DavidW2009
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2009
- Messages
- 272
My original intent was (still is) to buy a goode olde tri-hull (15' -16') for a 90 HP Chrysler O/B I have. I see hulls advertised at these salvage lots for $50 to $300. I've been to a few and have seen a couple half decent ones with solid floors and transom (less work). These hulls don't come with trailers, that's extra. The boat salvage lots offer a used trailer for $300-$400 that looks like it was pulled out of a Louisiana brackish water swamp after Katrina.
So I go looking for a good trailer I can haul around to the junk yards, and if I find a good hull, I'll buy it, load it and haul it home. The two good hulls I saw didn't last long. One was a Manatee tri-hull for $150. Very nice. I liked the deep vee/tri-hull design it had.
Searching the local ad newspaper, I spotted a small, poorly worded ad with very little info, except 1987 Baretta. It wasn't far away so I went and looked at it. Nice trailer! Channel beam constrution, no rust, everything in good condition. The Baretta had an OMC 2.3L Cobra and 95 hours on the meter. It also had many thousands of hours setting uncovered under a tree and won't start. Transom, stringers, floor (well, floor is not too bad) are rotted.
The boat is not sea-worthy at this point.
For the price of a good used trailer ($400), I bought it and hauled it home.
I am now going thru it and seeing if it's worth fixing or should it be parted out.
The engine has checked out fine. With new points and condensor, and fresh fuel, it fired right off. Good compression, good oil pressure, no water in the oil, runs smooth, starts easily. No oil leaks.
I do have a few questions about Barettas, if there are any with experience, I'd like to hear some feedback.
One thing I found odd is the ski locker is completely carpeted. Did it come that way from the factory? See attached photo.
It looks like the floor has been worked on in the ski locker photo.
So I go looking for a good trailer I can haul around to the junk yards, and if I find a good hull, I'll buy it, load it and haul it home. The two good hulls I saw didn't last long. One was a Manatee tri-hull for $150. Very nice. I liked the deep vee/tri-hull design it had.
Searching the local ad newspaper, I spotted a small, poorly worded ad with very little info, except 1987 Baretta. It wasn't far away so I went and looked at it. Nice trailer! Channel beam constrution, no rust, everything in good condition. The Baretta had an OMC 2.3L Cobra and 95 hours on the meter. It also had many thousands of hours setting uncovered under a tree and won't start. Transom, stringers, floor (well, floor is not too bad) are rotted.
The boat is not sea-worthy at this point.
For the price of a good used trailer ($400), I bought it and hauled it home.
I am now going thru it and seeing if it's worth fixing or should it be parted out.
The engine has checked out fine. With new points and condensor, and fresh fuel, it fired right off. Good compression, good oil pressure, no water in the oil, runs smooth, starts easily. No oil leaks.
I do have a few questions about Barettas, if there are any with experience, I'd like to hear some feedback.
One thing I found odd is the ski locker is completely carpeted. Did it come that way from the factory? See attached photo.
It looks like the floor has been worked on in the ski locker photo.