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Does This Seem Like A Good Deal? 2024


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

This is an excerpt from the place he put it up for sale, he is asking 3200$.

"1987 17' Glasstream Hydra Bass boat (1989 model) with 90 hp Mariner outboard with power tilt and trim and Glasstride trailer. Top speed is reportedly around 42 mph. We had it going about 35 mph on Lake Blackshear and have no doubt that we could have reached 42 mph if we wanted to.

Hummingbird Wide Eye fish finder, live wells, rod storage, 2 built in cooler/storage compartments in rear and another storage compartment towards the middle for fishing rods, etc. Foot operated Minnkota Turbo 30AT trolling motor, two marine batteries (one for starting the outboard motor the other for the trolling motor). Front and rear pedestal seats."

It sounds awesome but I've never heard of glassstream boat company and it is a fiberglass and not aluminum. I'll post pictures below...


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

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fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

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fishing user avatarChief 2 reply : 

I'v seen some Glasstream boats in Fla. Don't know much about them, but like with any other used boat I would be having the motor throughly checked out. Run it, check the bilge for leaks, how is the fibergalss, floors, etc. How is the trailer and the tires? If all checks out low ball him at 3K and see if he will take it.


fishing user avatarlivemusic reply : 

The boat is 26 years old, so, just be aware of that. As for the price, if the boat runs good, that price seems good to me but I'd offer less. Also be aware that you will likely need to spend some more money for this and that to get it like you want it. But for $3,200 and if it runs good, that's a catch.

 

You will need a spare tire. Maybe new tires if those are crappy. Does the live well work? Are the straps/ropes in good shape or need replacing? What shape is the carpet / upholstery in? Is it rotten? If so, it will fall apart rapidly when you start fishing it alot. If all the latter is ratty, I'd reconsider or lower the price quite a bit for installing new.


fishing user avatarthomas15 reply : 

My boat came with the Hummingbird Wide Eye. This is the only thing I can comment on. This model is older but the instructions are available for download on the Hummingbird web site.

 

 

The display is monochrome and has somewhat large pixals. It also has a rudimentary side scan but I don't use it. Mine works at my boats full speed of 36 MPH. The best use is for giving water depth and bottom contours. Does not give speed or water temp. I put a Lowrance 7" HDS on the bow and there is no comparison. I have a 5" Lowrance ready to replace the Humminbird but haven't found time to install it. Not to belabor the fine points of a minor aspect of this potential purchase but just wanted to let you know.

 

As far as the hull of this boat goes you want to try to determine if the wood stringers and wood transom core are intact and that the flotation foam is not waterlogged. Spend some time at iboats.com on their restoration forums. You will read the stories of a lot of people who bought boats not knowing what they were doing and found out the transom and stringers were rotted and the foam waterlogged. While a fiberglass boat is mainly fiberglass, under that glass are some structural wood components that can rot when wet, and since fiberglass is heavy, foam is used to keep the boat from sinking if it becomes swamped and to add rigidity to the hull. Over time water can saturate the foam causing the wood to rot and the boat to weigh more because water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon. It all depends on how well the boat was maintained and stored.

 

Sorry, didn't mean to get that involved. Most people focus on the motor and accessories and while they are important, the condition of the hull, in the areas that you cannot see are also important.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

Thanks guys, how would you go about checking for rot in a fiberglass boat?

He claims everything is in working order and it has new tires and seats.


fishing user avatarWIGuide reply : 

I would have to say not really a GREAT deal. I know new boat prices have went through the roof in recent years driving up the price of used boats, but it's made by a company that wasn't around long and it's also 28 years old. You can see from the pics that the fiberglass is oxidized, the carpet has seen it's better days, the trolling motor is probably around 20 years old as well as the locator. That being said it's probably not a bad buy if the boat is structurally sound and if everything works. I would hit him lower than what was previously mentioned. I'd shoot for $2,500 -2,600 in hopes of getting it for $2,800-ish. He'll probably give you a line about he spend x amount on tires and seats, but remind him that that doesn't add to the value, it only restores the value that should have been there because things should be working in order.

