Should I buy a boat that has been sitting in storage for 15 years?

Rob4926

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I’m in the process of purchasing a 2005 chaparral 215 ssi. The boat is in extremely clean condition and looks like it was barely used. It only has 18 hours on it. I’m buying it from a dealer in Florida and the story is it’s from New Jersey and it was in storage for most of its life. It definitely looks like it has been in storage, the paint doesn’t look faded one bit and every piece on the boat is close to spotless. I’m am alittle concerned about how low the miles are. I’ve heard it’s better for a boat to have more hours then low hours. But should I be worried or re think this purchase?

ps: I understand I will probably be replacing all the rubber components and have to do a full flush of gas, oil, etc fluids.
 

JASinIL2006

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So, not an obsolete engine, which is good news, and depending on which model of Volvo outdrive, maybe no problem there, too. I'm not a Volvo expert, but I recall that one of the Volvo models from that era was a clunker. Hopefully, someone who knows Volvo will come along and chime in.

Besides replacing fluids and checking the rubber bits, I'd be checking to make sure the motor was properly winterized before it was stored. If everything checks out, there are (if I recall) some steps to take before starting an engine that has not run in years, such as pulling plugs, squirting some sort of lubricant or diesel fuel into the cylinders, turning the motor over by hand, etc.

Sounds like you may have a good find, though!
 
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I would be concerned about all of the gaskets and what-not that have dried out over time. I would negotiate some kind of warranty on the motor for at least one full season of use, or heavily discount the motor. I would not hesitate to buy the boat, it is the motor that I would be hesitant to fork over money for without a warranty.

The motor will be worth the price if it works. It will be ripoff if it blows up after the first couple of rides.
 

Scott Danforth

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if it was sitting in a storage unit in Florida, the vinyl may be dried out (florida heat is brutal) be prepared to replace the upholstery

you will need to go thru the fuel system, change all the fluids, pull the drive and check alignment, replace the bellows, etc. and swap the belts and raw water pump.

The boat probably only was used the first summer and then went into storage.

if the motor is fuel injected, there are no gaskets to dry out. all the engine gaskets would be rubber or MLS. if the motor is EFI, you may need to sent the injectors out for cleaning unless it was properly prep'd for long storage
 

JASinIL2006

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The story is that it's being sold by a Florida dealer but it was stored in New Jersey... which raises the question why a Florida dealer is selling it.
 

tpenfield

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Does it have the proper paperwork?

15 years sitting in storage is something that would warrant some further investigation. Have a Marine survey done and make sure the boat is the dealer's to sell. See what the title requirements are for your state and if the title was transferred when the boat made its way from New Jersey.
 

Rob4926

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Does anyone know a surveyor in the Orlando area that would be able to survey the boat on Thursday? I’m having a hard time finding a surveyor near me who is available that soon.
 

JASinIL2006

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Will you be a first time boat owner? If yes, do you have a buddy who is knowledgeable about boats and could look it over with you? If you both thought it looked OK, having a marine mechanic look it over with regards to the engine and outdrive might be good enough.

I suggest that only because it's sometimes not easy to find a surveyor and it may not be cost effective for a smaller boat. When I was buying used, I found a marina that had a mechanic that looked over a boat for $150 and he found a number of problems that saved me from making a bad purchase.
 

JimS123

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What is your purpose for buying the boat? In my case I bought a barn find because I wanted a Winter project. I have other boats that I use on a daily basis, so the new one was just for fun.

If your objective is to have a family boat that you can use every day, then you need to think it through.

The boat will need major surgery to make it safe and reliable. Are you willing to spend the time and huge expense to get it up and running?

Again, in my case, a day on the water is my life. Going on vacation with the boat is my life's dream. If the boat fails on vacation, or on a nice Saturday with the family, its a freaking disaster.

IMHO, if you are looking for a project, go for it, but be prepared for a lot of tweaking. If you want to take out the family for well needed recreation, then pass. If you can get it for pennies on the dollar, you have to make a decision.
 

Texasmark

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Clear title would be my first concern then address the other things mentioned. 15 years and a boat in storage, owner could easily misplace title. Next the trailer (assuming one) tags expire annually. If not renewed and one attempts to register/title it the question comes up to the county clerk.....prove to me that the trailer hasn't been used all these years without being annually registered and fees paid!
 
