor but I question parts cost and availability.<br /><br />I wouldnt rule out going farther than 200 miles for the perfect boat, living on the coast theres alot more to choose from than everywhere else. I suppose you have to look out for salt corrosion on and in the engines though too.<br /><br />As was said most of the value of that boat is probably the engine and the engine has some serious questions and a very necessary repair so I would personally pass as much as you don't want to hear that.<br /><br />Edit: looked at the pics again, that boat looks major rotted, plus that crack extends past the o ring around the bearing thingy (real technical huh?) so the lower unit most likely has been getting a salt wash, pulling the lower drain plug for a sec will show clear or white and tell you that.

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

That boat is worth no more than $500.00.

 

[alden135]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

There are plenty of free, rotted hulls around you could get. Most just give them away to avoid disposal fees. Find a motor later.<br /><br />You're desperate and inflicted with the "boat bug". You really ought to look around.<br /><br />If you still live at home with Mom and Dad and they are going to pay for it all then buy it. Otherwise you're gonna blow all your date $ on the boat.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

If you even think there might be problems with this boat and motor don't spend $1,500 on it, it will take another couple of thousand $ and 6 months to year to get it in the water, that's if you have the money. Like others have said, don't get over eager to buy something, there are many free, or nearly free boats out there. If you see a boat in somebody's yard that looks like it hasn't been used in a while, just go to the door and ask if they want to get ride of it. I've given away many boats over the years and have a 14' fiberglass one right now I'm trying to get rid of for free.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

$1500 is too much for that boat and that engine will be very hard to find parts for. That boat isn't going anywhere soon based on the price. Take some time and look around. Once you see what else is out there, you can better evaluate the value of that boat. <br /><br />Ebay is not the best place to look for used low cost boats. As mentioned above, drive around and check out local classifieds. Also check out free classifieds on local fishing related forum websites, craiglist.com (for your area) and others.<br /><br /><br />Just my $.02.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: New to Boats - Want to buy and Rebuild!

Big risk in knot knowing what's under the floor. Search for "Stringer replacement" here, too much work, if it's a free boat-maybe, I feel so bad when someone buys a boat, pulls up the decks, then they're giving it away as a project boat. If I was your age and wanted a project boat I'd look for a 12-14' al. skiff on trailer with motor, tinker with the 2 stroke, tinker with the trailer, maybe add seats, rod-holders, storage, ect to the skiff, but get something that may actually see water next year. Forget the cracked outboard, it's junk.... Lifes too short.