Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

[snagroms]

I'm looking a buying an old Robalo 200 center console hull (the only number legible on the plate). I do not have the year unfortunately. Does anyone have info on that model number. <br /><br />Two issues I see and need your help.<br /><br />1) The transom has 2 metal plates (inside and outside) about 1/4" thick x 1' x 2' bolted thru. Does this point to a weak (potentialy rotted) transom? Also see some small cracking on top of port side transom where it flares up to the top rail.<br /><br />2) The rub rail is loose on the port side from the front of the center console up towards the bow for about 8 feet. Underneath this is where the top and the bottom of the hull are joined together. The top and bottom have seperated along this 8 foot section. Can this be repaired without tremendous effort and time?<br /><br />Other than those 2 major items it is just a little rough and needs some TLC and wood work.<br />Bottom line this is a cheap hull for obvious reasons. I mechanically capable but don't have much fiberglass experience. Your thoughts and suggestions should push me in the right direction.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Mark42]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

RUN! That is a total disaster. Needs a complete transom replacement (ie the steel plates support rotted core) and the deck is coming off the hull - NOT a good sign.<br /><br />You didn't say how much they want. Nor did you say anything about the condition of the outboard.<br /><br />I suggest you look around. Boats like that are given away free all the time. Don't buy a huge expense. My guess is that if the transom is rotted so badly that it needs reinforcement plates, the stringers and floor are probably rotted too.<br /><br />RUN, RUN, RUN AWAY!

 

[snagroms]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Mark,<br /><br />Thanks for the advice. BTW there is no motor on the hull. I have a 78 175 Rude to use on a new hull.<br /><br />What do you know about 80's Grady White hulls. Found one with a blown 200 Johnson I'm looking at.<br /><br />Cheers,

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Find a decent engine first. If you find one that won't run, (but you can rotate by hand to tell if its seized) are pretty cheap too. If you can rotate it by hand, usually the worst they need is a carb. rebuild and maybe a electrical component along with the usual tune up sort of stuff. Last year when building the hydro- I passed up a $1500 Merc. 150 that wouldn't start, to get another '88 XR4 Merc. 150 for $2000 that ran perfectly and had a boat (needing bottom repair) & a freshly rebuilt tandem axle trailer with it.<br /><br />Hulls in that shape and trailers are pretty much free since it takes about a year to re-build one, and the number of buyers willing to do that is microscopic compared to the number of sellers with a dead boat sinking in their yard behind the Kitchen window. <br /><br />Keep a eye out, don't be in a hurry, let word get around what you're looking for-- and workable engines, boats with blown motors and decent hulls will turn up that can be bought for about what the trailer axles under it would cost.

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

take Mark42's advice <br />That whole rubrail thing is scary, considering that when the boat was last used, water was most likely GUSHING right into the boat for GOD only knows how long.<br /><br />If ya need a motor Merc 1150 in very good condition,EMAIL me jimpetrick@tampabay.rr.com

 

[snagroms]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll steer clear as I'm not looking for a major project. Looking for major fishing.<br /><br />As for the motor suggestions, I already have a Rude 175 ready to go. Just need the right hull.

 

[snagroms]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Found out it is 1979 with a "Popped Hull" and rotten transom. Asking price was $700 and I had to laugh.<br /><br />Thanks for the advice as always.

 

[cc lancer]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

May 20, 2005<br /><br />I have just bought a 1979 Robalo center console, it appears to have a bad transom and floor, but Iam sure I can fix it with your help.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Originally posted by snagroms:<br />[QB] Found out it is 1979 with a "Popped Hull" and rotten transom. Asking price was $700 and I had to laugh./QB]

Good choice. That boat sounds like one in the 'free' catagory.<br /><br />Something else ot check is dealers around your neighborhood. Hulls sort of gather at some of them. Boats that people abandoned when they got a price on repair, stuff that's come in and they've pulled the engine, etc. <br /><br />It may not pan out, but the more rods you have in the water, the better your chances of catching something will be.<br /><br /><br />I was looking for a 50 hp engine several years ago. A local dealer said he had one that they'd overhauled, and the customer didn't pick up for over a year, so they filed and got title to it.<br />It was about 17 yrs old but ran perfect- hyd. tilt & all. The guy quoted me $600 for the whole rig. (The Merc. 50 was on a fairly decent 16' bass boat with a trolling motor, anchors, live wells, and other stuff.) <br /><br />"How much just for the engine & controls, and you keep the boat & trailer"? I asked. <br /><br />He didn't bat an eye when he said, "$700 if you don't take the boat".

 

[snagroms]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

I am working on dealers and marinas at this point. Also looking thru all classifieds (paper and electronic) I'll keep this topic open for a while and post back as progress is made.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Here is an option: Outboard Rebuilders. Look in your area for a place like this one: Outboard Rebuilder

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Originally posted by snagroms:<br /> Also looking thru all classifieds (paper and electronic)

I've never had much luck with classifieds.<br />It costs so much to advertise, the price tends to go up enough to cover the ad. plus, the real deals usually are just sitting around somewhere<br />and you have to dig them out by word of mouth, or happen across them.<br /><br />Someone here, I want to say it was Barlow that got a super deal last year on a Al. hull boat & engine by spotting it at someone's house along the road, and just asking the folks if they wanted to sell it.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

I've found that if you put a want-ad in the free papers people will phone you up in droves wanting to get rid of boats they can't be bothered to advertise or that they've got to get rid of fast when they move house. I ran one in a national boat magazine here and got 40 phone calls within a month-one guy even offered me a 16' single seat racing boat on trailer with 70hp Stinger for £300. He was moving,couldn't take it with him and couldnt afford storage charges. Unfortunately by then I had 3 boats here by then and had run outta room... None of them cost me over £150 and they all had running engines and good trailers-but rotten hulls.Luckily our local refuse dump would take the hulls after I stripped and sold the other bits at a massive profit on ebay...

 

[Billnicole]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Mark have you used outboard rebuilders?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Billnicole,<br /><br />Yes, the motor on my boat came from the rebuilder at the link I posted above. Very pleased with the motor and the used accessories they supplied. The motors look just like the pictures on their site. Couldn't get it shipped to my door, so I picked it up at the local Fex Ex depot (about 45 min drive). The guys at Fed Ex helped me load it into the Mountaineer. Came in a well used Honda steel o/b motor shipping crate.

 

[linmat]

Re: Too Buy or Not to Buy used hull

Wanna buy a used hull? You won't do better than a Boston Whaler !!