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JASinIL2006 and JimS are spot on. If you are new to boats/boating then this is a terrible deal. You may think that the reduced price is getting you into a better boat, but it will likely end in disaster.

If you know all about boats and engine maintenance, then go for it.

Since you are asking online, my suspicion is that you fall into the first category. The money that you "save" on this boat has a high probability of going into costly repairs that go well beyond what you saved.

Good luck
 

dlogvine

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The money that you "save" on this boat has a high probability of going into costly repairs that go well beyond what you saved.

Good luck
"The most expensive boat you can get is a free one"
There is a chance of you getting a good boat but in my experience a boat that was sitting for over a decade will have a lot of problems and possibly not immediate. Which would either require you to do a lot of repairs and learning of how to on your own and still not be cheap or cost you an arm and a leg if you employ somebody else to do it.
My advice would be to get a REALLY good mechanic that you trust to check this boat before buying it, if you are determined to go this way, and pay him to do a thorough check.
Another suspicious thing is the boat being sold by a dealer and not the owner. Raises a flag, imho
 

JimS123

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Lots of cautious replies here, but the bottom line is that the boat is already half disassembled and had pieces removed and the boat is BROKEN. $500 is lunacy. Zero is even worse lunacy. It costs money to take stuff to the landfill....
 

Scott Danforth

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guys, without the backstory, we are talking about a 2005 boat with 18 hours which was in a storage unit since 2006. (all details in post #1)

My guess that the boat was used first year, put in storage and someone died.

you guys are assuming/speculating that the boat is toast/damaged/etc.

all we know is that it is a 2005 with 18 hours and has been in storage for 15 years and the OP is trying to buy it and looking for a surveyor.
 

JimS123

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Lots of cautious replies here, but the bottom line is that the boat is already half disassembled and had pieces removed and the boat is BROKEN. $500 is lunacy. Zero is even worse lunacy. It costs money to take stuff to the landfill....
Ignore my post. I was thinking of another thread and posted in the wrong place.

I'm sorry. Things have been tough the last few weeks. The holidays weren't great.

So, now that I'm back on track, let me tell a story.

As told to me, an old gent bought a brand new boat, motor and trailer, and then took it out for the maiden voyage. She ran great. He brought he home and put her in the garage, covered her up, and then sadly died a few days later. The widow kept the boat untouched until she died and the kids sold her.

The boat was a more than mint 1956 woodie, and my friend bought her in 2016. So, the 60 years storage surely beats 15 years.

Obviously, tires, hoses, gas tank gaskets et al were rotten, but in the end the boat was a gem that ran perfectly. It took a trophy that year in our antique boat show.

That's my story...
 

Texasmark

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Lots of cautious replies here, but the bottom line is that the boat is already half disassembled and had pieces removed and the boat is BROKEN. $500 is lunacy. Zero is even worse lunacy. It costs money to take stuff to the landfill....
Yeah and I haven't seen any old boats or parts of boats sitting around any landfills here! Don't walk away from that nightmare......RUN!!!!!!!!
 

JASinIL2006

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I don't understand why some people are assuming the boat is a wreck, a disaster, broken, in pieces, etc. The boat is reportedly in very clean condition, with only 18 hours on the engine. Why would you run from this? I'd just want to make sure the condition really is as advertised, then have the mechanicals and structure checked out, and make sure the paperwork is in order. I don't understand all the hand wringing over this boat...
 
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You would need a mechanic to compression test the engine before hiring a surveyor. When engines sit like that the cylinder walls and valves rust over. If the cylinder walls rust really bad, the engine simply seizes. If it doesn't rust that bad, when the engine is started up, the piston rings will blow all of the rust off the cylinder walls. The end result is the cylinder walls are now larger in diameter than they once were, which give you a looser fit between the piston rings to cylinder wall. The end result is low engine compression. Leaking valves will also cause low engine compression. If the engine has leaking intake valves, it will likely not run. So before doing anything, have the dealer pump the gas tank out, get the engine running, and just let it run for 15-20 minutes at an idle to get things moving. Then the next day or so, have it compression tested and see what you get.
 
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