s o wrote:
hi,

I'm looking at a 1996 bayliner 1952 cuddy(19 ft) with a 3.0 135 hp
mercruiser I/O. asking $6000. is this a good deal. boat is fairly
well maintained.

I've read some posts on 3.0 vs. 4.3, I think I should be fine with a
3.0. I'll be mainly using it for close to shore cruising (and maybe
fishing) with the family and occasionally overnight at Catalina
Island(I live in SoCal.) My kids are 3 and 5, so no skiiing power
needed. I've talked to a couple of people at a boat ramp, they had 20
or 22 ft boats and gone to Catalina in them. I guess 19 ft should be
ok as well.

will this boat meet my needs? any comments are welcomed(but please no
religious war on Bayliner vs. other boats, etc). thanks.

s o

Whether or not that's a good deal or a fair price will depend entirely
upon condition.
Yachtworld has one listed for $3,500, but the rest of them seem to be
asking as much or more (in same cases as much or *much more*) than you
are considering paying for yours.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi... &searchPage=

The good news is, the most you could be off is by a thousand or so if
the boat doesn't need anything significant. Many people buying a boat
overpay by 10's of thousands of dollars, and some people overpay by six
or even seven figures. (shudder).

Don't settle for an eyeball survey. At the very least get an engine
shop to check out the mechanical aspects, and it wouldn't hurt to
engage a surveyor to check for rot while you're at it. It can be tough
to find a surveyor willing to tap out a 19-footer, however.