On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 10:40:49 GMT, Captain Chaos
wrote:

Man, you guys are a rough crowd. One half-way positive response to a
new boat buyer. Is that how you guys typically welcome new folks? I
bought the boat to have fun as someone stated. I expect with a boat
this age that some repairs may be needed at some point. I don't plan
on sinking a bunch of money into it and believe it will suit my
purposes well.

With your price advisories, I'd have to say you guys haven't been boat
shopping in a while. Maybe prices are higher here in the Southeast, I
don't know. $3000 will not get you a nice boat at all.

Hopefully, you will luck out.

Collectively, the experience here is unmatched in any other boating
forum spanning from 50 foot Grand Banks and a North West cruising
expert to light sailing boats. Speaking only for myself, I have
roughly 50 years of experience with boats and know what can and can't
go wrong with a purchase like this.

Bottom line - you asked, we answered. You didn't like the answers
because they didn't fit your opinion, that's not our fault.

As to price, there are more boats on the used market than you can
shake a stick at and I guarantee you if you had taken the time to read
through the local shopper's rag or Boat Trader, you would have found a
good boat for the same money, bigger, better and probably better
maintained.

It's my opinion that anybody who buys off of eBay at the auction price
is crazy - in particular a boat. However, if you are satisfied, fine.

Do yourself a favor before finalizing the deal. Get a cheap rubber
hammer and thump the engine stringers and transom around that
outdrive. If you hear a nice solid thunk, then you'll probably be
safe. If you hear a dead thump, then you have a bad transom and or
stringers and the boat isn't worth the money.

I have
looked at this boat personally over this past weekend, and in my
novice view, it is a nice boat. It actually looks better in person
than in the pictures. I would have liked to have paid less, but for
the sake of $500 or $1000, I am not going to sweat it.

Good enough - if you are happy with the purchase, do it.

That's all that counts.

I think everyone here welcomes you with open arms. If this group is asked
for an honest opinion, they will give it- good or bad. That's what's made it
a valuable resource for me.

When asking about whether you should or should not have paid $xxxx for a
particular boat, don't expect to be blue-sky'ed here. Welcome to boat
ownership... open your wallet and say AHHHHHHHH !! (c: =


"Captain Chaos" wrote in message
...
Man, you guys are a rough crowd. One half-way positive response to a
new boat buyer. Is that how you guys typically welcome new folks? I
bought the boat to have fun as someone stated. I expect with a boat
this age that some repairs may be needed at some point. I don't plan
on sinking a bunch of money into it and believe it will suit my
purposes well.

With your price advisories, I'd have to say you guys haven't been boat
shopping in a while. Maybe prices are higher here in the Southeast, I
don't know. $3000 will not get you a nice boat at all. I have
looked at this boat personally over this past weekend, and in my
novice view, it is a nice boat. It actually looks better in person
than in the pictures. I would have liked to have paid less, but for
the sake of $500 or $1000, I am not going to sweat it.

"Captain Chaos" wrote
I expect with a boat
this age that some repairs may be needed at some point.

Long as you go in expecting that, you probably won't be disappointed. Like
everybody else here, the soft floor would probably have scared me off.
What's the guy mean by the "floor in the engine compartment," anyway? Is
there a floor in the engine compartment, or are we talking mounting rails
and stuff? Wood rot is problematic but not insurmountable if it hasn't
gotten into the transom or hull structure. Somebody suggested a simple knock
test on the transom, which sounds like a good idea. Minor repairs aren't
rocket surgery. Even I can do a serviceable one:
http://users.adelphia.net/~blizzard3/boat/mm.htm

BTW, it appears Dynasty is still in business, making Polar boats for the
Godfrey conglomeration. Not that it means anything as far as getting any
kind of factory support for your boat.
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturd...23/boats.shtml

I don't plan on sinking a bunch of money into it

It's a boat. You're going to have to change that plan if you intend to keep
and use it. (You're right: rough crowd.)

$3000 will not get you a nice boat at all.

I agree. There may be bargains to be had, but I don't see them nearly as
plentiful and widespread as some have suggested. People pay $3k for a
middling jet-ski around here and more for almost any kind of serviceable
boat. My boat isn't all that nice and I wouldn't part with it for that.

Man, you guys are a rough crowd. One half-way positive response to a
new boat buyer. Is that how you guys typically welcome new folks?

You just asked the wrong "first question" if you were hoping to feel good
about your decision. Bottom line - boats are traditionally maintenance
whores. If you buy one that you wouldn't want to sleep with in the first
place, what's the point?

If you simply want to feel warm and welcomed by this *community* of boaters,
ask how you can go about fixing the problems you will find (and yes,
undoubtedly you will find them - guaranteed). You will typically be quite
pleased by the quality of information and the willingness of others to take
the time to help you out.

Keep in mind - when you receive the so-called negative responses, a lot of
us are speaking from first-hand experiences of our own. My situation isn't
much different than yours. I purchased my first boat less than two years
ago. I paid $5000 for a 35 year old ski boat with some "soft spots" on the
floor. Did I have it surveyed? Nope. In the first 12 months I spent
nearly $10,000 replacing the interior, including all upholstery, all
flooring, and a good portion of the stringers. So, $15,000 in, did I have a
solid boat? Nope, I'm just now wrapping up a $5000 engine rebuild. So, for
$20,000 do I have a solid boat? Nope, I will always have a 35+ year old ski
boat. Is the boat worth the money I've spent on it? Nope - I've seen
similar ones go for under $12,000. Does that mean I regret my decisions?
No freakin way! I love the thing to death. It's an attention getter and
has enough unique qualities to allow others to appreciate it as well. It's
always a good feeling to have strangers gawk at a boat that you've poured
your soul into (soul=paychecks?) - it's like being a proud daddy.

