87 Astroglass Bass Boat

[Jayplay]

So I've never bought a bass boat before, and I've had my eye on this 1987 Astroglass someone is selling, I believe it's a 2 stroke with an 87 Yamaha 120hp motor? I stopped and checked it out and it seemed to be a pretty solid boat. (It definitely needs cleaned up though.)  The guy that's selling it is an older gentleman that hasn't had it in the water for 3 years but claims it starts (if I make him an offer I'm going to obviously have him turn the boat on to make sure.)  He's asking $1500 for it, comes with a trailer, new fish finder, 2 new batteries, life jackets, ores, and also a trolling motor with a foot pedal.  

Does this seem like a decent deal? Anything I need to keep an eye out for?  I'm inexperienced when it comes to boats.

[Scott F]

$1,500 is a reasonable price but have a couple of thousand dollars on hand for what repairs it might need. Look for soft spots on the floor, deck lids and transom. Odds are the trailer will need new tires. Look at the hoses for the live well and bilge pumps to see if they are dry rotted or hard as rock. See if you can take it to a dealer to have them check it over and take it out on the water yourself to see if it leaks, is hard to start or if the motor runs well.  It could be a great boat. Just because it's got a few years on it doesn't mean it's bad. My boat is from 1988 and it is still very solid and everything works. Then too, it might be falling apart. Being that you don't have much boating experience, paying a pro to look it over would be the smart thing to do.

[slonezp]

Hasn't been in the water for 3 years???Has the fuel been sitting in the tank that long???? I wouldn't start it up unless you are sure the fuel is new

[WRB]

Never buy a used boat without a test ride, lots of hidden issues tend to pop up. Drive the boat. fill the live well, try out the trolling motor and all the electronics and have the owner demonstrate how he launches and retrieves the boat. Don't be in a hurry to buy some stuff problems.

Tom

[Jayplay]

6 hours ago, slonezp said:

Hasn't been in the water for 3 years???Has the fuel been sitting in the tank that long???? I wouldn't start it up unless you are sure the fuel is new

Great point! I'll ask

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Never buy a used boat without a test ride, lots of hidden issues tend to pop up. Drive the boat. fill the live well, try out the trolling motor and all the electronics and have the owner demonstrate how he launches and retrieves the boat. Don't be in a hurry to buy some stuff problems.

Tom

And I guess the hard thing about this is like the owner is like a 78 year old man who just had shoulder surgery and is in a sling lol, and we live about 30 minutes from the closest lake, I just feel bad asking to take his boat out....

[blongfishing]

I bought a boat in a similar situation (just sat out for several years and hadn't been ran). I cleaned it up replaced carpet and got a tune up on the motor and if I sold it I could make money off of it. I would say to take it and fix up.