want a boat, thoughts?

[j&j]

EDIT : GOT A BOAT!

1994 Skeeter SD-125 with Mercury/Force 120HP with stainless prop, not a full fish/ski but has some extra room at the front most other bass boats didn't so I was happy with it. It was very well kept, gel coat was nice, carpet was good. 3 solid batteries (2 for 24V trolling motor). Fish finder on the trolling motor works ok. boat gets up and runs plenty fast for me, did about 55 on the test drive.

paid 4k

take a look.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/3123881895.html

seller is flaky, haven't been to see it yet, but this one is one of my top choices. I'd ideally want a pure bass boat, but this is to keep the other half happy.


i'm ignorant with boats. I know basic stuff, check compression, check electronics.

any advice?

 

[BoomerD]

take a look.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/3123881895.html

seller is flaky, haven't been to see it yet, but this one is one of my top choices. I'd ideally want a pure bass boat, but this is to keep the other half happy.


i'm ignorant with boats. I know basic stuff, check compression, check electronics.

any advice?

Just go to whatever body of water you choose...pour all your money into the water and walk away...it'll be cheaper.

 

[Raizinman]

The only thing necessary for owning this (and pretty much any) boat is a fat wallet. Boats will suck it dry. My neighbor has a boat, 28 footer with twin mercs, and it costs him about $500 a day in just gas. Maintenance and dry docking is also expensive.

 

[episodic]

The only thing necessary for owning this (and pretty much any) boat is a fat wallet. Boats will suck it dry. My neighbor has a boat, 28 footer with twin mercs, and it costs him about $500 a day in just gas. Maintenance and dry docking is also expensive.

My aluminum flat bottom and oars are not that expensive.

 

[j&j]

Note this is a single motor, 90HP 17ish ft very average boat, not some insane 28ft dual 250hp motor speed rocket

 

[richardycc]

the 2 happiest days of your life, the day you bought you boat and the day you sold your boat.

 

[weadjust]

Find out the year, make, and model of the boat. Also the year of the motor. The year of the boat is the last 2 #s in serial #. Look up the value on http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats. Check transom for cracks. It looks like the boat was stored without a cover. Check floors for rot. I haven't ever owned a Suzuki outboard motor. It does have stainless steel prop. (good). Is it oil injected? With 85 Hp it will be under powered especially if you plan to pull a big slalom skier. I have owned several Mercury, Mariner, and Force outboard motors. Force motors are a piece of crap and should only be used as an anchor.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The only thing necessary for owning this (and pretty much any) boat is a fat wallet. Boats will suck it dry

BOAT = Bring Out Another Thousand

 

[j&j]

jesus christ, other than weadjust, who has owned a boat with a motor on it?

 

[ConwayJim]

jesus christ, other than weadjust, who has owned a boat with a motor on it?

Why would we? We never go outside, we just lurk in the dark of our parents basement.

 

[jagec]

Newer Japanese motor = will probably be fine unless it was abused.

If the hull is sound and the wiring isn't rotten, you're probably fine. That carpet is very tacky and should probably be replaced, as the seller mentioned. The trailer has new tires, were the hub seals checked/repacked/replaced at the same time?

What do you want to use the boat for?

 

[GrumpyMan]

the 2 happiest days of your life, the day you bought you boat and the day you sold your boat.

+1 I was about to post this.

 

[dbailey]

I traded a perfectly good motorcycle for a 13' Bayliner. Didn't know squat about boats. Started it up and it looked good... took it to the Chesapeake.. had to get towed back. They wanted $1500 to overhaul the engine. I said, nah, i'll do it myself. Took it apart, ordered new rings, had the engine bored out at a machine shop. Few months went by and then a few more. I had forgotten how everything went on. Sold it to my buddy for $50 after about 2 years of it sitting. He paid $75/month to park it for 5 years... never did see it run again.

 

[j&j]

Newer Japanese motor = will probably be fine unless it was abused.

If the hull is sound and the wiring isn't rotten, you're probably fine. That carpet is very tacky and should probably be replaced, as the seller mentioned. The trailer has new tires, were the hub seals checked/repacked/replaced at the same time?