 

For reference, I got a great deal on this, but after tax and registration fees I was in this 97 Ranger Sport R70 with a 97 130 on it with onboard charger, 2 older locators, keel protector, and an 82 lb thrust tm for $3800 

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Those type of deals aren't out there every day, but if you look hard enough and long enough you can find them


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

Its just so scary buying something like this.... I don't wanna buy a boat that is crap and get stuck with it and be out 3 grand but then again I don't wanna pass up a deal that I might not get again....


fishing user avatarAlonerankin2 reply : 

I bet that deck, live well, storage lids are plywood.. Glass hull & wood interior, double check that!


fishing user avatarFlipSide reply : 

If it were me I would keep saving my money until I had enough to buy something newer than that. I know having the cash currently and the thought of being out on the water in a bass boat is killing you, but you dont want to jump into something that is going to be a money pit. I was in the same situation as you, I'm glad I waited.


fishing user avatarJig Man reply : 

It sounds high to me.  Why don't you book it out on NADA guides and see if he is in the ball park.


fishing user avatarLogan S reply : 
If you look at the head on picture of the bow, you can see rust insde the winch assembly...The rest of the trailer is painted flat black.  Could be that the trailer is rusted and it was painted to hide it.  Should be easy to tell in person, look for the paint to be irregular/splotchy especially near the axles and under the winch stand.    

 

Boat could be great, but if the trailer is a rusted mess it will end up costing you money just the same.  

 

I agree that getting the newest you can afford would be a good idea...You can probably get a better value in Aluminum too, check out some 17' AL rigs.  I bet $3K could get a pretty decent Bass Tracker/Lowe/Alumacraft/XPress/etc...


fishing user avatarslonezp reply : 
  On 5/18/2015 at 10:45 PM, Catch and Grease said:

Its just so scary buying something like this.... I don't wanna buy a boat that is crap and get stuck with it and be out 3 grand but then again I don't wanna pass up a deal that I might not get again....

No risk no reward OR Let the buyer beware.

If you're not sure, ask the seller if he'd split the cost for an inspection from a shop. That way, if there is something seriously wrong, your only out a hundred bucks or so rather than 3 grand


fishing user avatargardnerjigman reply : 

I don't think that's a bad deal at all buddy. Do the usual pre-purchase checks. That boat could last you several years with proper maintenance and care. That will also allow you to find likes and dislikes in the bass boat world for future rigs.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

Me, my uncle, and my dad are going to look at it later today.


fishing user avatarwnspain reply : 

Just for comparison, my son bought a 98 Glasstream 16' for $2850 located in the Birmingham area. His has 70H Evinrude and seemed to be in a little better shape. FWIW. I think the price should be around $2500 IF you dont find any major problems. 


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

^^^ How long ago was that purchase?? Does he like his glasstream? Any problems?


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

I went out and looked at it and it doesn't seem so great now.... Couple of rotting spots on the floor and one live well doesn't work, trolling motor isn't great, fish finder isn't great. Motor was pretty sweet but man it would suck and be expensive as crap if something happened to it. Probably not gonna end up with this one.

Looked at an aluminum boat that had plenty of room and a fairly good sized live well, storage space, four seats, a 9.9 motor and a 46lb thrust trolling motor and a garmin 162 fish finder. Pretty good condition and a good trailer. 2600$ So this price isn't bad but I was wondering how a 9.9 HP engine does at moving that boat.


fishing user avatarslonezp reply : 
  On 5/19/2015 at 7:09 AM, Catch and Grease said:

I went out and looked at it and it doesn't seem so great now.... Couple of rotting spots on the floor and one live well doesn't work, trolling motor isn't great, fish finder isn't great. Motor was pretty sweet but man it would suck and be expensive as crap if something happened to it. Probably not gonna end up with this one.

Looked at an aluminum boat that had plenty of room and a fairly good sized live well, storage space, four seats, a 9.9 motor and a 46lb thrust trolling motor and a garmin 162 fish finder. Pretty good condition and a good trailer. 2600$ So this price isn't bad but I was wondering how a 9.9 HP engine does at moving that boat.

For 3k you should be able to get a decent aluminum with more than a 9.9 Don't rush into things. This is the wrong time of year to get deals on a boat. I don't know what the deep v market is like by you, but you'd be able to get a late 90's 16ft with a 40hp a livewell trolling motor, graph, and possibly some storage at the 3k-4k price. 

 

How big of a boat do you need? How many will fish regularly? What size water do you fish?  