BUT, by having my experience, I can look at your decision and know exactly
where you are at. A *little* excited about a new toy and a new hobby.
Believe me, that excitement will turn to frustration and regrets before you
know it. I can honestly say I was near vomitting within my first week of
boat ownership. What the hell had I done??

The only difference I see in your new toy - is that you would have a rather
worthless investment after a proper restoration (investing $15,000 might
allow you to sell it for a few hundred more than what you paid). Does that
matter? No way - it's all what you make of it.

Are the responses you received unfair? Certainly not. When we say you made
a stupid decision, it's only because we know them all to well.

Once again - welcome to boating. As I've come to learn - 40 hours of
*boating* on land might buy you a couple hours of *boating* on the water.
Both can be great hobbies. I honestly can say I don't know which one I
enjoy more.

Good luck to you.

Good honest response.... not bad!

10000000% true

"Captain Chaos" wrote in message
...
Man, you guys are a rough crowd. One half-way positive response to a
new boat buyer. Is that how you guys typically welcome new folks? I
bought the boat to have fun as someone stated. I expect with a boat
this age that some repairs may be needed at some point. I don't plan
on sinking a bunch of money into it and believe it will suit my
purposes well.

With your price advisories, I'd have to say you guys haven't been boat
shopping in a while. Maybe prices are higher here in the Southeast, I
don't know. $3000 will not get you a nice boat at all. I have
looked at this boat personally over this past weekend, and in my
novice view, it is a nice boat. It actually looks better in person
than in the pictures. I would have liked to have paid less, but for
the sake of $500 or $1000, I am not going to sweat it.


The problem is that your initial question of what we thought of the boat
should have come *before* you started to bid on it.

I always get a kick out of folks coming here after the fact and asking "what
do you think of this boat I just bought", only to find out that it was never
surveyed nor did the buyer have a clue what he/she was buying.

Stick around. Take it as a learning experience and don't be afraid to ask
questions. There are a lot of experts here who can help you.

That's 3900 more than I would pay for a soft floor boat. Wonder if the
stringers are also soft?

good luck


"Captain Chaos" wrote in message
...
I went to look at a boat that was listed on Ebay last weekend.
Knowing little about boats, didn't really know what to look for except
overall general condition. Looked good to me compared to others I've
seen in price range. Hull seemed in good shape, upholstery was good,
engine seemed good, so I took the plunge and bought it tonight. There
was a bit of a bidding war between two folks in the last 2 minutes
that ran the price up some unfortunately. I don't know why folks
don't wait til the last few seconds to start a biddign war. It would
keep the price lower by my thinking. Anyway, I sniped it in the end
with 9 seconds to go. Tell me what you think.

Ebay Item # 4564837481

"Captain Chaos" wrote in message
...
I went to look at a boat that was listed on Ebay last weekend.
Knowing little about boats, didn't really know what to look for except
overall general condition. Looked good to me compared to others I've
seen in price range. Hull seemed in good shape, upholstery was good,
engine seemed good, so I took the plunge and bought it tonight. There
was a bit of a bidding war between two folks in the last 2 minutes
that ran the price up some unfortunately. I don't know why folks
don't wait til the last few seconds to start a biddign war. It would
keep the price lower by my thinking. Anyway, I sniped it in the end
with 9 seconds to go. Tell me what you think.

Ebay Item # 4564837481



Hey

At least its not a Bayliner or a POS Wellcraft...

Dan

"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...

"Captain Chaos" wrote in message
...
I went to look at a boat that was listed on Ebay last weekend.
Knowing little about boats, didn't really know what to look for except
overall general condition. Looked good to me compared to others I've
seen in price range. Hull seemed in good shape, upholstery was good,
engine seemed good, so I took the plunge and bought it tonight. There
was a bit of a bidding war between two folks in the last 2 minutes
that ran the price up some unfortunately. I don't know why folks
don't wait til the last few seconds to start a biddign war. It would
keep the price lower by my thinking. Anyway, I sniped it in the end
with 9 seconds to go. Tell me what you think.

Ebay Item # 4564837481



Hey

At least its not a Bayliner or a POS Wellcraft...

Dan


So what is wrong with modern day Bayliners Dan?

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...

"Captain Chaos" wrote in message
...
I went to look at a boat that was listed on Ebay last weekend.
Knowing little about boats, didn't really know what to look for except
overall general condition. Looked good to me compared to others I've
seen in price range. Hull seemed in good shape, upholstery was good,
engine seemed good, so I took the plunge and bought it tonight. There
was a bit of a bidding war between two folks in the last 2 minutes
that ran the price up some unfortunately. I don't know why folks
don't wait til the last few seconds to start a biddign war. It would
keep the price lower by my thinking. Anyway, I sniped it in the end
with 9 seconds to go. Tell me what you think.

Ebay Item # 4564837481



Hey

At least its not a Bayliner or a POS Wellcraft...

Dan


So what is wrong with modern day Bayliners Dan?


Maybe the new ones are better, i was talking about the year of the boat he
is looking at.