1999 Triton TR19 - Should I pull the trigger? 2024

lilbuddy reply :

Good Morning Everyone..... I just sold my boat yesterday as I've been looking for something that's tournament ready. I found a 1999 Triton TR-19. To be honest I didn't want a boat this old but I'm having a hard time finding something more in my price range (10-11k).

I'm pretty new to boats and I have a hard time finding out their value, especially when you look at all the additional work someone has done on the boat.

I came across this one and I've been talking with the seller.

https://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/boa/6093176518.html

He's 2 hours away from me so we've been communicating via text/calls.....he told me he's willing to take 11.5k but I still feel thats a bit high for this boat. It appears to be in great condition and it looks like he really cares for it.

So now that I bored you with some details...here's my real question.

Is 11.5k a fair price?

My thought process....

- Boat NADA value was about 8,900

- Seller just put 2 Garmin Echomap 93sv on the boat. Those sell for 1k a piece

- New Minn Kota Fortrex #80...Thats about 1,300

So do I take that into consideration???? The value of the two garmins and minn kota is about $3300 without tax....

In addition he put a new cranking battery and trolling battery is a year old...he also put new tires on the trailer.

I have 3k to put towards it and I'll need a loan for the rest. My credit union no longer does recreational loans...Do you guys know of any bank where I can apply for a recreational loan? Personal loan from my CU is 10% and its not fixed. :-(

Sorry for the long thread. I can use some help in figuring out if the deal is good. If I do go to see it I plan on bringing a buddy with me...I have two friends that have tritons now and they understand more than me.

TIA

A-Jay reply :

You're buying the Boat Motor & trailer. So I'd encourage you focus your assessment energies there. The accessories are just that.

The current owner did replace some stuff - the EASY stuff !

But the boat's wiring, battery charger, the trailer wiring, the trailer axle, the MOTOR (which you did not mention and is an important component of any deal), the boat carpet, the condition of the decking & Transom, all that (and whatever I left out) has a decent chance of being original equipment at 18 years old. So you could probably plan on replacing something else.

Additionally it seems like your financial position may not allow for immediate extra costs.

Finally, just because a newer rig for sale hasn't fallen into your lap doesn't mean that they're not out there.

I'd keep looking.

May be a good deal if you think it is ~ I'm betting the current owner thinks it is.

Good Luck

A-Jay

J Francho reply :

Way over priced.

BrianinMD reply :

Agree with the way over priced....he is thousands over

lilbuddy reply :

On 4/28/2017 at 9:24 PM, A-Jay said:

You're buying the Boat Motor & trailer. So I'd encourage you focus your assessment energies there. The accessories are just that.

The current owner did replace some stuff - the EASY stuff !

But the boat's wiring, battery charger, the trailer wiring, the trailer axle, the MOTOR (which you did not mention and is an important component of any deal), the boat carpet, the condition of the decking & Transom, all that (and whatever I left out) has a decent chance of being original equipment at 18 years old. So you could probably plan on replacing something else.

Additionally it seems like your financial position may not allow for immediate extra costs.

Finally, just because a newer rig for sale hasn't fallen into your lap doesn't mean that they're not out there.

I'd keep looking.

May be a good deal if you think it is ~ I'm betting the current owner thinks it is.

Good Luck

A-Jay

Thanks A-Jay

You're absolutely correct about the other details. Thats why I plan on bringing someone with more experience than me if I go to look at the boat.

I do know the carpet and seats are original....They seem to be in good shape but within a couple of years I would probably replace it.

He mentioned he put a new lower unit on the motor this past winter.

I was thinking I would wait till fall time when more people are looking to sell. But if this was a great deal I would jump on it now.

On 4/28/2017 at 9:30 PM, BrianinMD said:

Agree with the way over priced....he is thousands over

What do you think is a reasonable price for this rig?

A-Jay reply :

On 4/28/2017 at 9:30 PM, lilbuddy said:

Thanks A-Jay

You're absolutely correct about the other details. Thats why I plan on bringing someone with more experience than me if I go to look at the boat.

I do know the carpet and seats are original....They seem to be in good shape but within a couple of years I would probably replace it.

He mentioned he put a new lower unit on the motor this past winter.

