Is this boat worth it? 2024
WildmanWilson reply :
So this guy has a 1993 Stratos 285 Pro XLR with a V6 Johnson Fast Strike 150 he motor. I can get it for 6000 and he says it's in immaculate condition and by the pictures it looks like new. I was offering 5000 but I don't think he will come down any more. He was wanting 7000. So is this boat and motor still worth that in great condition ? He said he could get a compression check if I come look at it. I'm not too savvy about boats so any advice would be helpful. I have kids in college so I'm pinching pennies paying for that. I just can't swing a more expensive boat and don't want to get burned by owning a money pit either.
iabass8 reply :
If the boat has no transom cracks, hull leaks, soft floor spots, or any out of the ordinary damage I would be okay with it. I would never take a sellers word for how good a motor runs regardless of how good it looks. You don't know how long it has sat, maintenance history, average use, etc. Being you aren't motor savvy, take it to a mechanic and pay the 1-200$ for a complete check of the motor. A compression check is only 1 of many things to look at in an older motor. That being said...the v6 FastStrikes are/were great 2 stroke motors that will run forever. Assuming the boat is indeed in "immaculate" condition and the motor checks out, 6k is a fair price.
WildmanWilson reply :
He said his dad owned a boat shop and took great care of the boat. Not sure if me means a mechanical type shop or sales shop. Thanks for the advice
Do people normally take a mechanic to the boat or take the boat to a mechanic?
iabass8 reply :
On 12/11/2016 at 9:21 AM, WildmanWilson said:He said his dad owned a boat shop and took great care of the boat. Not sure if me means a mechanical type shop or sales shop. Thanks for the advice
Do people normally take a mechanic to the boat or take the boat to a mechanic?
He might be telling the truth but unless he's close family I wouldn't take his word for it. Taking great care of a boat could mean he did every bit of maintenance and up keep that was needed or it could mean he let it sit and polished it to look at it a couple times a month.
You will more often than not take the boat to the mechanic. Just have the seller meet you at the mechanic of YOUR choice. Make sure you take it to a certified Evinrude mechanic if possible.
There's lots of little things to look for. Does the battery charger work. How old/new are the batteries. Fuel line's new. Do all the livewells/pumps/electronics/bilge/gauges/trim work.
Ask a thousand questions if you have to.
Scott F reply :
On 12/11/2016 at 9:09 AM, WildmanWilson said:I just can't swing a more expensive boat and don't want to get burned by owning a money pit either.
Break Out Another Thousand. Just about ALL boats are a money pit. The trailers need maintenance like tires, brakes, bearings and lights. The boat needs batteries and upkeep. Something is always breaking. Plus annual fees for license plates, boat registrations, gas and oil. If you can do service yourself, you can save money, but paying someone else gets expensive too. Just be prepared to keep paying for the privilege of boat ownership.
WildmanWilson reply :
On 12/11/2016 at 10:19 AM, Scott F said:Break Out Another Thousand. Just about ALL boats are a money pit. The trailers need maintenance like tires, brakes, bearings and lights. The boat needs batteries and upkeep. Something is always breaking. Plus annual fees for license plates, boat registrations, gas and oil. If you can do service yourself, you can save money, but paying someone else gets expensive too. Just be prepared to keep paying for the privilege of boat ownership.
Lol...yeah , I understand there's upkeep and annual cost but more concerned about something hidden that's going to put me in the poor house.
crypt reply :
if you can get get a known boat mechanic to check it out. it will be worth it in the end. always get it checked out. after all it's your money.
Jig Man reply :
Book it out on nada guides so you can tell if he is in the ball park.
WIGuide reply :
If everything checks out and is absolutely perfect It could be worth it. Keep in mind the boat is still 23 going on 24 years old. Layouts and styles have changed a lot since then, and even if spotless it may not be worth top dollar. I would start by trying to find comparable boats around the same year and see what they are going for. If this one really is show room condition, it's going to be worth more, but how much more is always the question. Personally I'd say up to a few thousand more. Some may agree, some may disagree. If it's perfect, has low hours, and has a layout that will work for you, it doesn't seem completely out of the ball park.
YUT18 reply :
On 12/11/2016 at 9:09 AM, WildmanWilson said:So this guy has a 1993 Stratos 285 Pro XLR with a V6 Johnson Fast Strike 150 he motor. I can get it for 6000 and he says it's in immaculate condition and by the pictures it looks like new. I was offering 5000 but I don't think he will come down any more. He was wanting 7000. So is this boat and motor still worth that in great condition ? He said he could get a compression check if I come look at it. I'm not too savvy about boats so any advice would be helpful. I have kids in college so I'm pinching pennies paying for that. I just can't swing a more expensive boat and don't want to get burned by owning a money pit either.
Make sure you check the transom really good for cracks and/or dry rotting. Also check the hull for chips, cracks, and chunks missing. I would definitely pay for a compression check and have the lower unit checked as well. Sometimes the engine will check out fine and later you find that the lower unit is bad. If you make an offer stick to your price. If he doesn't at least meet you in the middle keep looking. Just because he doesn't come down on the price doesn't mean you have to break the bank to get it. There are plenty of used boats in good condition that might suit you better than this one.
