What do you think of this boat?

[hostage]

I went to check out a boat that is specifically geared for diving. It is a former state police diving boat: 1998 21' Penn Yan with Johnson 200 hp Motor & Trailer

The guy has owned it for a year and he likes to buy and sell things that he gets from auctions. It comes with a 200hp engine and a roller trailer. The engine from what I read is solid motor, but is not the best on gas. The roller trailer surge breaks don't work according to the seller. He also said that the auctioneer gave him the wrong title for the trailer. He ran into some issues as he couldn't find a VIN. I told him to take off the sticker that use to have the VIN and hold it up to a light. He called me later and thanked me as he now has the VIN. He also said I could buy the boat separate from the trailer as the brakes don't work and I wouldn't want a headache to go through to get a new title. I do like how this boat has been setup for diving: tank racks, floor mat to protect tanks from hurting floor, grab rails around boat, and walk through hull entry. Though I do see some questionable wear on the hull itself. The seats seats cushions are in cracked and not in good shape at all. It looks a bit on the dirty side. Some gelcoat on the keel has been chipped off. The self bailing exits have a lot of caulk around them and the fittings look newer. Lastly there is a open seem in between the walk through hull.

I do think the price he is asking is a little steep and I am wondering what would be a fair price if there is nothing big in the pictures. It isn't a pretty boat, though we are looking for something that would be a good dive platform. I can see how a public owned boat might not be the best cared for.

Are center consoles less likely to suffer from stringer and transom rot than the i/o run about cousins?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: What do you think of this boat?

How does the walk through hull work? Good seals on it when closed and big bilge pumps in case of a wave?

 

[hostage]

Re: What do you think of this boat?

There was a much bigger pump compared to the standard 500GPH pump in my boat. It does have a self bailing hull. The walk through hull has a big almost like a plastic cutting board that is in one of the pics that you slide into place when under way. It is not a water tight seal, more of a deflector than anything.

 

[bid1103]

Re: What do you think of this boat?

i think your going to have to put apoxy in the hull where the crack is that crack isnt to badly damaged i think the price of that boat is an amazing price and i think you should buy it for sure i also think you should put a bilge pump in if you want to avoid rot i have a lot of problems coming into the marina i work at with boats like that who dont have bilge pumps its also as a advisory sort of thing to clean it regularly because with center console boats mold can be more prominent sometimes

 

[mfsb]

Re: What do you think of this boat?

With the diving door I would imagine a simple test to see how well it keeps water out would be to spray it with a garden hose, if the water is deflected out and the cockpit stays dry then your "Average" day of play in the water should be alright, bilge pumps for a boat with a door like that would have to contend with a lot of water on a less than favorable day, self draining is great and all but you are still gonna get water in the bilge with that door, and you need to be able to handle the water that will not just wash right out the scuppers. The motor is the big question mark, there are few in the 200 hp range on ebay running at that price and higher for the whole boat, so you could be getting a good value in the complete package if the engine is in great shape, I would say that is the determining factor here. Unless you are a recovery operation, most people don't dive in questionable weather, definitely not in bad weather, and water intrusion shouldn't be an issue during use.

The dive door separation could be an issue though, and I would do my best to inspect underneath the deck, bilge area, and any other deck fitting that can open and allow access.

I would think a water trial is where this boat either flops or shines, take it on the water and see if it meets your needs, worse case if the engine is in good shape, you should easily break even selling the motor and scrappin the hull, best case is an awesome dive boat you you get to go out and enjoy!

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: What do you think of this boat?

When I chartered in the 90s a 1st mate bought a 21 or 23' Penn Yann. It was a cuddy and I/O with a tunnel hull. Made in NY it was well built though I was not a fan of the tunnel on that boat. 430 hours on a 15 year old boat, especially if (and very possibly) used by the SP is low. That type of hour meter is easily changed and time not kept electronically by that motor. No matter the builder or if a CC or cuddy, if there is wood it can rot. He used it on Lake Erie so we put 3 pumps in her- 2 to 1 battery and another to a 2nd battery, a 4000 gph and two 1500 gph.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What do you think of this boat?

penn yan is a good brand with a good reputation for well-designed and well-built boats.

a self-baling OB will not as likely have the rot issues of an i/o

a police boat will have been used hard so expect a lot of "wear and tear" on condition.

a friend of mine is a water cop; growing up he was the best shade-tree OB mechanic going. He keeps his police boat engines and workings in great shape and spendsa lot of time on them. and they always work. he tells me most of the cops on other boats don't and they have problems. and some cops won't hesitate to take a boat to the dealer the city hires to maintain and the dealer, having a blank check, will do anything and everything. So you don't know, you may have an exceedingly well maintained boat, or a neglected one.

 

[hostage]

Re: What do you think of this boat?

I did some additional research. I am estimating that the roller trailer w/o working surge brakes is worth some where around $500. I also saw on ebay the same make, model, and power motor sold for $3350. That would make the hull by what he is asking cost $2,350. The thing I am interested in is the biggest worry, the walk through hull. While we are not going to venture out in rough water as it would be most likely bad diving anyway I am not as concerned about the water entering via the walk through. Though I do like the idea of the garden hose. My biggest worry is the gap in the walk through hull. It did looks like it might bulging out a little. Though I think it would be wise to get a strait edge an compare the hull where the walk through is to starboard side, where there is no entry. I am worried that water might enter into it and not easily get out. I did find some other spectors for sale at a much higher price, but they were in a much better condition than this one is.