I was thinking I would wait till fall time when more people are looking to sell. But if this was a great deal I would jump on it now.

Everyone's Idea of a 'great deal' is different.

I'm not attempting to discourage you, just trying to present a different perspective.

So the lower unit's new - good I guess. What about the rest of the motor ?

There have been quite a few threads here over the years regarding pre-owner boat purchases.

The happiest customers seem to be the ones who purchased a rig from the current century.

Don't get new to me rig tunnel vision ~ that can be hazardous to your future time on the water, wallet & frustration level.

Good Luck

A-Jay

J Francho reply :

On 4/28/2017 at 9:30 PM, lilbuddy said:

What do you think is a reasonable price for this rig?

$6K to $8K.

lilbuddy reply :

On 4/28/2017 at 9:42 PM, A-Jay said:

Don't get new to me rig tunnel vision ~ that can be hazardous to your future time on the water, wallet & frustration level.

Good Luck

A-Jay

I'm 99.9% sure I wouldn't buy a new one...they're crazy expensive and I don't want to be tied into a 10-15 year loan....

Thanks for the info guys.

On 4/28/2017 at 9:45 PM, J Francho said:

$6K to $8K.

Looking on boat trader, craigslist etc that price range seems to be some junk out there...maybe this fall people will be more willing to sell.

Thanks

J Francho reply :

Always better to buy in fall.

fishnkamp reply :

How far are you willing to travel if the used boat was a great deal? Think about that carefully. Could you take a two or 3 day excursion?

lilbuddy reply :

On 4/28/2017 at 10:15 PM, fishnkamp said:

How far are you willing to travel if the used boat was a great deal? Think about that carefully. Could you take a two day excursion?

That all depends on the deal. Of course I'd like to find one more local...I live in the Raleigh area of NC....a lot of great lakes in this area...a lot of people fishing..that being said I think I can find one around here.

Looks like time will tell...I'm in no rush....I fish in a local bass club so every month we have a tournament and I just enter as a non-boater...get paired up with a guy in the club...no big deal. Also have a couple of buddies that I can always go out with...just nice to have your own rig...

When the right deal comes along I'll jump on it.

fishnkamp reply :

If you could get a loan for this a larger loan would you consider going this high in price. Check out this boat, it is in PA and is being sold by a dealer I am very familiar with. It is a 2006 boat which means he can get you financing I am sure, or most banks will finance boat of this age. At least think about it

.http://www.robbinsmarine.com/2006-stratos-285-pro-xl-inventory.htm?id=1379495&in-stock=1

J Francho reply :

Like said above, there's lots of options in the $10-15K, including that Stratos. Great boats. I think you should be able to find something a few years or so newer.

12poundbass reply :

On 4/28/2017 at 9:48 PM, lilbuddy said:

I'm 99.9% sure I wouldn't buy a new one...they're crazy expensive and I don't want to be tied into a 10-15 year loan....

Thanks for the info guys.

Looking on boat trader, craigslist etc that price range seems to be some junk out there...maybe this fall people will be more willing to sell.

Thanks

I think what A-Jay meant about new to me tunnel vision is....don't look at a boat and say "hey its better than I have now" or something to that effect. You can easily get that tunnel vision and over look a lot of future headaches.

lilbuddy reply :

On 4/28/2017 at 10:26 PM, fishnkamp said:

If you could get a loan for this a larger loan would you consider going this high in price. Check out this boat, it is in PA and is being sold by a dealer I am very familiar with. It is a 2006 boat which means he can get you financing I am sure, or most banks will finance boat of this age. At least think about it

.http://www.robbinsmarine.com/2006-stratos-285-pro-xl-inventory.htm?id=1379495&in-stock=1

That's a nice rig... something to think about .... almost an 8 hour hike from me...

fishnkamp reply :

That is true. It is a nice boat, I saw it just about a month ago when my wife and I looked at its twin sister, a dual console.

I did not purchase the other boat but it had nothing to do with them, I needed to sell my boat first and it did not work out. I do trust these guys, so that is a plus.

If you are discuss the boat with them, and become seriously interested in the boat, I am sure they will be happy to get you engine data like compression readings, hours off the computer etc. It is definitely worth the phone call. I would also discuss financing upfront. Talk to Bob. I just checked and it is still available.