WRB reply :
My advice is stay away from bass hulls like 1993 Stratos with glassed over wood transom and stringers because they are prone to dry rot. To inspect for dry rot you need to remove the engine and drill a inspection hole between the engine mounting bolt holes to see if the wood is in good condition, then epoxy the hole. You can also knock around the transom with a rubber mallet for hollow areas. I would pass on this boat.
Tom
Further North reply :
On 12/11/2016 at 10:19 AM, Scott F said:Break Out Another Thousand. Just about ALL boats are a money pit.
I've heard this on all kinds of different forums...but never experienced it.
Boats need maintenance, just like cars and trucks. I plan for it, make sure it gets done, add a little for misc. stuff...works out well for me.
Scott F reply :
On 12/14/2016 at 11:54 AM, Further North said:I've heard this on all kinds of different forums...but never experienced it.
Boats need maintenance, just like cars and trucks. I plan for it, make sure it gets done, add "a little" for misc. stuff...works out well for me.
It's not just maintenance. "A little for misc stuff" Technology has been improving. New depth finders are so much better so upgrades are done. Adding things like shallow water anchoring systems, or upgrading the trolling motor. None of these things are cheap. If you only spent a thousand, you'd be getting away cheap.
I just bought a used boat. The original owner spent thousands on additions to set it up the way he wanted. I'm doing a few things a different way and I'm going to spend quite a bit more to suit the way I intend to fish.
WRB reply :
Do 't know if you all understand what a glassed over wood transom hull is!
To repair dry rot requires removing the transom and rebuilding the entire back end of the hull including new stringers, you are basically rebuilding the boat.
Tom
Further North reply :
On 12/14/2016 at 12:37 PM, Scott F said:It's not just maintenance. "A little for misc stuff" Technology has been improving. New depth finders are so much better so upgrades are done. Adding things like shallow water anchoring systems, or upgrading the trolling motor. None of these things are cheap. If you only spent a thousand, you'd be getting away cheap.
I just bought a used boat. The original owner spent thousands on additions to set it up the way he wanted. I'm doing a few things a different way and I'm going to spend quite a bit more to suit the way I intend to fish.
Got it, thanks...to me that's just part of the purchase price.
bagofdonuts reply :
that seems high to me for a 93 stratos. you could find a 93 ranger for 6k, with the same engine and a better hull.
WIGuide reply :
On 12/14/2016 at 12:37 PM, Scott F said:It's not just maintenance. "A little for misc stuff" Technology has been improving. New depth finders are so much better so upgrades are done. Adding things like shallow water anchoring systems, or upgrading the trolling motor. None of these things are cheap. If you only spent a thousand, you'd be getting away cheap.
I just bought a used boat. The original owner spent thousands on additions to set it up the way he wanted. I'm doing a few things a different way and I'm going to spend quite a bit more to suit the way I intend to fish.
Everything you listed is a want not a need. I'll admit your list of wants may grow the longer you own a boat, but there's a difference between the two. Accessories can and usually are expensive, but the boat itself is usually not the culprit of it turning into a money pit. That's usually the fault of the owner deciding his wants are needs, or by the owners who turn a simple task like replacing a bilge pump into a $150-200 job by taking it to a marine dealer because they can't handle the complexity of the two wires and a hose clamp. I'm sure mileage will vary, but owning a boat does not have to be an incredible financial endeavor.
DrMarlboro92 reply :
On 12/11/2016 at 9:21 AM, WildmanWilson said:He said his dad owned a boat shop and took great care of the boat. Not sure if me means a mechanical type shop or sales shop. Thanks for the advice
Do people normally take a mechanic to the boat or take the boat to a mechanic?
And it was only driven on Sundays by his elderly grandmother right?
Make him put it in water and show you it works, then take it to a mechanic to inspect the lower unit and engine. Being a mechanic myself i get to pass the second part. Offer him $50 or so for fuel for hauling it to water and running the boat. If he won't do it walk away. Before you buy a used boat make sure you are happy with it, and everything works and there are no glaring problems before you agree to anything. I've had people agree, and things start to go wrong on the water and baffle the owner because the boat sat and they had no idea, and I've had people out right refuse.
