wife wants a bowrider, narrowed it down to 4 boats.. help please

bruceb58

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My discussion of the leaking bellow was just my trying to figure out why the outdrive oil leaked out.
Am I missing something? :facepalm: No one said anything about the outdrive leaking oil out until you mentioned it.

The OP mentioned the u-joint bellows was cracked. That's all we know. The drive should be taken off. The top cover does not!
 
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oldjeep

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Am I missing something? :facepalm: No one said anything about the outdrive leaking oil out until you mentioned it.

The OP mentioned the u-joint bellows was cracked. That's all we know. The drive should be taken off. The top cover does not!

The OP said it in post 21

~~the drive fluid reservoir on the engine (top right reservoir when looking at the engine) was empty, setting off the alarm, not to sure where its leaking at.
 

redneck joe

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... no kidding. At least it doesn't look like something outta' the 70's. Those things were ugly. :facepalm:



yeah those 70's boats were hideous. Well, the 79 models were beautiful.... An ugly boat is an ugly boat - there are plenty from the 90's and 00's I wouldn't own.



Another thought about the Maxum, its also related to Sea Ray so it must be a good boat if it can be a bad boat due to being related to a Bayliner?



Well OP - have you checked out anymore?
 

Cptkid570

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Nothing wrong with a dated looking boat at all. I was just saying that he could get a more modern looking boat for the same money.. And, I agree that a well cared for boat is better than a newer, not cared for boat.. The problem is... when it comes to used boats, the well cared for ones (that are someone's baby) can sell for too much. If you are handy, like the owner of this thread is.. sometimes you can get a non-cared for boat a lot cheaper, put some of your own work into it.. be choosy about where you buy parts (look for good deals or used) and you could turn that non-cared for boat into a nice, cared for boat at a lesser cost.

Yes, some will argue that it costs tons of money to fix a boat up.. But, I'm usually one to argue against it.. My own labor is cheap.
 

Scott Danforth

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Yes, some will argue that it costs tons of money to fix a boat up.. But, I'm usually one to argue against it.. My own labor is cheap.

so you would rather work on a boat than enjoy a boat?
 

turbocorrado

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havent looked at any other boats yet, the maxum owner never responded to me after the first email, 2 other people i contacted never responded either, so i guess i wont be looking at it tonight, and my search has yielded nothing new. the wife loved the wellcraft. she only wants something with the rounded glass and that sits higher up out of the water, but she refuses to up the budget, and she wont go for an older looking boat,we went back and poked that spot with a screw driver, everything is solid. i explained to her its a huge gamble, it could either pay off greatly and there is no major issues other then new bellows and a small drive oil leak.... or it could be a huge waste and we **** away alot of money. she has untill tonight to make her decision. im willing to do all the work if she decides she wants it. who would have thought a woman would be so stubborn

one good thing is im an auto tech and half my shop are huge boaters who have done every repair you can do to a boat, and they have already said they would love to help out with anything i need as long as i supply beer
 

Scott Danforth

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turbocorrado, where are you located? from there we can probably help point you toward a whole bunch of boats within a few hours from you
 

turbocorrado

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turbocorrado, where are you located? from there we can probably help point you toward a whole bunch of boats within a few hours from you

northern delaware, ive searched everything i can find in a 2 hour radius, and the next best things she would agree with are ~$6k+ she refuses to go above $3500 at this point, if i found a completely perfect boat someone was trying to unload i might be able to push her to $4k

i explained to her the absolute best case scenario with the wellcraft is i spend ~$200 replacing the bellows, impeller, and all the fluids. she spit shines the interior as clean as possible and we can drop it in the water. then this winter we can worry about the tears in the seats.

worst case is it sits untill next season while i find the time to do big repairs
 

redneck joe

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well, she knows the odds so if she sticks to the Wellcraft and its crap, you got yourself covered.

Good luck sir.
 

Scott Danforth

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thumpar

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I can't believe Crownline put a 3.0l in one of their boats. That should be a crime. They are fantastic boats but not with a baby motor. The Maxum may not be too bad if it does have a V8 in it. A 20' Wellcraft with a 4.3l is getting on the edge of not enough power for me.
 

turbocorrado

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i appreciate you searching, ive seen most of those, the ones that are water ready are "too old" and the others are in the same or worse condition as the wellcraft.
 

MikDee

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I'd still go with the Maxum, I tell you it's a good boat, besides it's 21' you have plenty of room inside to move around, a good thing, plus it will ride, & handle better then a smaller boat. I'd also bet it's a 45mph boat, so you have some leeway to cruise with your friends. I'd go there, and offer $3000.
 

turbocorrado

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I'd still go with the Maxum, I tell you it's a good boat, besides it's 21' you have plenty of room inside to move around, a good thing, plus it will ride, & handle better then a smaller boat. I'd also bet it's a 45mph boat, so you have some leeway to cruise with your friends. I'd go there, and offer $3000.

i was supposed to look at it tonight, but when i started asking about the condition of the floor and trying to set up a time to meet they stopped responding, and i havent heard anything since monday, so im assuming its off the table
 

turbocorrado

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btw i appreciate all the responses in this thread, i didnt expect it to get this much activity but im glad it has
 

turbocorrado

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and the admiral has spoken, she wants the boat, after she talked with her grandfather she said call the guy.... so i did, hopefully picking it up saturday.... when i get it i will make a new thread with much better pictures and im sure il be loaded with repair threads as well......hopefully nothing to serious though.

just think 2 months ago i had no boats, now i have 2.....im screwed
 
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