Hi all!

I am about to purchase a pre-owned/used boat soon - it will be my
first time purchasing. I am going to buy something between 3-6 years
old - with that kind of age, what would be a good use of engine hours?
Not sure if i am getting an outboard, inboard, I/O, but would welcome
any and all suggestions. i am going to be boating mainly on lakes.
When i see ads, i usually see engine hours listed - just wanted to
know how many hours are too much, etc. Thanks!

On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 08:22:25 -0700 (PDT), Haas C wrote:

Hi all!

I am about to purchase a pre-owned/used boat soon - it will be my
first time purchasing. I am going to buy something between 3-6 years
old - with that kind of age, what would be a good use of engine hours?
Not sure if i am getting an outboard, inboard, I/O, but would welcome
any and all suggestions. i am going to be boating mainly on lakes.
When i see ads, i usually see engine hours listed - just wanted to
know how many hours are too much, etc. Thanks!

Having had an I/O and an outboard, I would go with an outboard for a
smaller boat, something you'd be trailering around to different lakes. I
would think between 50-100 hours a season is reasonable as far as hours go.
Obviously, the fewer the better.

Make sure you get a chance to have the boat and engine inspected before
plunking down your money!
--
John *H*
(Not the other one!)

After you decide what kind of boating you'll be doing, spend some time
talking with boaters at the launch ramp you'll be using. Ask them why they
bought the boat they have and if they'd buy the same boat again.

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 08:22:25 -0700 (PDT), Haas C wrote:

Hi all!

I am about to purchase a pre-owned/used boat soon - it will be my
first time purchasing. I am going to buy something between 3-6 years
old - with that kind of age, what would be a good use of engine hours?
Not sure if i am getting an outboard, inboard, I/O, but would welcome
any and all suggestions. i am going to be boating mainly on lakes.
When i see ads, i usually see engine hours listed - just wanted to
know how many hours are too much, etc. Thanks!

Having had an I/O and an outboard, I would go with an outboard for a
smaller boat, something you'd be trailering around to different lakes. I
would think between 50-100 hours a season is reasonable as far as hours
go.
Obviously, the fewer the better.

Make sure you get a chance to have the boat and engine inspected before
plunking down your money!
--
John *H*
(Not the other one!)

"William Andersen" wrote in message
...

After you decide what kind of boating you'll be doing, spend some time
talking with boaters at the launch ramp you'll be using. Ask them why they
bought the boat they have and if they'd buy the same boat again.


Just make sure none of them have twofootitis. It's contagious.

Eisboch

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

On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 13:27:06 -0700 (PDT), "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

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

I might not plunk down $800, but I'd take it to a mechanic and have the
engine looked over. I've a feeling he could get something in the 18' range
checked out for a lot less than $800.

"John H." wrote in message
...

On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 13:27:06 -0700 (PDT), "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

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

I might not plunk down $800, but I'd take it to a mechanic and have the
engine looked over. I've a feeling he could get something in the 18' range
checked out for a lot less than $800.


For sure.

If you are not familiar with a boat and it's various systems, a survey can
be well worth it.
When we bought the Navigator it was brand new and had never been
commissioned. We paid cash for it, so a survey for financing was not
required. I still retained a surveyor anyway and spent the day with him
while he went over the boat. He knew a heck of a lot more about it than the
dealer and the time and money was well spent in terms of getting me up to
speed on the boat.

*That* survey didn't cost 800 bucks either and he through in two afternoons
of on the water handling lessons that were very helpful. That was almost 8
years ago, and prices have probably gone up since then, but it was worth it.
I learned a lot.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"John H." wrote in message
...

On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 13:27:06 -0700 (PDT), "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

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

I might not plunk down $800, but I'd take it to a mechanic and have the
engine looked over. I've a feeling he could get something in the 18'
range
checked out for a lot less than $800.


For sure.

If you are not familiar with a boat and it's various systems, a survey can
be well worth it.
When we bought the Navigator it was brand new and had never been
commissioned. We paid cash for it, so a survey for financing was not
required. I still retained a surveyor anyway and spent the day with him
while he went over the boat. He knew a heck of a lot more about it than
the dealer and the time and money was well spent in terms of getting me up
to speed on the boat.

*That* survey didn't cost 800 bucks either and he through in two
afternoons of on the water handling lessons that were very helpful. That
was almost 8 years ago, and prices have probably gone up since then, but
it was worth it. I learned a lot.

Eisboch


edit .... try "threw" in ..... instead of "through" in.

See Vic? I am even forgetting how to speak. or type.

Eisboch

On Apr 3, 2:35*pm, John H. wrote:

I might not plunk down $800, but I'd take it to a mechanic and have the
engine looked over. I've a feeling he could get something in the 18' range
checked out for a lot less than $800.

I only mentioned $800 because it was the minimum I was able to find
calling around local boat shops when I was looking.

-Robert

On Fri, 4 Apr 2008 07:33:58 -0700 (PDT), "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

On Apr 3, 2:35*pm, John H. wrote:

I might not plunk down $800, but I'd take it to a mechanic and have the
engine looked over. I've a feeling he could get something in the 18' range
checked out for a lot less than $800.

I only mentioned $800 because it was the minimum I was able to find
calling around local boat shops when I was looking.

-Robert

Was that for a bigger boat?