Thoughts on this boat

[mercurymang]

I'm in the market for my first boat. I am generally opposed to a tri-hull because of their ride, but I kind of like the look of this thing. Anyway, i thought I would post this up and see if I could get a general consensus as to whether or not this boat is a good buy.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/3312016580.html

thanks in advance.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Can't tell how long that one is but I sold a similar 1984 or 85 trihull boat with a 1985 50hp Merc up here in MN for $750 about 5 years ago. That was a 15 footer. It ran great and was in good shape, floors and transom were solid. I liked the boat but it felt a bit like a bathtub with a motor. It road decent on the water, in 2 foot rolling seas it pounded a bit but slowing down can cure that problem. It was a nice stable platform for fishing. It pulled up a 200 lb skier, if they could hold on long enough to get up. It was a heavy boat to tow for it's size.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Whaletale=hard to plane, might be soaked foam and associated problems. Look close.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Welcome aboard Merc: Watcha' gonna' do with it most of the time?

It looks to be 15 or 16 feet, and with a 70HP in good working on it 2 people at WOT = about 30MPH. Decent ski/tube boat, but if you're putting the entire family on it it'll struggle pulling hard. I like tri-hulls, but they ride a little rough in choppy water. As a primary fishing boat, it'll do but there are other styles that are better.

The outboard is a early 70's Johnson 65, I think. That's probably electric shift. I like 'em and have been dealing with electric shift for years, but they are obsolete and kinda' finicky.

It's hard to tell what kind of shape it's in from the photos, but I would consider that $1,200 price tag high for my area. The boat would have to be in fantastic shape to meet that price.

Check floors and transom carefully.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Thoughts on this boat

looks to be in decent shape; not a bad starter boat and small investment. I'd focus on the motor--compression good, LU oil good. Avoid electric shift.
If you have a good feeling about the seller taking care of it, why not?

 

[mercurymang]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

I've been using my brother in laws boat for the past few months. When I go out, i generally take the wife and two small kids. We may fish but usually just cruise for a bit and then park it in a quiet spot and watch the sunset. I know that doesn't sound too exciting but that's my thing.
As for the tri-hull, i see tons of them for sale and have been told that their a pretty rough ride if the waves are up. Generally if it's very windy, I don't go out anyway so not sure thats too much of an issue. I'm wondering if the tri-hull's are hard to get rid of so if i ever wanted to sell this one, it may be difficult to offload?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

As for the tri-hull, i see tons of them for sale and have been told that their a pretty rough ride if the waves are up. I'm wondering if the tri-hull's are hard to get rid of so if i ever wanted to sell this one, it may be difficult to offload?

Probably. As you said yourself, there's tons of them for sale. There are bunch around here for sale too. I would think a v/semi-v hull would be easier to sell if that's what the majority of boats are in your area.JMO.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Motor looks to be about a 1970 Johnson 60hp. It is an electric shift model. When they work, they work well. Getting a marina to service the lower unit may prove difficult and/or expensive.

Whale tales are often a band-aid solution to other performance issues. As noted above, it may indicate a boat that's waterlogged, a motor that's down on power, improper propeller selection, etc.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Thoughts on this boat

whale tails can be a band-aid, but lots of people buy them not knowing why.

tri-hulls like that one aren't that bad; the reports of rough rides is exaggerated and not an issue if you are not likely to go out when it's rough. They are also very seaworthy when it is rough, and stable when it's not. And roomy.

But the electric shift is a deal breaker unless you are prepared to repower at the first engine problem.

 

[eavega]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

I just sold my 1976 15' tri-hull with 70 HP Johnson via Craigslist for $1300. It was in good running order, and had a few extras like a spare prop, bimini top, keelguard, smart tabs. It had no foam under the deck. All the foam was under the gunwales and was completely dry. The problem is that the boat became too small for my family of 4, with the kids getting bigger and wanting to start water skiing. It would do about 32 MPH on flat water, but don't kid yourself, it will pound the fillings out of your teeth in chop. It also had very little freeboard, so you had to be aware of what was running around you lest you take a wake wave over the stern. It was incredibly stable at anchor, though. Other than the Electric Shift, a decent-running 70's three cylinder is a very easy motor to work on. The thing really has only like 4 systems, and for each of those there are only a few components.

