Wellcraft 250 Sportsman

[cmatthews104]

So fairly certain about picking up a 1986 Wellcraft Sportsman 250 this week. Went and looked at it the other day and opposed to what appeared to be normal wear everything looked solid! The removal cover over the gas tank had some flex to it, but the rest of the floor was solid. The stringers from the gas tank to the bow were solid from what I could tell. The section of stringers to the transom didn’t appear to be terrible for a 1986. I did the knock test all along the outside of the hull/transom and didn’t hear anything that would make me think they are rotten.

However, the swim platform with a Mercury 225 O/B on has separated some from the transom. (See attached pictures) I believe lifting the motor to get the stress off and place either a metal plate for the bolts to secure to or a transom saver would correct the problem. Any opinions or other areas I need to be concerned of?

 

[todhunter]

A knock test won't tell you much (anything?) regarding rot. I would 100% crawl in the back and look where those "swim platform" bolts go to. If the back side of the bolts have compressed into the transom and cracked the surrounding fiberglass, run away from that boat unless you want to spend a lot of money and time doing a full gut and restore. Honestly, if that motor is indeed hung from a swim platform and not an Armstrong bracket, run away. Being a 37 year old boat, it's a good chance you'll be dealing with rot unless it has had recent / well documented repairs.

 

[Scott Danforth]

That transom is no longer straight. That means there is rot going on