About to buy this boat**Tips/Suggestions**

Put it on the water before you buy it

 

Thats why im looking now

 

Cam, I used to work at a marine mechanic shop for a summer. I've been around boats my whole life and I personally own two. I've had the most luck with evinrude. Their older motors(pre 2000 2 strokes) were excellent. Between me and my dad we have owned 7 evinrudes, I like to change motors so I've had 4 evinrudes myself. I would stay away from force, just like others above have said, they are hit or miss. I've seen them never have any major problems. And I've seen quite a few with major problems. Good newer motors, IMO, Yamaha can't be beat

 

Appreciate it partner, i'll keep my eye of for that engine.

 

X2 on the Evinrude if you're going with an outboard motor. Doesn't get much better than Evinrude.

 

Yea definitely helps to be patient. I had a deal fall through when I was first looking that I was pissed about. Ended up finding the same identical boat (albeit a Yamaha vs the first boats Johnson) that was 4 years newer for only 500 bucks or so more.

 

Where did you go to find yours?

 

I got mine from a guy on Craigslist. I'm generally hesitant to get stuff from there but there was some good stuff when I was in the market and the one I got was in very reasonable driving distance from where my place is at the beach where I keep the boat.

I would also check out boattrader.com I still browse that from time to time for shits and giggles even though I'm not in the market.

 

Im looking at craigs as well, i live in the center of the state so the Majority of the boats on there on on the coast (myrtle beach,charleston,hilton head)
so i've got at least 2 hours to drive so i cant really ride down just to look and come back. so i ask loads of questions.

 

Lol I was in the middle of 2 hr drive to check out the first boat I wanted to buy when the guy called me to tell me he just sold the boat (I had told the guy I'd buy cash in hand just pending hearing it start and whatnot haha). Needless to say I wasnt very happy!

 

Weren't you talking about how to pay for school just recently?

Anyways, boats are expensive, not necessarily to buy, but to upkeep and maintain. Even though both of my boats were gifts to me, they are draining my bank. I really want to sell them but I feel bad that they were gifts to my wife and I.

 

That.freaking sucks.... did you vent your anger? lol

Yes. My dad is buying me and my brothers a boat to use at the lake.

Is maintenance really expensive?

 

Question 1: I was letting out a nice rant of colorful language for about a half hour lol. Would have loved to continue on the drive and show up and drill holes in the hull haha.

Question 2: if you can do work yourself basic maintenance won't be expensive. Stuff can end up expensive in repairs but I guess that can be the case with anything. Fuel filters, oil, that kinda stuff. Im not the most mechanically inclined person so I pay to have winter service done every fall but thats still less than I pay for maintenance for the Taco in a year. I'm hesitant to work on something myself that will leave me stranded on the water especially since I take mine out in the ocean at times.

 

It can be depending on the year of the motor and the runnin condition. I have a 35 evinrudes year 1990. And the only thing ive done was cleaned the carb when I bought it and that's been it

 

this..
i love my boat!

 

Yeah, my dad bought us one and my wife's uncle gave us one when he passed away.

If you are not using them it is bad for them to sit, so you have to do maintenance to keep it ready to run. If you are using it regularly, you have operating costs. It obviously depends on the hours and previous maintenance on the motor. Don't forgot storage fees, ramp launch fees, slip fees, etc.

I do love my boats, but they are money pits. I would honestly think the best way to have a boat is through joint ownership, to share the costs and get the use out of it that it is really worth. Of course you have to have someone you trust enough to enter an agreement like that with.

 

Alright, well that doesnt sound too bad, i'll be away at school during the fall/spring so hopefully the cost arent too bad for me.

I too am not the most inclined person, im about to change the oil for the first time this weekend.

the evinrudes arent bad huh?

jelly....

i dont think i'll find someone like that

 

I know I keep talkin about them a lot but it seems like y'all are on a budget for a boat. I've always been on a budget. I wait to get one when I find a steal. Then turn around fix any problems then sell it. And if y'all are on a budget my guess is you won't be buyin a newer 4stroke Yamaha. So in that case, IMO, evinrudes are excellent. So is Johnson but back then evinrudes and Johnson were made by OMC and are practically the same motor. I've owned 4 boats, my newest is a old Malibu with a 35 evinrude. Picked the boat up with a rotten transom for 100 bucks. Had a professional redo the transom and bought a 35 rude. Ill never sell this boat. I've got a picture of it in my build behind my truck

 

Me neither yet! It would be nice though, hell I only use them maybe once a month in the spring/summer/early fall. Someone else can use them the rest of the time if they want to share some costs