BrianinMD reply :

Robbins Marine is a good place, where I ended up buy my RT188.

WRB reply :

This boat looks like it was garaged, clean and taken care of. Check the engine hours, if it doesn't have a run hour meter, it should, over 300 hours it's time to walk*! If he doesn't know how many hours the engine has ask where the engine was servived and look at the maintenance records. *3K to 5K for basic engine power head and lower unit tune up should be factored into the purchase price, unless the seller can prove otherwise.

Offer a cash deal and negotiate a price you are comfortable with.

Tom

lilbuddy reply :

On 4/29/2017 at 1:29 AM, WRB said:

This boat looks like it was garaged, clean and taken care of. Check the engine hours, if it doesn't have a run hour meter, it should, over 300 hours it's time to walk*! If he doesn't know how many hours the engine has ask where the engine was servived and look at the maintenance records. *3K to 5K for basic engine power head and lower unit tune up should be factored into the purchase price, unless the seller can prove otherwise.

Offer a cash deal and negotiate a price you are comfortable with.

Tom

Thanks Tom. I will check with the seller about the engine. I would definitely have a cash offer....money talks right

What's getting me about this boat is....... sure I've found other boats cheaper on craigslist etc. But none of these boats are as clean as this one nor have the electronics and equipment this one has....And they've been left outside or they're near the coast and IMO bass boats that have lived near the coast are no good...the salt in the area will eat it up.

So if the price was 7k or 8k and I go to bps and drop over 3k in electronics and new trolling motor...then I replace the tires on the trailer etc... Im right back where I started from on the price.

I'll try to get some more info from him about the motor hours.

Thanks for your advice.

fishnkamp reply :

Would a boat like this interest you

https://eastnc.craigslist.org/boa/6091094060.html

He is in NC and is asking $11,500 or best offer.. I am sure it is worth a look at least.

slonezp reply :

On 4/29/2017 at 1:29 AM, WRB said:

This boat looks like it was garaged, clean and taken care of. Check the engine hours, if it doesn't have a run hour meter, it should, over 300 hours it's time to walk*! If he doesn't know how many hours the engine has ask where the engine was servived and look at the maintenance records. *3K to 5K for basic engine power head and lower unit tune up should be factored into the purchase price, unless the seller can prove otherwise.

Offer a cash deal and negotiate a price you are comfortable with.

Tom

In the grand scheme of things, 300 hours is nothing for a 17 year old boat.. That averages 17 hours per year. I would question the owner as to why it has a new lower unit.

OP, for 13k you should be able to get a boat 4-5 years newer

lilbuddy reply :

On 4/29/2017 at 8:42 AM, slonezp said:

In the grand scheme of things, 300 hours is nothing for a 17 year old boat.. That averages 17 hours per year. I would question the owner as to why it has a new lower unit.

OP, for 13k you should be able to get a boat 4-5 years newer

Not that it makes a huge difference but hes now at 11500.....still seems high to me. I just found this one. https://fayetteville.craigslist.org/boa/6109322636.html

I dont know what the difference in the 750 NX SC and a 750 SC? Anyone here know? I'll need to do some research.

As far as the lower unit being repleaced thats a good question on why...my guess is rock damage....

fishnkamp reply :

I would check this one out

2002 SKEETER SX 180 - $8900 https://eastnc.craigslist.org/boa/6062112193.html

Skeeter has always had a good reputation for building a solid boat. It has a 2009 aluminum trailer under it as well. You will even save some cash.

I would call this guy as well. This is a very clean looking 2006 Stratos 19 footer with a 200.

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/6086050526.html

WRB reply :

The 19' TR-19 w/175 hp Merc that has been garaged is in very good condition from the photos. If the engine has under 300 hrs the price is reasonable. Most TR-19's hold their value if they have been cared for.

You can't compare 17'6" boat was/115 hp to a 19' w/175, apples vs oranges, the TR-19 was a $40k new.

Tom

RoLo reply :

There is no way to know the likes and dislikes of the buyer to be.

As a result, the cost of preexisting accessories has little or no influence on resale value.

