Freshwater lake boaters - input wanted

Buy aluminum and outboard. You can still get a bow-rider, and you can worry a hell of a lot less about a lot of the issues. Probably pretty hard to find in the south though

I'd be cautious of the first one you listed.

The description makes it sound like they substituted an automotive alternator. That is an indicator that there are probably other automotive parts in place of the marine versions.

At best those auto parts will suffer a quicker death due to corrosion, at worst they can cause an explosion or fire.

As for general recommendations I would avoid a project boat. I have one and after 3 years it's still a project.

Get one that's ready to go.

From what I can tell from hanging around with a boat salesman, find $75,000, buy something with 400 horsepower that will top out around 55 mph, and then either melt the engine, or freeze and crack it in the winter. That will cost you another $10k, so you can continue to enjoy your career well past normal retirement age.

Yeah, I think buying a brand new boat is much like buying a brand new RV, Jaguar, or Maserati. Hence why I'm looking for something where my financial risk is small. Kinda like finding that good $2000 car on CL. They do exist, but they're few and far between. I'm proficient at hunting those cars down, I want to learn how to spot the boat version.

networking may be key. I think with boats there are a lot of people who have them sitting in a garage that don't use them and would be willing to sell, but they just never get around to posting it anywhere. Although you're new to the area, start asking around. After I surfed CL for months and bought a cheap sailboat, I had 5 different acquaintances say "Oh, if I'd known you were looking...." One guy GAVE a 25' MacGregor and an 18' Buccaneer to the Boyscouts last year just so he didn't have to fool with selling them. Talk about day late and a dollar short... I never thought to ask people I knew if they had anything....

Aeromoto wrote: Just an alternative suggestion.... I've been on a few of the lakes in your area.... on many of them you can rent a 20ft'ish pontoon boat for an 8 hour day for like $150. You show up at the marina, the boat is in the water, you put your ice chest and crap on board and go, and when you come back, cleaning it and maintaining it is someone else's problem. Trust me, this will keep you way ahead of the money and grief curve.

Yes, this x100. There are several places on Lainer that rent by the day with many kinds of boats. Try a few.

Make friends with people who have a boat. We have friends with a private dock, private beach, boats, jet ski's, kayak's, etc. Too much fun. We offer gas money. Lake Keowee, SC.

If you decide to buy, please make sure seller agrees to take you out on the water and run it up to speed for 15-20 minutes. Giving him $$$ for the gas up front. It will be hard to hide mechanical issues with an in water test run.

If seller refuses this ask yourself, then him, what is he hiding? The next best thing would be a compression test but you still dont get the overall evaluation an in water run would give you.

When it comes to boats, low hours are not always a good thing. If a boat motor has Sat unused for more than a year or two be very careful. I see your down south so the climate isnt as bad as up north but the seasonal temp changes as we all know cause rust over time on equipment that sits unused for long periods of time. For example, I bought an older runabout in cosmetically great shape. I took sellers word it ran great. It had low hours for the year. Long story short couldnt get boat to plane out (small block v8). Pulled my hair out trouble shooting this. Finally pulled motor and tore down to find out I was running on only 5 cylinders. 3 of the intake valves had so much rust they just didnt work. I bought another used small block and ran it for the next season then sold it after a squirrel got into the boat in winter storage and feasted on the wiring.

I since bought a '78 Lund aluminum fishing boat ($1100 with trailer). Picked up a 55 hp Evinrude for $600. I put new seats in and painted it. Does the same thing as a new $30k Lund for a fraction of the price. It fits all 4 kids, wife, coolers, fishing hear, etc. Has High gunnels so kids feel safe and I can handle rough water just fine.

And yes make boating friends. They are lifesavers. The buddy system is something many boaters forget about until an emergency happens.

And whatever you do, if you dont already know how to back up a boat trailer, practice, practice, practice.