As far as buying if you want it for 5000, take 6000 in cash, but try and get him to hold the 5000. Cash has power, and people arent willing to let go of it once they have it. I use this trick for all large purchases. in fact, I just bought a 99 tr-21 for 3000 less than the sellers bottom dollar doing it this way. It's a good way to play a seller. The worst that will happen is he says no and you give him the 6 grand, or he says no and you walk away to look for another deal.
blackmax135 reply :
Ill give you some things for you to think about when you go look at the boat. I bought a 1994 18' procraft for $3500 4 years ago. I didn't look at certain things and ask certain questions and the things I missed are the things I ended up having to fix. Like batteries, had to replace 3 batteries 4 weeks after buying boat. He said they where newer and hardly used, if I would have just looked at them I would have known they where not new $300+ right away. Next thing is the trailer. 3 years later I had one of my bearings go out and removed the wheels and come to find out one spindle had been replaced but the other side had not and it was in bad shape causing bearings to go out prematurely. I messaged him and he said that the tire had fallen off at the boat ramp before. But he told me when I was buying the boat that he had just had the bearings replaced. Thats a big thing right there because its expensive to have fixed properly. The trailer is a big part of the price of the boat so make sure you check it out very well.
Skeeter Dan reply :
I suggest that you do every thing that the OP said to do. If not you'll be sorry!!!!!!!!! There are always something to be fixed on used boats. It is really hard to find one that doesn't have something wrong with it.
gimruis reply :
Look at it this way. A boat is like owning an additional automobile. The only difference is that it probably won't get used as much or as often (unless you use a boat for your primary mode of transportation of course). If you don't take care of your car, it won't run well and you just get bigger problems. Same concept applies to owning a boat. Its constant upkeep to keep it running in optimum condition. The same generally goes for how new the boat is too. A new car is going to run better than an older one, and a new boat is going to run better than an older one too.
WildmanWilson reply :
I really appreciate all the replies guys. I am going to keep looking as they guy never got back to me. Im not an impulse buyer so I'll keep an eye out and see what comes up.
Ski213 reply :
Good luck on the continued search. A lot of good advice above. If you're patient the right one will come along. Might be tomorrow, might be 6 months from now. You're taking the right approach in my opinion.
There are many things that can go wrong with a boat. If you're not already, spend time looking at the questions/problems/solutions that ppl who already own one are having. Won't plane, low rpms, live well won't fill, water in the bilge, etc. Doing that and seeing what other people's problems were and the fix will better allow you to assess a used boat. You'll learn what is a $2000 project vs what is 20 bucks and a Saturday afternoon in the driveway.
Way2slow reply :
As for the 285 Pro, I have a 1989 285 Pro I leave on lake Falcon, and that's the biggest fishing 18' boat I've ever owned. It has more storage than my 20' Javelin. It rides great, even in rough water. The only thing that makes it seem smaller than a 20' boat is the size of the front deck. Mine is a little tight on room for the TM foot peddle and between the seat the bow. I have a bad back and sit a lot so that lack of room gets very noticeable. An offset seat post might help that but never tried one.
Reading through some of these replies, you will probably never find a used boat in your price range.
First, boats without plywood glassed over in the transom is going to eliminate buying most boats that are more than about 10 years old and even many newer than that. Also, just because it's an all composite boat, doesn't eliminate it from having transom/water damage problems.
I've never removed a motor and drilled core sample to check a transom. I seriously doubt many people are going to let you start boring holes in their transom. There are some simple methods to get a good idea the condition of the plywood. One: is you can take a transom mounting bolt out and use a screw driver and push into the wood there. Two: You can just try tightening the transom mount bolts. If they start pulling deeper in the transom on the inside and making a pocket, it's soft. Three: Trim the motor all the way up and if you don't weigh over 200 pounds, have someone that does stand on the anticav plate and bounce up and down while watching and transom and mount closely. If there is any movement (other than the boat bouncing) the boat is junk.
I can't believe someone blames a seller for a bearing failure three years later. Three months, maybe but not three years. Bearing maintenance should be an annual thing. New seals can fail and bearings don't last forever. If someone came back to me whining about a bearing failure three years later, I would laugh and tell them to take a flying hike. That was their screw up for not doing their proper maintenance. To say it had previous damage, that's hard. Once one fails and starts cutting groves, who knows when any damage might have been done other than at that time.
WildmanWilson reply :
Thanks for all the replies. Its very informative and will help a lot of guys in the same boat (pun intended) as myself.
DrMarlboro92 reply :
On 12/21/2016 at 9:50 PM, blackmax135 said:3 years later I had one of my bearings go out and removed the wheels and come to find out one spindle had been replaced but the other side had not and it was in bad shape causing bearings to go out prematurely. I messaged him and he said that the tire had fallen off at the boat ramp before. But he told me when I was buying the boat that he had just had the bearings replaced. Thats a big thing right there because its expensive to have fixed properly. The trailer is a big part of the price of the boat so make sure you check it out very well.
If you got 3 years out of it I fail to see how that is the previous owners problem at that point. 3 miles down the road? sure. but anything more and that bit of maintenance falls in your lap. And bearings aren't that bad at all. I had to do both sides on my 77 ranger on the side of the highway. now THAT was a fun trip.
On 1/2/2017 at 8:51 AM, WildmanWilson said:I really appreciate all the replies guys. I am going to keep looking as they guy never got back to me. Im not an impulse buyer so I'll keep an eye out and see what comes up.
I think in all honesty you may have dodged a bullet on this one. Keep your eyes open, and one will come soon.
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