Hi everyone, im looking to purchase a used boat in a few months and was
wondering if age should be a large consideration. Im looking at using it to
go fishing out in the bay and maybe the ocean. Im thinking around a 22 ft
but not certain. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ed

Buyer be ware. My only advice is before you buy get it checked by a
trained Marine mechanic. Problems can be hidden very easily.

On 12 Apr 2005 13:09:08 -0700, wrote:

Buyer be ware. My only advice is before you buy get it checked by a
trained Marine mechanic. Problems can be hidden very easily.

If I were you, and didn't want more spam than I could deal with, I wouldn't be
splashing that email addy all over like that.
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Ed H wrote:
Hi everyone, im looking to purchase a used boat in a few months and was
wondering if age should be a large consideration. Im looking at using it to
go fishing out in the bay and maybe the ocean. Im thinking around a 22 ft
but not certain. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ed


Most of the boat fleet around here is 'older'. On the other hand, a ten
year old Florida boat might be equivalent to a four year old boat in
these waters due to our five month season.
My 'new' to me sailboat will be 19 this summer.

Whatever you do, get the boat surveyed and engine checked out by a mechanic.

After 10 yrs there can be a world of problems with any boat, some minor some
major. The first boat I purchased was approximately 15 yrs old, I paid
$1500 for it, paid $600 for an overhaul, and within a year I paid $700 for a
starter pack and minor tune-up. During the first winter, I ended up
replacing a rotten floor, luckily the stringers were still in good shape and
I could do the work myself. This probably cost me $200 for materials, and
about 15 hrs labor.

I kept the boat for 4 yrs and sold it for $1500. So I paid approx. $1500
for using a boat 4 yrs. That is a very reasonable cost for a boat.

On the other hand, you can pay considerable more for a boat, and end up with
a money pit that is a pain in the ass.

A survey and mechanic will minimize your risk in buying a used boat.

A 22' ft. boat with high freeboard should be a good size boat for the bay
and ocean on good days. If the wind kicks up to 15 + mph, you will have
waves and chop that at the very least is uncomfortable, and at the worst can
swamp your boat.






"Ed H" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone, im looking to purchase a used boat in a few months and was
wondering if age should be a large consideration. Im looking at using it
to
go fishing out in the bay and maybe the ocean. Im thinking around a 22 ft
but not certain. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ed

Age can be almost meaningless. I'd take a carefully maintained,
properly stored, previously cherished 10 year old boat any day rather
than something that had been beat to death and abused since new only
2-3 years ago.

Engine hours are certainly a consideration, particularly in a gas boat.
Think of engine hours like accumulated mileage on motor vehicle. A
small percentage of gas engines will log over 2000 hours, most can do
1500 or so with reasonable care and maintenance, while bad luck or
neglect brings some down much earlier. If you find a well maintained
boat with a 2000 hour engine- do expect to be replacing that engine
much sooner than you'd prefer and make sure your offering price
reflects that impending expense.

Where do you live? Do you need to be concerned with UV rays, freezing
temps, or steady rain?
If a boat is stored so that it is exposed to the weather, age will be a
greater factor.

Don't be afraid to spend money on a good mechanical
survey (preferably done by somebody with no interest in the sale of the
boat). Also get a general hull survey to help you spot any structural
defects. Paying a little bit, voluntarily, now may save you from paying
a lot more, under duress, later.

Yeah, I agree with Gould.


wrote in message
ups.com...
Age can be almost meaningless. I'd take a carefully maintained,
properly stored, previously cherished 10 year old boat any day rather
than something that had been beat to death and abused since new only
2-3 years ago.

Engine hours are certainly a consideration, particularly in a gas boat.
Think of engine hours like accumulated mileage on motor vehicle. A
small percentage of gas engines will log over 2000 hours, most can do
1500 or so with reasonable care and maintenance, while bad luck or
neglect brings some down much earlier. If you find a well maintained
boat with a 2000 hour engine- do expect to be replacing that engine
much sooner than you'd prefer and make sure your offering price
reflects that impending expense.

Where do you live? Do you need to be concerned with UV rays, freezing
temps, or steady rain?
If a boat is stored so that it is exposed to the weather, age will be a
greater factor.

Don't be afraid to spend money on a good mechanical
survey (preferably done by somebody with no interest in the sale of the
boat). Also get a general hull survey to help you spot any structural
defects. Paying a little bit, voluntarily, now may save you from paying
a lot more, under duress, later.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Age can be almost meaningless. I'd take a carefully maintained,
properly stored, previously cherished 10 year old boat any day rather
than something that had been beat to death and abused since new only
2-3 years ago.

Engine hours are certainly a consideration, particularly in a gas boat.
Think of engine hours like accumulated mileage on motor vehicle. A
small percentage of gas engines will log over 2000 hours, most can do
1500 or so with reasonable care and maintenance, while bad luck or
neglect brings some down much earlier. If you find a well maintained
boat with a 2000 hour engine- do expect to be replacing that engine
much sooner than you'd prefer and make sure your offering price
reflects that impending expense.

Where do you live? Do you need to be concerned with UV rays, freezing
temps, or steady rain?
If a boat is stored so that it is exposed to the weather, age will be a
greater factor.

Don't be afraid to spend money on a good mechanical
survey (preferably done by somebody with no interest in the sale of the
boat). Also get a general hull survey to help you spot any structural
defects. Paying a little bit, voluntarily, now may save you from paying
a lot more, under duress, later.


Great advice Chuck. The recommendation for a mechanical survey of the
engine(s), including compression check, is crucial.

You can usually get a feel for the type of care a boat received over it's
life (or by the present owner) by it's appearance/upkeep and the
documentation (or lack of) of maintenance. A look at the bilge and a check
of the engine oil and other fluids are also good indicators.

I always maintained both a cruising log and a maintenance log, both with a
documentation of engine hours/activity. I also kept all receipts. All
these things helped me every time I sold a boat.

All depends on how well the previous owner(s) kept it up. You can find 5 yr
old boats that are in near salvage condition due to neglect and misuse, and
30 year old boats that are in nearly new condition because the owner took
proper care of them. Around here, a big concern is boats that are left out
in the weather. Even if a boat is covered, a cover support can come loose
allowing water to collect in the boat and rot the floor or transom.

My 20 yr old boat is in better condition than most 10 yr old boats, and many
5 yr old boats, because it has been properly maintained and covered.



"Ed H" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone, im looking to purchase a used boat in a few months and was
wondering if age should be a large consideration. Im looking at using it
to
go fishing out in the bay and maybe the ocean. Im thinking around a 22 ft
but not certain. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ed

Take in mind that fiberglass (if it is a fibergalls boat) degrades on
its own just by sitting around ...

I had a 25 year old boat and although functional it did crackle here
and there
Matt