If you're still going to pull the trigger, wait until I leave the room

Roger

fishnkamp reply :

WRB I do not disagree the 19 foot Triton was a decent boat but it was a 1999 and the op was concerned about spending that much money on a boat that old. If you notice, I found him a couple of other boats worth at least looking at. I have personally seen the 2006 Stratos 285 ProXL. That is a more expensive boat but many years newer. It was in nice shape and I have had good personal experience with the dealership in the past.

I agree, the Skeeter is only an 17 1/2 footer with a 115. The op had brought up a Bass Tracker nX750. If I was looking at that i would rather have a Skeeter hull especially with the larger 115. The price of it would allow the op to add any extras he wished to do aand stay within his budget.

lilbuddy reply :

Fishnkamp....thanks for the sharing the post. I'm staying away from bass boasts being sold near the coast....that saltwater is a killer...

As an update I've ruled out the 1999 Triton....

I contacted a good friend of mine to see if he could go see the nitro with me. He's also the president of our bass club.....he mentioned to me he was going to miss the next two tournaments and I jokingly said to him "sell me your boat if you're gonna miss two tournaments"....come to find out he was actually planning on selling this fall.

So now it looks like I'm gonna pick up his rig. 2004 Triton TR 186..... This is a blessing....I know this boat and the seller very well. He's been a good friend for years and actually got me back into fishing. This boat has been babied by him and hes' one of the most anal people I've ever met. This all works for me.

We plan on wrapping up the deal this week. We both already had "the talk" with our boss at home. He's just got finalize things on his end.

Stay tuned...got my fingers crossed this deal works out.

fishnkamp reply :

Awesome i truly like those boats, they were made well and ride well. Of course I liked the newer WIDE bodied boats better, but that is another bunch of money. It is nice when you know how a boat has been treated. You were right though, your area is not that easy to find a boat in that middle price range. Lots of newer much more expensive ones available and plenty of old ones that I would consider to be project boats.

Keep us posted.

BY the way what is your favorite body of water down there.I have spent some time on Gaston, which I found nice. My wife is addicted to smallies so we have fished Erie and lots of lakes in PA, MD, VA,TN,KY and MO. I guess if you asked her she would say Dale Hollow first and Table Rock second, although Center Hill and the Susquehanna River are right up there.

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/1/2017 at 7:48 AM, fishnkamp said:

Awesome i truly like those boats, they were made well and ride well. Of course I liked the newer WIDE bodied boats better, but that is another bunch of money. It is nice when you know how a boat has been treated. You were right though, your area is not that easy to find a boat in that middle price range. Lots of newer much more expensive ones available and plenty of old ones that I would consider to be project boats.

Keep us posted.

BY the way what is your favorite body of water down there.I have spent some time on Gaston, which I found nice. My wife is addicted to smallies so we have fished Erie and lots of lakes in PA, MD, VA,TN,KY and MO. I guess if you asked her she would say Dale Hollow first and Table Rock second, although Center Hill and the Susquehanna River are right up there.

I will for sure keep y'all posted....

As far as my favorite lakes in my area....so I'm about 10 minutes from this little lake that holds some treasures...its called lake michie...I like it for a few reasons...most of the time you can catch 3's and 4's every time out....also 7's are very common....a couple of guys I know I have been fishing that lake for 20 plus years and know exactly how these fish move.

This area has good lakes... Falls, Jordan, and sharon harris.....not sure how far the news traveled but about a month ago this guy killed it with two 40 plus sacks two weekends in a row our of harris. I actually heard Scott Martin mention it.

http://www.***/outdoors/***/story/1762861-details-on-the-two-40-pound-limits-in-n-c

wow...the filter hit that link.... its s c o u t and w i r e 2 f i s h ......or just google the 40lb sacks...

If that don't get you going I don't know what will...

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/1/2017 at 5:09 AM, RoLo said:

There is no way to know the likes and dislikes of the buyer to be.

As a result, the cost of preexisting accessories has little or no influence on resale value.

If you're still going to pull the trigger, wait until I leave the room

Roger

Roger.....what do you think would be a fair price for that 1999 Triton? I have no idea how to price these things...I look at NADA but that says "retail"...does that mean dealer retail???