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 
  On 5/19/2015 at 7:36 AM, slonezp said:

For 3k you should be able to get a decent aluminum with more than a 9.9 Don't rush into things. This is the wrong time of year to get deals on a boat. I don't know what the deep v market is like by you, but you'd be able to get a late 90's 16ft with a 40hp a livewell trolling motor, graph, and possibly some storage at the 3k-4k price.

How big of a boat do you need? How many will fish regularly? What size water do you fish?

It's a 2005 mercury 9.9HP four stroke so it isn't a hunk of junk but I get what your saying. I don't fish huge water it's mostly decent sized lakes but not huge and some smaller ponds and rivers. Mostly me by myself but I'll be fishing with two people fairly often I guess. I mean it's a nice boat..... I really like it after looking at it and playing in it a bit lol.... We'd also need to buy a battery or two for it.

I wouldn't need a huge huge motor but I imagine a 9.9 is pretty weak for a aluminum boat rated at 70HP (which is this boats rating).


fishing user avatarFlipSide reply : 
  On 5/19/2015 at 8:39 AM, Catch and Grease said:

It's a 2005 mercury 9.9HP four stroke so it isn't a hunk of junk but I get what your saying. I don't fish huge water it's mostly decent sized lakes but not huge and some smaller ponds and rivers. Mostly me by myself but I'll be fishing with two people fairly often I guess. I mean it's a nice boat..... I really like it after looking at it and playing in it a bit lol.... We'd also need to buy a battery or two for it.

I wouldn't need a huge huge motor but I imagine a 9.9 is pretty weak for a aluminum boat rated at 70HP (which is this boats rating).

Your going to want more than the 9.9 hp.

I started looking around this time last year and didn't end up with a boat until March of this year. As slone said, take your time. Don't jump on the first thing you see.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

Why do you think I want more than a 9.9 right off the bat? I really like the boat.... I was thinking maybe down the road I could sell the engine since it's not super old and buy a better more powerful one.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

You don't think a 9.9hp would be pushing this boat good?

IMG_20150519_095945_zps53asaoff.jpg

Ehhh, who am I kidding that motor is too small....


fishing user avatarwnspain reply : 
  On 5/19/2015 at 3:12 AM, Catch and Grease said:

^^^ How long ago was that purchase?? Does he like his glasstream? Any problems?

Last year (March), and although he doesn't complain about it, he always says he could use more room (true with any 16 footer). Not any problems that would be the fault of the OEM - either boat or motor. Sounds like you've already decided against it - wise move IMO.


fishing user avatargardnerjigman reply : 

You are in the desperation down spin buddy. Calm down and keep looking. You were just looking at an actual bass boat with a 90 on it and then jumped to a flat bottom with a 9! Stay persistent and patient.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

I just have no clue what I'm doing honestly. Dunno if I should be looking for a fiberglass/aluminum, what's a good deal vs what's not, etc etc...


fishing user avatarwebertime reply : 

For comparison, I bought an 88 Ranger 374v with a Merc 150, 3 New batteries, Motorguide 76lb TM and the Ranger Trailer for $3200... 

 

$2500 MAX for a boat with a 30Lb TM and soft spots on the floor (makes me wonder what else is rotten...) 

 

AND I live in a spot where there aren't a ton of Bass boats.  In a flooded market area (compared to me) you should be able to do much better.  Get a nice aluminum boat.


fishing user avatargardnerjigman reply : 
  On 5/20/2015 at 12:56 AM, Catch and Grease said:

I just have no clue what I'm doing honestly. Dunno if I should be looking for a fiberglass/aluminum, what's a good deal vs what's not, etc etc...

Fiberglass/aluminum is going to be a preference of yours, nobody should sway this for you. They each have their place and pros/cons. Depends on your style, habitat, unique needs (storage, size, etc), and your boat storage capabilities.

A good deal really is also only defined by you... You will hear people all the time that I got this show room boat for $3k. BUT, where you are, the time you want to spend, how selective you are and time of year all factor into what "good deal you get.

What I'm saying is think of it this way, you find a boat you love and want to buy it. It's priced at $4k right now, but in November it may be $3k? Which is the better deal? All personal preference. Save $1k but let it sit in your garage for 3 months or spend the extra $1k and have it to fish with for the next 5 months. It's all relative to you.


fishing user avatarFlipSide reply : 
  On 5/20/2015 at 12:56 AM, Catch and Grease said:

I just have no clue what I'm doing honestly. Dunno if I should be looking for a fiberglass/aluminum, what's a good deal vs what's not, etc etc...