What do you want to use the boat for?

yea, not super mega impressed with the carpet color, but if it's in goodish shape I'd live with it for awhile at least. definitely will check the electronics/wiring as best I can.

he claims "everything works" including gauges and i'll test the trolling motor as well.


primary use, fishing, secondary use, just taking it out to hang out with family/friends.

no pulling anybody behind in the immediate plans.

 

[Anubis]

jesus christ, other than weadjust, who has owned a boat with a motor on it?

i have and the comments about it sucking you dry are true

 

[xSauronx]

jesus christ, other than weadjust, who has owned a boat with a motor on it?

i've never owned one, but my family/parents have had several

generally the smaller, simpler boats have not required much in maintenance. my dad usually had a 23' or smaller center console v-hull or skiff, rarely anything over 100hp. just something to putter around the river in. he's gone through a few because he gets antsy and always wants something else, then another something else.

3 weeks ago he bought a 23' carolina skiff similar to this:

http://www.sunraymarine.com/carolinaskiff/images/carolinaskiffdlv238L.jpg

no issues with the boat, runs fine, easy-ish on fuel, not much to maintain on it, really.

before that he had a 28.5' bayliner like this:

http://imagenes.cosasdebarcos.com/b...ner-285-38304100080853545249546651684548g.jpg

total pain in the ass...but it had an inboard (ugh), and a head and small sink/stovetop and stuff. he never bothered to get it all working right when something messed up because he was afraid of what it would cost

last week he bought a 21' privateer like this:
http://www.freeboatad.com/adpics/4ace11e7007a87afdf8f3a28e.jpg

hasnt put it in the water yet, has been cleaning it up and such. wants to sell the skiff as he says he wanted one like this anyway...he will have it maybe a year, tops, and then sell it and get another skiff, or a flat bottom, or a pontoon boat, or god knows fucking what.

generally, he hasnt had that many boat maintenance issues...but he also tends to buy smaller (18 - 23') boats that really dont have much on them to have to bother with.

that and he generally only makes short trips around the river, so he doesnt really wear on them that much

 

[j&j]

i have and the comments about it sucking you dry are true

care to elaborate? i'd really like to hear what you experienced

 

[j&j]

i've never owned one, but my family/parents have had several

generally the smaller, simpler boats have not required much in maintenance. my dad usually had a 23' or smaller center console v-hull or skiff, rarely anything over 100hp. just something to putter around the river in. he's gone through a few because he gets antsy and always wants something else, then another something else.

3 weeks ago he bought a 23' carolina skiff similar to this:

http://www.sunraymarine.com/carolinaskiff/images/carolinaskiffdlv238L.jpg

no issues with the boat, runs fine, easy-ish on fuel, not much to maintain on it, really.

before that he had a 28.5' bayliner like this:

http://imagenes.cosasdebarcos.com/b...ner-285-38304100080853545249546651684548g.jpg

total pain in the ass...but it had an inboard (ugh), and a head and small sink/stovetop and stuff. he never bothered to get it all working right when something messed up because he was afraid of what it would cost

last week he bought a 21' privateer like this:
http://www.freeboatad.com/adpics/4ace11e7007a87afdf8f3a28e.jpg

hasnt put it in the water yet, has been cleaning it up and such. wants to sell the skiff as he says he wanted one like this anyway...he will have it maybe a year, tops, and then sell it and get another skiff, or a flat bottom, or a pontoon boat, or god knows fucking what.

generally, he hasnt had that many boat maintenance issues...but he also tends to buy smaller (18 - 23') boats that really dont have much on them to have to bother with.

that and he generally only makes short trips around the river, so he doesnt really wear on them that much

my general consensus was to keep it under 20', outboard only, and hope for a little luck. plus i like to learn, I could feel semi confident wiring, interior carpet replacement, minor motor stuff like plugs and maybe carb rebuild.


only thing that scares me is oil injection

 

[Anubis]

28 foot sportcraft 250 HP motor big V hull (designed for ocean use) even 20 years ago fillups cost a fuck ton, generally 50+ gallons at what 5+$ a gallon and thats a low estimate (for a marina). and its just normal unleaded they just rape you because they can if you tow it you can fill it up at a gas station but thats also not cheap. Ours had a 120 gallon tank and if you spend a day on the water using the motor and such guess what you just burned 80 gallons of gas. you never use it as much as you think you will, storing it is not cheap (unless you store it at your house) and neither is service. if you plan on taking it places trailers are not free and neither is a car large enough to pull it

its honestly like owning another car that you can only use for 1/2 the year (depending on where you live) and even then you are lucky if you take it out once a week

kinda looked like this
http://images.craigslist.org/5Z05He5J53Ef3L73J7c5qc21b36ebb28e1bba.jpg

 

[pelov]

care to elaborate? i'd really like to hear what you experienced

My father owns a boat and I told him to never get it. Suffice it to say, he's absolutely right about the expenses.