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UPDATE:

After talking with my buddy all day on Sunday (which he called me to tell me he was going to sell his boat).....it's not going to happen.....I was very surprised when he said he would sell it and the price he was going to give it to me for was amazing.....anyway I guess he gave it some more thought and he also said his son who is 10 got very upset when he heard he was selling the boat... I don't want to go into much details b/c it kind of ticked me off. We had the whole deal worked out and I was supposed to pick up the boat today. Yesterday at lunch time I find out he's going to keep it...

So now let's move on.....

I was speaking to the guy with the 2008 Nitro 750...and he said he needs it gone...he got married and moved and has no place nor time for the boat. The boat is currently has his dads house. Since he said he wants it gone he's was first asking $12.5k and has now told me his rock bottom price would be $10k.

The big advantage about this boat is also the biggest disadvantage which is the size. My HOA won't allow me to keep a boat outside. I have to keep it in the garage. The max I can fit is 24ft and that really pushing it. Even though the nitro is 17 1/2 ft it has a swing arm on the trailer and storage length is about 21 ft...

Some of my concerns are using this for a tournament....The live well is only 26gal....Sure I would like a bigger motor but this may suffice...

As a little background the boat I just sold was a 1993 14ft aquatron with a Yamaha 30hp on it... I was able to sell that just shy of 3k...

I just don't want to buy something I'll regret in a year but then again my budget at max is 10-11k....and I dont want a project boat either.....

I'm going to look at the nitro tonight since its in my area and see if it will work for my needs. If not then I'll probably wait till fall when more people are selling.

WRB reply :

How are you measuring the overall length? My 17'6" TR-175 w/ 115 Opimax fits into my garage at 19'6" straight back with 2" clearence. You need to lower the engine about 1/2" off the floor. Your garage 24' deep!

Tom

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/3/2017 at 1:02 AM, WRB said:

How are you measuring the overall length? My 17'6" TR-175 w/ 115 Opimax fits into my garage at 19'6" straight back with 2" clearence. You need to lower the engine about 1/2" off the floor. Your garage 24' deep!

Tom

I got the measurement from the owner via email....since Im going to see it tonight I brought a measuring tape with me...

YUT18 reply :

On 5/3/2017 at 1:18 AM, lilbuddy said:

I got the measurement from the owner via email....since Im going to see it tonight I brought a measuring tape with me...

I have a TR186 and as long as you have a swing away tongue and lower the motor it will definitely fit a garage that is 24' deep. My garage is 21' deep and I have about 3" to spare.

lilbuddy reply :

Here is another one Im thinking about..

https://lynchburg.craigslist.org/boa/6099178649.html

He said as low as he'll go is $10,800 ...I worry about the motor...no way to hook it up to the computer...he said the compression is perfect...

At 10.8k is it worth a 2 hour ride?

The only thing I would do to this one is add a fulton swing tongue bracket.

Thanks for all the input guys.

YUT18 reply :

On 5/3/2017 at 1:42 AM, lilbuddy said:

Here is another one Im thinking about..

https://lynchburg.craigslist.org/boa/6099178649.html

He said as low as he'll go is $10,800 ...I worry about the motor...no way to hook it up to the computer...he said the compression is perfect...

At 10.8k is it worth a 2 hour ride?

The only thing I would do to this one is add a fulton swing tongue bracket.

Thanks for all the input guys.

I wouldn't buy a boat without having a compressions check and I definitely would not take the owners word that it's "Perfect". He is selling for a reason and you have to think about whether he is truthful about everything or not. If I was in your shoes I definitely would not be giving the benefit of the doubt, especially, when making a large purchase like this.

If he is eager to sell and nothing is wrong with the boat I'm sure he would get a compressions check in order to seal the deal. If he refuses, then you know that the motor is not "Perfect". Just remember one key thing, anyone can say that it's "Perfect" and in their eyes it can be a "Perfect" piece of sh_ (POS).

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/3/2017 at 2:06 AM, YUT18 said:

I wouldn't buy a boat without having a compressions check and I definitely would not take the owners word that it's "Perfect". He is selling for a reason and you have to think about whether he is truthful about everything or not. If I was in your shoes I definitely would not be giving the benefit of the doubt, especially, when making a large purchase like this.