-E

 

[mercurymang]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Electric shift. Hmm, sounds interesting. I'm pretty handy and willing to tackle just about anything. So is it just a pain to work on or are the parts hard to find?

 

[matt167]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Electric shift parts are either hard to find or obsolete. It's not like it's a bad system or anything, but fast forward 40 years, OMC has gone out and electric shifts were fairly short lived so that's why parts are a problem. Many of the lower unit parts are available, but not everything, and the control box and parts to service it are NLA... If it runs good and shifts, it will probably be fine for a while, but you may or may not be able to find parts if something in the LU goes or it quits shifting. The powerhead itself shouldn't be an issue.

My dad had an electric shift Johnson on an old Starcraft and it only left us stranded when he ran it out of gas. That was almost 20 years ago tho

 

[southkogs]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

I've been using my brother in laws boat for the past few months. When I go out, i generally take the wife and two small kids. We may fish but usually just cruise for a bit and then park it in a quiet spot and watch the sunset. I know that doesn't sound too exciting but that's my thing.
As for the tri-hull, i see tons of them for sale and have been told that their a pretty rough ride if the waves are up. Generally if it's very windy, I don't go out anyway so not sure thats too much of an issue. I'm wondering if the tri-hull's are hard to get rid of so if i ever wanted to sell this one, it may be difficult to offload?

The boat in the listing might suit you well. As for the tri-hull, I rather like them regardless of the rough ride in weather. Especially with kids, I like the stability. If that little boat is well cared for and works, there will likely always be a buyer for one like that.

Electric shift. Hmm, sounds interesting. I'm pretty handy and willing to tackle just about anything. So is it just a pain to work on or are the parts hard to find?

I've actually never owned anything besides electric shifts (even my current stern drive is one), and have only occasionally run into a jam with them. You'll have trouble finding parts now and again, and not too many marine mechanics will touch 'em. To take one apart and fix it generally requires finding or mimicking a specific OMC tool of some sort.

 

[mercurymang]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Thanks for all the replies. You are very helpful. I promise I'm not going to sit here and post CL links all day but I did want to post up one more as it's the other style i'm looking at. I kind of like the idea of an inboard as I'm very familiar with an automotive style (4cycle) motor, plus its a v-hull. Thoughts?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/boa/3310320493.html

 

[QC]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

My guess is, and need to verify, that the 120 Volvo of that vintage is an actual Volvo engine. Best bet for what you are looking for, and your comments, is to look for a GM based engine (late Volvos and most Mercs). Generally you should look for a Mercruiser in older boats as parts and service options are more plentiful. Many here will say to stick with an OB in a smaller older boat. Can't really argue with that despite the automotive experience you have. I/Os can get expensive fast if there are issues

 

[matt167]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Without a doubt consider the Imperial over the Tri-Hull. Just make sure the floors are solid and that the transom is sound ( which you should do on the Tri- Hull if you really consider it ). IMO, Imperials are not a bad boat. I know there are not too many around. My dad had a '84 VC230 cuddy with a Mercruiser 3.7L. Only problem with the boat was the 3.7L and the only fault to Imperial for that is they put it in the boat, but it was smooth in rough water.. Not 100% sure on the Volvo but from what I know, there nice

That said, I would want to make sure the floors and stringers are good also. I know it says the transom is new, and if that is the case, the floors and stringers were probably in poor shape also, so I would use that as question material

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

I never like the trihull boats, as they just rode so badly. I also am leery of any old fiberglass boat, as stringers were susceptible to rotting.

If I'm going back in time or going for an inexpensive boat, I'd be looking for something aluminum. At least the hulls can be re-engined or chopped up and sold for scrap.

 

[matt167]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

Usually tho, aluminum and cheap don't go togther unless a total refit/ resto is needed.

I'm kinda in the same 'boat' ( pun intended ). Not wanting to spend $$$ but also not wanting to refit everything, so I'm going to build my own boat and just fit it the way I want from the hull up

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

If the 2nd boat is in good condition, runs good buy it--the outboard tri hull is over priced.

 

[QC]

Re: Thoughts on this boat

You guys recommending the Imperial know that it is a Volvo block, right?