- you need to be able to tow it to a marina if that's where you're keeping it.

- If it's already there, you're going to have to pay to store it.

- If you're planning to store it at your house you need a trailer for the boat and a garage. This means big car that can lug around a boat. You also need a tarp. I purchased both the trailer and the tarp and together it came out to $2000 just for the trailer and tarp...

- You need all of the safety equipment

- you need a license

- you might need boat insurance

- boats don't drink gasoline, they absolutely guzzle it down. Spending ~$400-$500 on gas for a single day out isn't out of the question.

- you've got to clean it thoroughly once a year which means it has to come out of the water.

- they don't keep their value. A boat isn't exactly a German luxury car.

If you're contemplating buying a boat just for a day out on the water 10 or so times a year then forget about it. If you want a boat because you'll use it regularly and know beforehand the costs involved then it might not be a bad idea.

Boats are horrible investments.

 

[j&j]

My father owns a boat and I told him to never get it. Suffice it to say, he's absolutely right about the expenses.

- you need to be able to tow it to a marina if that's where you're keeping it.

- If it's already there, you're going to have to pay to store it.

- If you're planning to store it at your house you need a trailer for the boat and a garage. This means big car that can lug around a boat. You also need a tarp. I purchased both the trailer and the tarp and together it came out to $2000 just for the trailer and tarp...

- You need all of the safety equipment

- you need a license

- you might need boat insurance

- boats don't drink gasoline, they absolutely guzzle it down. Spending ~$400-$500 on gas for a single day out isn't out of the question.

- you've got to clean it thoroughly once a year which means it has to come out of the water.

- they don't keep their value. A boat isn't exactly a German luxury car.

If you're contemplating buying a boat just for a day out on the water 10 or so times a year then forget about it. If you want a boat because you'll use it regularly and know beforehand the costs involved then it might not be a bad idea.

Boats are horrible investments.

already have the vehicle with hitch + mount. Boat comes with road ready trailer. I'll fill it up myself, it will never be docked at a marina. Remember, check my OP for the type of boat I'm looking at because most of the stuff you've mentioned wouldn't apply.

It would be impossible to spend 400-500 a day on gas with what i'm looking at, although I do know they aren't efficient, but I'm looking at light (bass type) boats with ~100hp outboard motors.

I'm also not looking at it as an investment.


I would want a boat cover for sure though.

 

[Farang]

I don't think owning the boat in the OP is going to end up costing you much. Having a boat is awesome

My friend has a similar boat and 5-10 gallons is normal for a day out waterskiing.

 

[BoomerD]

Looking at the Craigslist ad, it LOOKS like a decent boat for the price...IF the motor and drive are in good condition, (look at them as separate components, even though it's an outboard) and if there's no rot in the floor.

Looks like the vinyl is in pretty bad condition in some places...that's a fairly expensive fix. May not be a deal breaker, but something to consider. Maybe a few hundred $ off the asking price.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

It's a bad idea.

You asked "what do you think" and we told you.

It is a bad idea.

Even if it was "free" it would be more expensive than simply saving your money and going on a cruise; or paying someone else to take you out fishing.

If you've got a pile of money lying around that your wife doesn't mind you throwing away; then go for it.

If you are a normal person trying to save for retirement, kids college, vacations, paying off your home... well your bass-boat is a big waste of money and you're stupid for coming up with all these half-witted defenses and justifications.

 

[mmntech]

My family had one a boat when I was in my teens. My dad's company had it as you're legally required to if you do bridge construction over water. Just aluminum with an outboard. Went pretty quick. Tons of fun.

The only thing I can say about boating, especially with larger ones, is they take a lot of gas. Back in the mid 90s, these friends of my grandma bought a speed boat. Cost over $100 to fill it back then. Must be pushing $250 now for one that size. Plus don't forget that you need palace to store it, may need a license.