If he is eager to sell and nothing is wrong with the boat I'm sure he would get a compressions check in order to seal the deal. If he refuses, then you know that the motor is not "Perfect". Just remember one key thing, anyone can say that it's "Perfect" and in their eyes it can be a "Perfect" piece of sh_ (POS).

Totally agree....I didn't mean to give the impression that I would drive to his house give him 10.8k ...hook up the trailer to my truck and drive away...

I would for sure make sure everything is legit and not just take someones word.....

One thing I constantly struggle with is the pricing of these boats.....

Lets say the compression is fine on this boat...would 10.8 be a fair deal?

YUT18 reply :

He isn't too far off the reservation in regards to his bottom line. NADA has this model listed between $8,500-9,800, without electronics. For 10,8 I'm pretty sure you could find a newer boat with the same bells and whistles. A guy in my fishing club just sold a 2004 TR186 loaded with 2 helix (7 and 9) for 10,5.

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/3/2017 at 2:43 AM, YUT18 said:

He isn't too far off the reservation in regards to his bottom line. NADA has this model listed between $8,500-9,800, without electronics. For 10,8 I'm pretty sure you could find a newer boat with the same bells and whistles. A guy in my fishing club just sold a 2004 TR186 loaded with 2 helix (7 and 9) for 10,5.

Thats a great deal. Since you're in VA if you know of any other deals like this please let me know. Im just down in NC and willing to travel for the right boat.

tbone1993 reply :

On 5/3/2017 at 3:26 AM, lilbuddy said:

Thats a great deal. Since you're in VA if you know of any other deals like this please let me know. Im just down in NC and willing to travel for the right boat.

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/6113022656.html Still an old boat but maybe some wiggle room

fishnkamp reply :

Take a look at this one I understand it is even older, it has had some updates and the price is fair in my mind. These were some of their best hulls.

https://swva.craigslist.org/boa/6082061331.html

https://roanoke.craigslist.org/boa/6112834056.html

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/4/2017 at 2:17 PM, tbone1993 said:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/6113022656.html Still an old boat but maybe some wiggle room

I actually contacted this guy a couple of days ago...this boat would be perfect for me. The only issue I see right now is the fact the bank has the title....

That means I would have to drive there (2 1/2) hours....look and test out the boat, then negotiate a price, go to my bank and get a certified check (Im not comfortable meeting someone when I have 10k cash on me).....after thats all done I now need to trust him that he's going to actually pay off the loan and then once he gets the title I need to drive back down there to get it all signed....

If he had the title in hand I would take a day off of work now and just go wrap up this deal. I love tritons and I love that color.

nocluefisher reply :

You could have a certified check made to the bank that has the title and another certified check or cash to pay the difference to the owner.

YUT18 reply :

On 5/4/2017 at 8:44 PM, lilbuddy said:

I actually contacted this guy a couple of days ago...this boat would be perfect for me. The only issue I see right now is the fact the bank has the title....

That means I would have to drive there (2 1/2) hours....look and test out the boat, then negotiate a price, go to my bank and get a certified check (Im not comfortable meeting someone when I have 10k cash on me).....after thats all done I now need to trust him that he's going to actually pay off the loan and then once he gets the title I need to drive back down there to get it all signed....

If he had the title in hand I would take a day off of work now and just go wrap up this deal. I love tritons and I love that color.

When there is a lien on a title most people will pay the bank directly then pay the remainder to the seller if the price negotiated is more than pay off. Never hand over a check directly to the seller unless its a clear title. This will ensure you are protected from being ripped off.

lilbuddy reply :

Good idea about the lien....

I would need to know what bank holds the lien...I did send the seller an email about this situation. Let's see what he says.

lilbuddy reply :

Another Update:

I decided to stay away from some of the older boats, the ones near the beach and ones that banks still had a lien on....

With that I was able to workout a deal on the 2008 Nitro 750. At first I wanted something 18.5ft...after looking at the Nitro 750 and taking it on the lake (yesterday) I was very surprised. This boat has a 90hp mercury....even with me and him in it (I'm 6ft lets say 230lb) and the seller is 6ft but I give him 190 tops....anyway with us in it and choppy water we hit 48mph no problem.....

Don't get me wrong it's not Triton or Ranger but I had to accept that fact that if I wanted something fairly new and in good condition I was going to have to really exceed my budget....I found the nitro to be a very nice boat and it falls into my budget to where I even have money to do a few things.....hook 5 up front , hook 7 at the console and onboard charger....

