On Apr 3, 8:11*pm, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 16:53:41 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:





On Apr 3, 7:37*pm, John H. wrote:
On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 15:47:12 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
On Apr 3, 3:41*pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in ...
On Apr 3, 9:29 am, John H. wrote:

Make sure you get a chance to have the boat and engine inspected before
plunking down your money!

Everyone says that as a kind of CYA. However, in truth paying $800 to
inspect a boat that is otherwise pretty new and been maintained (with
documentation) by a well-known shop may not be best bang-for-buck.

-Robert
==============

It cost me $385 to have my 20 footer surveyed. *The survey included the
structure, mechanics and a compression test on the engine.

I would never buy a used boat without having it surveyed.

I'm no expert, but I bought both of my boats without a survey or a
"sea trial" *The prices were right, and I'm no expert, but I can check
stuff out fairly well. Been well satisfied with what I have.

Tim, didn't your boats cost less than a survey would have?

Seems to me you got a pretty good deal on those guys!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, they did. i feel quite fortunate. I did buy them off ebay, and I
did ask some questions. But the neat thing abotu it is that i didn't'
bit more than I thought I could afford to lose. I mean, even if they
were dissapointing, I *could have scrapped them out and sold off the
parts for more than I gave for them.

Actually i feel prettyproud of myself. the little 18' Chris was
1500.00 USD and has been a blast, even if a bit small. The cuddie is a
77 Marquis 23' and even though cosmetically it was a bit lacking, via
polish
( no chalk) and needed a slight bit of cosmetic wood work, the boat is
solid as a rock. engine oil was not new but reasonably clean, filters
looked great. no oil in the bottom of the hull. I gave 1281.00 for it,
dual axle trailer w/surge brakes and all. Even with paint flaking off
the trailer I could tell the trailer had been well kept because it had
new brake lines and master cylinder installed in a moderately recent
time frame.

The boat;s 350 GM starts easily, doesn't smoke or flutter, and runs
absolutely great.

John, I think I did well, and that means that it helps make up for
past blunders... LOL!

good karma?

You can find good deals on eBay and you can find crap on eBay.

I konw of a guy who bought a Ranger 518 off eBay for a decent price -
not too high, not too low. *He looked the boat over before closing the
deal and the first time he launched, the boat started shipping water.
Turns out, the seller had run the boat up on a rock and split the hull
right where the bunks were on the trailer.

You gotta be carefull on eBay.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Before I gave any money tot he seller[s], I looked the boat over well.
I'm not a nit picker, but If something was way out of line that wasn't
described,I'd walk. And what was I going to get? a good cussing and
bad feedback? i can live with that.

they could keep their lies, and I'd keep my money.