Re: Used Four Winns...is it worth it.
Hi CMU,
If what you have to spend is $3k, then that's what you have - you want to get the best boat for your buck. I assume you've thought about, and rejected, the notion of getting a much less expensive boat (for example a small fishing boat with a newer 9.9 horse motor on it), because you want to be able to engage in the water activities a Four Winns can give you. There are plenty of users buying older boats, and having fun with them. $3k for an '84 in really bad condition isn't a good deal, it will cost you money, and you likely will have a problem selling the boat again. $3k for an '84 that was babied its entire life, properly stored inside, in good condition, with low hours on the motor, without any significant mechanical problems, with a solid hull and sound interior, would be a good deal in my book. The price of boats, and particularly older boats, is based on condition.
From the limited information you have on the boat, I simply can't guess as to whether it is a good price or not.
So here is what I would do. First, if you don't have a good idea of what to look for in a boat, consider paying for an independent marine mechanic to take a look at the boat - check the engine out, check the hull and interior, and give you advice on it....after you have taken a good look at the boat and taken it for a test ride. Marine mechanics will have a much better idea of what's good, bad and ugly in a boat. Locally, I would expect to pay about $100 for a quick once over of the boat. If the marine mechanic tell's you it is a lousy deal, then the boat isn't worth much at all, and you've just saved $3000. If your marine mechanic tells you its a good deal, then you will have some added assurance. If your mechanic says that the boat is in good shape, but needs some minor repairs, you can use that information to try and get the seller down in price.
Second, be aware that if it is in good condition when you buy it, it may not be in a few....days, weeks or months. You are buying an old boat, and old boat's do break down....On the other hand, they can run for a long while without a problem. I have no crystal ball to predict what might happen.
Third, here is what I would look for on reviewing the boat:
- check the trailer all over - is it solid? rusty? are the tires cracked or new? does the wiring work. If the trailer is bad, you are looking at a substantial repair - and cracked tires need replacement (figure $200 or so).
- check the hull carefully - look for signs of cracking, breaks, spider cracks, or other damage
- check the steering - is there any difficulty in steering the boat at all
- take it for a good long test run. Offer to pay the owner for the gas for the run if he is leering with taking it out for an hour or more. run it at low speed, run it at wide open throttle, change speeds, put it in forward and reverse. Start it from cold, start it from hot. Before you take it for a run, make sure it is out of the water, and that there is no water in the bilge when it is on the ramp to be launched. When you get back from the run, take the plug out - and see how much water comes out. A little water can be due to water activites. A lot can be a sign of a significant leak...and a major problem
- run over the interior with a fine tooth comb. Look for any soft spots in the floor, or signs that there is moss or lichen growing. Soft spots typically are symptoms of a much more significant repair below deck - major repair and expensive. Look for signs of cheap repairs (new plywood screwed down over an old deck for example - this is a bandaid solution.
- check the condition of the upholstery - if it is cracking and disintegrating - this is a sign that the boat has been heavily used and perhaps not cared for - the boat itself will probably reflect the condition of the upholstery - so there are probably more problems you have not yet seen.
- check all electrics - circuits not working can be a simply easy fix....or a pain in the wallet to find the problem.
- check the transom by standing on the lower unit, and seeing if there is any flex in it. If there is flex in the transom, this means that the transom core is rotten - this is both dangerous, and a major and expensive repair.
- ask the owner if they know of any problems - either leaks, soft floor, or mechanical
- ask the owner how the boat was maintained and if there are any maintenance records for it...if there are, check them
- ask the owner if they have done any major repairs to the boat
- ask the owner how the boat was stored - was it stored in the winter open to the elements, or indoors in a garage. Boats left constantly open to the elements deteriorate much faster.
Lastly, before you buy - take some photographs of the boat and post them up here - there are lots of people who can give good advice here.
Don't feel pressured to buy immediately. If the boat isn't good, WALK AWAY. You are better of spending a couple of months searching for a decent used boat, than buying immediately....and then sitting for a couple of months on the beach, with a boat that won't run, and that you cannot afford to fix. There are good deals out there, but you have to be prepared to wait and find them. Once you have looked at a few boats, you'll be in a much better position to know what a good deal looks like.
If I understand your first post correctly, you have researched boats and come up with a model you like. You may have better luck in finding a good used boat if you widen your search and look at a number of different models. Take a look at
condor74's recent thread in these forums - he spent a lot of time looking at and rejecting different models, before finding a boat that sounds like it's a good deal.
Good luck, welcome to iboats, and let us know what you do!
) - I was actually lurkin' the Lansing CL ads yesterday (headin' up that way to visit family next week). There's quite a bit out there in the $2k to $3k range. Most of it looks pretty beaten up on the inside, but some of it ain't too bad. You'll need someone with some experience to help you tell the difference (from what I saw in the ads).