I may eventually upgrade the trolling motor... We're shooting to meet on Wednesday at the bank to sign over titles etc.

Let's see if this deal goes through....

Dvigs16 reply :

I miss the hunt for a new rig! Took me about 2 years until I found exactly what I wanted when I was looking a few years back. It seems we had similar debates; new rig with decent electronics or a little bit older boat with updated technology. At the end of the day I took the newer boat and updated stuff in time. There's new technology weekly it seems... better to have the newer/bigger/better boat and then upgrade the goods as you go imo. A 7k boat with 3k electronics is still a 7k boat. Electronics are awesome to have but at the end of the day the boat and motor are your main concerns.( jeez I'm starting to sound like my grandfather, he never could figure out why I even needed a "computer" on a boat) ?

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/9/2017 at 9:19 AM, Dvigs16 said:

A 7k boat with 3k electronics is still a 7k boat. Electronics are awesome to have but at the end of the day the boat and motor are your main concerns.

Agreed....

Yes, the decisions are hard to make. I ended up looking at it the same way you did.

fishnkamp reply :

That is going to be a nice rig. It is tough to find just the right deal. Congratulations.

lilbuddy reply :

Well Gents..... the struggle is real...

I can't believe this.....now the Nitro is not going to happen....

I was going to give the guy a couple grand cash and do small boat loan for the rest....the bank wanted the hull number, motor serial number and boat registration number....and a simple document saying Im buying the boat for X amount of money from seller (name).... The seller said he wasnt comfortable doing that....I don't understand I can get all that info by walking up to the boat and looking at it....

I even told the seller last week I was talking to the bank and again on Sunday when I was lake testing the boat. I told him we could meet Wednesday or Thursday and he said "that works for him"....

My guess is he got a higher offer....and his word means nothing

The right rig will come along...the hunt continues (hey the hunt is half the fun)

fishnkamp reply :

It makes you really wonder about people sometimes.

RoLo reply :

On 5/10/2017 at 2:00 AM, lilbuddy said:

The right rig will come along...the hunt continues (hey the hunt is half the fun)

I like your style

We all run into a creep now and again.

The healthiest mindset is to feel sorry for them,

and thank your lucky stars you're not in their boat.

Roger

fishnkamp reply :

Check this out It is on the website as a current sale, must be an old picture. They want $6995

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1997-nitro-800lxs-102538012

The next two boats are at a dealer in Morganton NC and they are they are priced at $6995

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1998-stratos-283-103021954/

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1998-nitro-700lx-103008202

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/10/2017 at 10:06 AM, RoLo said:

I like your style

We all run into a creep now and again.

The healthiest mindset is to feel sorry for them,

and thank your lucky stars you're not in their boat.

Roger

Amen Roger....I just bless them and move on. It was a terrible thing to do to someone but I believe in Karma and what comes around goes around.

The right boat is out there for me...the nitro just wasn't meant to be....maybe I'll find something I like more for a better deal.

lilbuddy reply :

I found a 2008 z6 for sale and I contacted the seller to ask some questions...He said the gas gauge was not working. I did some poking around on google and found this to be an issue. Has anyone else come across this and how much is it to fix it?

Here is the boat I'm considering

https://fayetteville.craigslist.org/boa/6132782879.html

TIA

adrenalnjunky reply :

On 5/16/2017 at 11:19 PM, lilbuddy said:

I found a 2008 z6 for sale and I contacted the seller to ask some questions...He said the gas gauge was not working. I did some poking around on google and found this to be an issue. Has anyone else come across this and how much is it to fix it?

Here is the boat I'm considering

https://fayetteville.craigslist.org/boa/6132782879.html

TIA

That craigslist link isn't working.

I thought about this thread the other day when a '02 Nitro 700lx popped up locally on facebook for $6k. Looks decently clean. Seller just dropped price to $5800. Merc 90 on it.

lilbuddy reply :

On 5/17/2017 at 4:22 AM, adrenalnjunky said:

That craigslist link isn't working.