I have more trial/error examples if you need lol.

drainoil wrote: If you decide to buy, please make sure seller agrees to take you out on the water and run it up to speed for 15-20 minutes. Giving him $$$ for the gas up front. It will be hard to hide mechanical issues with an in water test run. If seller refuses this ask yourself, then him, what is he hiding? The next best thing would be a compression test but you still dont get the overall evaluation an in water run would give you. When it comes to boats, low hours are not always a good thing. If a boat motor has Sat unused for more than a year or two be very careful. I see your down south so the climate isnt as bad as up north but the seasonal temp changes as we all know cause rust over time on equipment that sits unused for long periods of time. For example, I bought an older runabout in cosmetically great shape. I took sellers word it ran great. It had low hours for the year. Long story short couldnt get boat to plane out (small block v8). Pulled my hair out trouble shooting this. Finally pulled motor and tore down to find out I was running on only 5 cylinders. 3 of the intake valves had so much rust they just didnt work. I bought another used small block and ran it for the next season then sold it after a squirrel got into the boat in winter storage and feasted on the wiring. I since bought a '78 Lund aluminum fishing boat ($1100 with trailer). Picked up a 55 hp Evinrude for $600. I put new seats in and painted it. Does the same thing as a new $30k Lund for a fraction of the price. It fits all 4 kids, wife, coolers, fishing hear, etc. Has High gunnels so kids feel safe and I can handle rough water just fine. And yes make boating friends. They are lifesavers. The buddy system is something many boaters forget about until an emergency happens. And whatever you do, if you dont already know how to back up a boat trailer, practice, practice, practice. I have more trial/error examples if you need lol.

Funny. We have an 82 Lund Alaskan with new seats, new floor, and new interior paint. Getting the exterior painted this fall. We had the rebuild the Lower Unit on the 85 Merc (70HP) because all the seals went bad this winter.

One advantage that second boat you posted might have, assuming it has a toilet on board, is that you can write off loan interest for it as a second home as long as you sleep on board something like 30 nights a year. There may be some number crunching required with that in mind.

Maybe you have tools and are a crafty sort? If so, perhaps building your own boat may be worthwhile? Buy something cheap, go through the motor, build new boat, transplant motor, burn cheap boat with fire? Plans: http://www.woodenboat.com/boat-plans-kits?ssrnd=1700

Aside from that, just remember the old saying about the two happiest days in a boat owner's life.

mtn wrote:

drainoil wrote: If you decide to buy, please make sure seller agrees to take you out on the water and run it up to speed for 15-20 minutes. Giving him $$$ for the gas up front. It will be hard to hide mechanical issues with an in water test run. If seller refuses this ask yourself, then him, what is he hiding? The next best thing would be a compression test but you still dont get the overall evaluation an in water run would give you. When it comes to boats, low hours are not always a good thing. If a boat motor has Sat unused for more than a year or two be very careful. I see your down south so the climate isnt as bad as up north but the seasonal temp changes as we all know cause rust over time on equipment that sits unused for long periods of time. For example, I bought an older runabout in cosmetically great shape. I took sellers word it ran great. It had low hours for the year. Long story short couldnt get boat to plane out (small block v8). Pulled my hair out trouble shooting this. Finally pulled motor and tore down to find out I was running on only 5 cylinders. 3 of the intake valves had so much rust they just didnt work. I bought another used small block and ran it for the next season then sold it after a squirrel got into the boat in winter storage and feasted on the wiring. I since bought a '78 Lund aluminum fishing boat ($1100 with trailer). Picked up a 55 hp Evinrude for $600. I put new seats in and painted it. Does the same thing as a new $30k Lund for a fraction of the price. It fits all 4 kids, wife, coolers, fishing hear, etc. Has High gunnels so kids feel safe and I can handle rough water just fine. And yes make boating friends. They are lifesavers. The buddy system is something many boaters forget about until an emergency happens. And whatever you do, if you dont already know how to back up a boat trailer, practice, practice, practice. I have more trial/error examples if you need lol.

Funny. We have an 82 Lund Alaskan with new seats, new floor, and new interior paint. Getting the exterior painted this fall. We had the rebuild the Lower Unit on the 85 Merc (70HP) because all the seals went bad this winter.

I painted mine with rustoleum top side paint, used not even two quarts. Bottom side wasnt needed at this time. Total for paint, roller, and brushes-$25.

I just wanted to drop in here and add that it may be wise to avoid the Bayliner brand. These are some very low quality boats. They seem to have the features and that makes them sell well at boat shows to the first-time boaters but they lack long term durability.

The old joke..
You know why Bayliners don't have port windows?
Because the sun shines right through the fiberglass.

JohnRW1621 wrote: I just wanted to drop in here and add that it may be wise to avoid the Bayliner brand. These are some very low quality boats. They seem to have the features and that makes them sell well at boat shows to the first-time boaters but they lack long term durability. The old joke.. You know why Bayliners don't have port windows? Because the sun shines right through the fiberglass.

You know why they call them Bayliners, right?