Re: New to Boats what a way to start!!
Simple assessment from the photos:
1) Trailer looks to have some serious rust issues. Requires full sanding/sand blasting, paint and probably some metal welded on. Plus most likely tires are dry rotted, bearings probably need replacing from rain water leaking in and rusting bearings.
2) All vinyl covers are brittle and not usable. Once you bend them a few times, they will be in pieces.
3) Been sitting outside, nose down, so water has leaked in around the windshield frame, and is probably puddled in the bow, rotting the front floor and stringers.
4) Gel coat condition is hard to tell from the photos, but generally, after sitting outside for a long time, its probably started to powder.
5) The mold and mildew present indicates that most if not all the decking is probably rotten, probably the stringers too.
6) Considerable work on the outboard. Condition is unknown, so assume the worst. Humidity and condensation can cause pistons/rings to rust/corrode in the cylinders, among other things.
More often than not, boats that are abandoned were abandoned because the owner determined the amount of work and money to make/keep it usable is more than the boat was worth at that time. Since then, it has degraded considerably.
Look at boats on Craigslist in your area. When you think you have found a few project boats in fair condition, post them and we will give you our assessment. We love Craigslist ads!
