WHAT IS IT WORTH?

[basswest1]

Im looking at buying a 1989 TideCraft Bass Boat.  The boat is a 16ft Fiberglass model.  It comes fully loaded with a 1989 75horse Suzuki, which when i took it for a test drive it started up every time and drove like a dream.  It comes with a brand new Motorguide 65lb thrust foot controll, 2 hummingbird fishfinders, two livewells, the trailer, and everything else...........and it all works flawlessly from when I drove it.

The hull has absolutely no noticable damage........no cracks and very very very little dents.........which is amazing for the age.  The only real dent i saw was next to the trolling mottor near the carpet which doesnt effect anything.  

The only real problem with the boat.......which i thought was big at first untill i inspected it and then i saw it was not that big of a problem..........was the transom............The actual metal plate which the motor rests on is loose.  The plate actually moves about half an inch.  I thought that this plate was actually holding the motor on, however the motor is actually holded on by 4 heavy duty bolts which go throught the back of the boat to the supports inside.  These bolts are extremely sturdy and do not move at all.  The reason the plate moves is because the holes which the bolts that hold the plate on have opened up through years of driving down a long bumpy road, so there is more play than their originally was.  ALSO because this plate has been loose the metal trim (which in this model holds the top and lower layer of fiberglass together) around the back has puled back with it.......only about 4inches.  When i took the boat on the lake we only needed to turn on the bilge pump once to pump out some of the water which made its way through the crack in between the trim..........there was only like 3/4 of a gallon though.

I am going to improve the situation by taking a piece of heavy duty aluminum and have a metal shop angle it so it fits over the back of the boat so the plates bolts can go through that.  By doing this the plate and the 4inches of trim that is loose will be pulled into place.

SO.............i know i wrote alot about what was wrong with it........it is really small though........its just hard to describe in a small amount of words.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BOAT IS WORTH?  CONSIDER THAT I AM GOING TO IMPROVE THE SMALL PROBLEM ON THE BACK.

[Nick_Barr]

I would say, $2000-2500

[Yankee_Bassman]

BASSWEST1:

I read and replied to your other post regarding maintenance before I read this one. You absolutely need to get the boat surveyed before you buy it. That fiberglass transom has a wood core. If water has been able to get in there, and from your description it has, there is an EXCELLENT chance the core is rotted. Transom replacement is big bucks, and even if you can do it yourself, it's a nasty, lengthy job. It can't be safely fixed by putting a new metal plate or other type reinforcement on it. The transom is still supporting the reinforcement, and if the core rots, the only thing supporting the plate and the motor is two very thin skins of fiberglass. Do yourself a huge favor, and get a pro to look at it before you buy.

[flechero]

go to NADA and choose the boat tab:

http://www.nadaguides.com/autohome2.aspx?Lnk=1&wSec=10&wPr=0&wPg=2111

[Rattlinrogue]

I'm with Nick.I'd pay 2 grand for this rig.Even though it runs good,it's pretty old.

[Bass Hammer]

I hate to be a buzzkill here but I would be VERY leary of buying a boat no matter how new or old that has open defects as such. It's been my experience (unfortunatly >) that there is usually more than meets the eye. Often you wind up spending way more money and time than you wanted to. Be careful.

[basswest1]

Yep.......there is more damage than i first saw..............however it is all to the wood in the transom.....its all dryrot........no fiberglass damage.  I still bought the boat because it was still so d**n cheap and everything works..........ive mapped out how i want to replace the transom by myself and its going to cost around 500 dollars...plus alot of time...........but you know what.....$500 dolars is a very small price to pay to have a sturdy bass boat in the end.  Im going to relace ALL the wood in the transom with brand new marine grade plywood.  I am really excited to work on this boat............it is going to be a fun but hard project.

Im happy with my purchase because it was a boat which was taken care of however because of its age the wood is in need of replacing.  The Engine, Trailer and Trolling motor alone are worth more than what i payed for the boat..........and since there is no leaks or cracks in the fiberglass all i need to do is redo the transom...................which i think is going to be a great project.

Thanks for the info fellas.

[Yankee_Bassman]

May the force be with you, grasshopper.....now that you're committed (to the project, at least), you might want to pick up a book called "Runabout Renovation" by Jim Anderson.....there's a good section in there about replacing your own transom.....you can find it on Amazon.com, for about $12.00, and it's well worth it.