I would look for a good aluminum bass boat to start off with. If you run it into anything then you aren't going to put a hole in the boat and your going to run into things. Your going to be able to find a better newer boat for the same price as an older beat to hell glass boat. Just take your time and keep saving money. If you look at the grand scheme of things waiting will benefit you more than buying a boat with tons of problems. You might be stuck on the bank for a couple more months but you won't be dealing with the headache that comes with a boat that hasn't been taken care of.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 

Yeah I should wait... And im not stuck on the bank, I can use my uncles or my grandpas boat pretty much whenever I want and I use them all the time so that's just another reason not to rush...


fishing user avatarFlipSide reply : 
  On 5/20/2015 at 2:40 AM, Catch and Grease said:

Yeah I should wait... And im not stuck on the bank, I can use my uncles or my grandpas boat pretty much whenever I want and I use them all the time so that's just another reason not to rush...

Definitely don't rush then


fishing user avatarMatthew2000 reply : 

What's you're max price ?


fishing user avatarWIGuide reply : 

What do kind of boats do your uncle and grandpa have? What do you think of them, (likes & dislikes) and what would you want to improve on them? These are questions you should be asking yourself when looking on getting a boat for yourself.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 
  On 5/21/2015 at 4:16 AM, WIGuide said:

What do kind of boats do your uncle and grandpa have? What do you think of them, (likes & dislikes) and what would you want to improve on them? These are questions you should be asking yourself when looking on getting a boat for yourself.

One is a Jon boat with a 8hp and 30lb trolling motor, and the other is a really old beat up ranger fiberglass with a 40hp and a old trolling motor that I don't even know the thrust of...


fishing user avatarAlonerankin2 reply : 

Keep hunting! You will know for sure when you see it..


fishing user avatarLuckyGia reply : 

BOAT break out another thousand

looks like a money pit


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 

I know it's hard to be patient. I boat hunted for a few years before I found mine and just knew it was the one. It's tough because you don't want a good deal to slip through your fingers, but you don't want to put on those rose colored glasses and get all excited about the idea of owning a boat and end up with a dud. I made that mistake and ended up make a couple grand in repairs on a boat that never did run right before I sold it and ended up being further behind on trying to buy something else.

 

I think you made the right decision on passing on the first one. I know lots of guys that have had those Mariner motors, I can only think of 1 that has anything but horror stories about them. 

 

At the price range you're looking, and from seeing pictures of the lakes you fish, I'd be looking aluminum. You're going to get more bang for your buck and bouncing an aluminum boat off a cypress tree isn't going to hurt nearly as bad as doing it in a glass boat. If you're open to either, keep looking at either though. I was mainly looking at aluminum but ended up with the great deal on a glass boat because I kept looking at both, you never know. 


fishing user avatarGotfishyfingers? reply : 
  On 5/20/2015 at 12:30 AM, gardnerjigman said:

You are in the desperation down spin buddy. Calm down and keep looking. You were just looking at an actual bass boat with a 90 on it and then jumped to a flat bottom with a 9! Stay persistent and patient.

x2


fishing user avatarGotfishyfingers? reply : 

Check out craigslist in Florida but close to you. You might find a better deal then in GA. Also check out what Ebay has to offer in your area to. I would check out the boat in person prior to bidding.


fishing user avatarCatch and Grease reply : 
  On 5/21/2015 at 3:27 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

I know it's hard to be patient. I boat hunted for a few years before I found mine and just knew it was the one.

A few years.... That's a long time lol.

I've realized this is really something I don't wanna rush and get stuck with a heap of expensive junk, so I'm still looking but not too worried about it. Hopefully I'll find something nice!


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 5/23/2015 at 12:08 PM, Catch and Grease said:

A few years.... That's a long time lol.

I've realized this is really something I don't wanna rush and get stuck with a heap of expensive junk, so I'm still looking but not too worried about it. Hopefully I'll find something nice!

There should be an asterisk there, because I had a boat, it was just a far cry from what I wanted. When I got the green light from the wife, it was still about 6 months of reading up and shopping around before I found "the one". 


fishing user avatarSam reply : 

NO!

 

With your reputation on the water and with the girls you need a big, fast red Triton with a 250 Mercury and a wide back deck to entertain your girlfriends.

 

Then again.....that boat you are thinking of getting is sweet.

 

I would strongly suggest  you get her and have some fun times fishing.




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