He sold it today...it was posted last night and gone today. I knew it wouldnt last. While most people ask 3k over NADA he a little $1000 UNDER NADA.... I just couldn't get down to see him fast enough. He's about 2 hours from me....

BobP reply :

I started out in a Nitro 750/90 hp Merc and it was a nice boat but cramped for two fishermen. It had the advantage of being a simple boat with simple wiring, etc. I upgraded to a Triton Tr19/150 Merc Efi a few years later and have kept the boat for 15 years. It's a lot more advanced boat in every way and nicer to fish, but also a lot more complicated and requires a lot more upkeep. It will definitely chine walk at high speed approaching WOT at 62 mph until you learn how to drive it. A couple of comments. A seller telling you this or that broke and has been replaced does not increase the value of the boat. That is normal wear and tear and the boat would be unsalable without fixing existing problems. Sonar upgrades, new motor, motor setback/jacks added to the boat yes. Replacing a lower unit no. Don't buy a boat without comparing the price to the NADA guide and taking it out on the water for a test, plus have a mechanic go over the motor and do a compression test if you can arrange it. You need to do those things to have a realistic price baseline for negotiation. Won't do it? Doesn't have the time? Pressing you with tales of how many other are just waiting to plunk down their money? Walk away and be glad you avoided buying somebody else's problem boat.

lilbuddy reply :

BobP~

First off....Are you interested in selling your TR19?

I was wondering about the Nitro 750 or Z6 being small....I don't want to buy something now then regret it next season.

I totally agree about getting the motor checked out...that's where all the big money is!

So this is what I've been finding......a boat that is close or right on NADA and I would need to then put money into it to get it where I want it...that would be updated electronics, bigger/new trolling motor, buying and installing an onboard charger etc....

I find a boat that has been recently updated (like the one that started this thread) but the price is a little high...so as an example with the 1999 TR19 that started this thread..... The guy is saying 11.5k.... OK...so now I need to break that down in my head....

- Boat NADA $8.1k-9.2k (Boat has been garage kept, cleaned after every run etc...this is what the owner says and the pics look very clean)...that being said I would probably put this one near the 9k range..(this is also pending getting a compression test)

- Owner put on two Garmin 93 at console and bow...apx 2k

- Owner installed new minn kota fortrex 80# apx 1.2k

Ok...so thats about 3.2k in "add-ons"...

theoretically a value of apx $12,200

So if I were to buy his boat for 9k w/o electronics etc I would still need to do some work/$$$ to it to get it where I want it...

OR...do I look at it this way and say to myself....I don't have to touch this boat and give the guy $11k or $11.5k and be done with it? By "be done with it" I mean I don't have to buy electronics, get new carpet or seats yada yada yada.

At the end of the day I would still have a 1999 boat...Im not saying that's a bad thing but if I were to get a 2009 19ft triton I would guess that I could expect to pay close to double that price.

My budget would allow me to get an older Triton or maybe Ranger or a new Nitro... Pretty much all the guys in the club have tritons and I don't really hear any complaints. I have heard some saying a gas smell in the rod locker but that may be isolated...thats a quick thing to find out when looking at a boat too...you can't really escape the smell of gas...

Now to wrap this all up....I haven't talked to this guy in a few weeks. He may not budge off his price or maybe he already sold it and never took down the ad.

I was going to see if something pops up in the next couple of weeks and then maybe reach out to him.

Sorry for the long rant....

YUT18 reply :

On 5/18/2017 at 10:10 PM, lilbuddy said:

I have heard some saying a gas smell in the rod locker but that may be isolated...thats a quick thing to find out when looking at a boat too...you can't really escape the smell of gas...

I have a Triton TR186 and had the issue you described. My problem was isolated to when the boat was covered for long periods of time. If you keep your rear storage compartment closed all time while the boat is covered the gas fumes have no where to go. So I keep my rear locker open in order for the fumes to escape. In addition to keeping the rear locker open I filled the opening along the back bulkhead with foam to seal the locker. Keep in mind that Tritons do not have fully enclosed rod lockers in order to accommodate 7-8 ft rods. On the backside of the bulkheads there is an opening that the wiring harness is pulled through. If you do not have to install more wires to the bow you can fill it with foam to mitigate the gas smell.

1999 Triton TR19 - Should I pull the trigger? 2024

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