Boat Buying Question?

[livetofish28]

Im going to look at a 16 foot aluminum bass boat tomorrow. Everything on it is in good working order with many having been replaced, the only thing that is wrong with it is the trim on the motor does not work is it cheap to fix or should i look at another boat any imput would be greatly appreciated thanks.

 

                            

[greyleg33]

You can get a rebuilt replacement trim unit for most units on ebay for less than $500. Be sure it isn't a switch or something that's bad, first.

[Nitrofreak]

Be careful here, you have already stated that there have been many things replaced.

 

Sounds to me as if the boat has not been properly maintained,  but I really cant tell for sure with out physically seeing the boat.

 

The picture you posted is too small to get a good look at the boat,  can you get more pics and post them?

[livetofish28]

Sorry for the small pic.  Here is the link to the listing

http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/boa/3642683481.html

[The Rooster]

I have that same 55 pound trolling motor. Had to have my pedal repaired a few years ago so having it replaced doesn't mean it's a bad thing, it just makes me think it might possibly be a common to fail part (electronic), but I bought mine new and it had other problems besides that as well. It's an expensive motor but I've already replaced it with a more traditional type cable foot controlled motor. Only other thing I saw listed was a rebuilt carb. To me, that suggests the proper care wasn't taken to winterized it each year. What else was ignored? If you buy it, I'd insist on a test run on the water. If they don't want to do that then I'd take that as a sign and leave.

[slonezp]

Powerdrive is the WORST foot pedal case closed. Followed closely by the Powerdrive V2. If you're fishing open water you can get by. If you fish alot of shoreline and docks, you're going to want to upgrade to a cable steer a Terrova or a V2 with iPilot

[jhoffman]

Rebuilding a carb isnt the end all depending on the year, that boat looks to be a late or early 90s. A carb rebuild kit is litterally $25, sometimes its done just as simple maintance. Ask him when the last time the impeller was replaced. Its recommended to only go 2 years without that but I would think you could easy go 5. My boat when I bought it wasnt peeing out the teltale. I replaced the impeller with common hand tools and a torque wrench. It took me a grand total of 2hours only because I had never done it. If you have done it you could probably do it in 30min-1hr. The carpet looks good. Check all the fish finders, check all the pumps. See if you can take it out and fish it for a half a day with him first and tell him not to turn on the bilge see how much water is there when you are done.

 

My boat looks almost identical and frankly other than the 25hp motor im very pleased with it.

[The Rooster]

Powerdrive is the WORST foot pedal case closed. Followed closely by the Powerdrive V2. If you're fishing open water you can get by. If you fish alot of shoreline and docks, you're going to want to upgrade to a cable steer a Terrova or a V2 with iPilot

Amen, brotha, preach it! I'll never buy another one. Had one once years ago as my first motor and liked it. I was inexperienced then and mostly bait fished. It was fine then. I bought my second one remembering my first boat and the good times but my bass fishing style has changed dramatically since then so it didn't work out well this time. The motor is just way too slow to react in situations where you need it fast. Also, it's just awkward to work since the pedal doesn't operate in the natural movement directions of your foot. i have to do a dance it seems to stay on my feet and use it at the same time. I changed it out for one of the All Terrain motors. Cable steer all the way now!

[jhoffman]

pull the wheels and check the bearings also. If theres greese all over the wheels I would wanna see a reciept that bearings/seals had been done recently