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On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 21:02:11 GMT, (Tom)
wrote:

It's a wood core, but that isn't the issue. It's the way the
fiberglass was laid on some boats. This wasn't across the whole
product line - it was strictly some of the Ocean Runner series. The
stringers are composite.

Don't you still run into potential problems if mounting holes weren't
sealed properly?

Yes - but I'm assuming that isn't a problem. It COULD be a problem
for you. :)

What I was talking about was the way the glass was laid along the top
of the transom and a potential glass/backing problem in the transom
itself. As I said, there weren't a lot of these boats with that
problem, but it did exist.

If he hit the sandbar hard enough to break the lower unit, then I
would consider the engine suspect. Not bad (because I've done this
myself and the engine was fine), just have it looked over. Pay a good
mechanic that knows Evinrudes an hours worth of time to check it.

I'll have to find out more about it - it was replaced with a factory
new unit and hopefully the mechanic would have checked it out but you
never know..

That's exactly it - you never know. I'm not an expert by any means,
but I hang around a sales/service shop when nothing else is going on
(I know the owner and the service manager) and I see "things" that you
might not realize can happen when lower units hit stuff. Just be
careful - doesn't mean the engine is junk.

280 hours isn't all that much for a '97 - less than 40 per year - not
unheard of certainly. Actually, I would have preferred to see more
hours on the engine for it's age.

It's been used entirely in fresh water so no long runs offshore. One
concern is that it was used for Striper fishing (has downriggers so
obviously some trolling time).

Low speed isn't a critical issue - not at less than 40 hours a year.

Around this area, with trailer in good condition, everything being
relatively equal, these are running from $14,500 to $21,000 depending
on the engine/electronics package. I have seen one somewhere, can't
remember where, for around $10,000 - don't know if there was wrong
with it.

What part of the country are you in? Those seem to be a little high
(NADA low retail is $11,050 - high retail is $13,585 on this boat ) -
is that a pretty accurate guide? Maybe I should buy this one and bring
it to your part of the country. :-).

I live in CT and are certainly welcome to try it - you might have to
wait for a while.

With respect to NADA, I've found them to be fairly accurate, but there
are regional differences. BUC often seems way higher, but allows for
condition adjustments that NADA doesn't.

There are a ton of boats for sale out there. I'm considering selling
my Ranger this coming Spring, but there are a god awful bunch of boats
out there for sale - it's incredible.

There are quite a few. I figure if I'm going to buy at this time of
the year it should be a bargain - otherwise I might as well wait until
later in the spring.

Hopefully, you've stumbled into something good.

I hope so - time will tell.
Thanks again.

No problem - good luck.

Later,

Tom