looking at a boat...need advice

[stew6371]

Because I'm a poor whiteman, I'm looking at an old bassboat. Its a 1992 hydro-sport. 18fter with a 1992 Johnson faststrike 175 on it. Hull looks good with some scratches but clearcoat on topcap is coming off. The boat has sat outside quite a bit. The transom seems very solid. The boat is set up pretty good to be a good first boat. Now my concern. The floor has a softspot. I do not know if the floor only is bad or if the stringers(or whatever they are called) are bad as well, or if the floor even has anything supporting it. He wants $3500 for it, but I'm not sure bout that. I was thinking between $2500-$3000. I'm not against splitting the cap and replacing all the wood in the boat. Anyone have any input? Thanks

[BassBUFF]

Not sure where you are located, or what condition the motor is in, but I wouldn't go a dime over your low end price. Just my $.02.

[Donald Garner]

Is the outboard and the electronics operational?
If it isn't IMO I wouldn't waste my time with it.  Especially if its been sitting outside.

I'd look around a little more.

[Lee Smith]

Get that motor checked out GOOD!  The rest is just work!

[stew6371]

Thanks for the replies. I will run it on the water and have the motor checked out. I should have specified, would this be a good deal providing the motor checks out good. I wouldnt even look at it if the something is wrong with the motor.

[Lee Smith]

Thanks for the replies. I will run it on the water and have the motor checked out. I should have specified, would this be a good deal providing the motor checks out good. I wouldnt even look at it if the something is wrong with the motor.

Don't know if it's the best you can do, but if the motor is good (get the compression checked by YOUR mechanic), it's not a bad deal for sure! 

Best of luck!

[-Steve-]

Don't know if it's the best you can do, but if the motor is good (get the compression checked by YOUR mechanic), it's not a bad deal for sure! 

Best of luck!

I concur...Steve

[J.Davis]

One tip to looking at a bass boat is if the boat is very clean, then the owner cared about it.  If he cared about it, he took care of it cosmetically and mechanically.  Another thing you might want to consider is waiting, saving up some more money, and getting a better boat.  You will be much happier in the long run.  Never settle!!  If it doesn't feel right, WALK AWAY!!! 

I speak from recent experience.  A few months ago I was in the market for a $6-8k bass boat, but I decided to wait and move my price range up to $10k.  I went to look at a boat that seemed perfect, but we got there, and it had been sitting out in the sun for a very long time.  It needed work, and the guy wouldn't move on his price.  It didn't feel right, so I walked away.  Even though it was a 2-hour drive, I understood $50 on gas is much better than spending $10k on a boat I would regret in a very short time.  Two days later, I drove three and a half hours to look at a boat.  My uncle sent me up there to look at a "showroom clean" boat, but I wasn't sold after my previous experience.  I got up there, saw the boat, drove around in it, fished out of it, and fell in love with it.  It needs some upgrades, but I will never regret buying this boat.  If I sit around dreaming, day and night, about getting out in it on the weekends, I know I made the right choice.  It doesn't even have a working trolling motor right now, and I have still gotten out and fished for over 10 hours last weekend over Saturday and Sunday.

Get the compression checked.  Check the cleanliness of the engine also.  Ask very intense, detailed questions to put the seller on the spot.  If he is hesitant or shaky in his answer.  He either lied or didn't know.  That's a good hint to walk away. 

Patience is the greatest virtue in everything.  If I wouldn't have waited, I would be stuck in a small, slow boat that I would probably already regret.  The right boat will come along (this may be it) so don't make a $3500 mistake if you think it might be one.  Plus spending more on a boat that is ready to go fishing the next day is worth it.  The less work you have to do, the more fishing you get to do.