1989 Tidecraft Spitfire (may buy boat)

[Dirtyeggroll]

I am pseudo in the market for a little starter boat. Someone local has a cleaned up 1989 TideCraft SpitFire XL with a 60 horse mercury and original trailer.

 

I went and looked at the boat today, and it looked remarkably clean. Not a scratch or stress crack anywhere to be found. The guy said he had buffed the gel coat recently, and I am wondering if that could take out the stress cracks. I could only appreciate one 8" scratch on the hull near the keel (no keel guard) which did not expose the fiberglass. The guy had also replaced the carpet and beefed up the deck with marine plywood (and sealed) in the last two years. he has put new of the following:

 

Motor:

spark plugs

water pump

fuel lines

speedo

 

Accessories:

bilge pump

aerator for live well

batteries

fuse block for updated fuses

radio and speakers

seats and butt seat with pedestal

new gas shocks for lids

fuel and Speedo gauge
steering wheel

1 humminbird helix 7 si gps
1 humminbird helix 7 di

 

When I went to look at it, I did not open up the back hatch to look at the inside of the transom, but the outside of the transom was immaculate, not even a stress crack.

 

I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts/experience with these older TideCraft boats? I read on another forum that the hull on these boats is thin and weak as paper. Literally every comment on another forum (http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4645778/tidecraft_boats said run away from Tidecraft and never look back.

 

We are planning on taking the boat out for a test run on Tuesday before any decisions are made. From my perspective, it seems like a worthwhile deal.

 

The asking price for this boat is $3900. Below are some pictures.

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

Clean boat and trailer, looks garaged. Have the engine checked by a reliable OB mechanic and take it for a test ride.

This site has several good threads listing what to look for when buying a used boat. Make sure the seller has all the needed paperwork, registration, serial and vin number etc. 40 hp Merc?, check the max hp rating on the boat plate. My big concern with older bass boat prior to mid 90's is glass over wood stringers and transum Dry rote. There is a reason a planning fin is on the engine and alumni mum prop.

Tom

[Dirtyeggroll]

Thanks! Been doing lots of reading about what to look for in a used boat over the last several months. Thanks for the additional tips.

 

Mostly trying to find info on TideCraft.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Can you elaborate? Are you saying this is a sign of a weak transom or that this is a way to reduce stress on the transom?

2 hours ago, WRB said:

My big concern with older bass boat prior to mid 90's is glass over wood stringers and transum Dry rote. There is a reason a planning fin is on the engine and alumni mum prop.

 

[WRB]

12 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Can you elaborate? Are you saying this is a sign of a weak transom or that this is a way to reduce stress on the transom?

 

Sorry if I confused you, 2 different issues.

Dry rotted  wood can't be fixed, it must be removed and replaced, this requires rebiulding the transum. You can move the engine pushing it back and forth and look for any flexing of the transum that indicates weakness.

Planning fin could indicate the boat is under powered or the hulls planning surface isn't flat, has a hook from sitting on a poorly designed trailer or a weak transum.

Tom

[Dirtyeggroll]

Thanks for clarifying. Sounds like I need to try to move the motor and look on the inside of the transom for wood rot and color changes around the bolts.

[WRB]

A freind of mine had a 80's vintage TideCraft and don't recall him complaining about anything, he liked his boat. You can't compare highend price Rangers etc to mid price range TideCraft etc.

Tom

[Dirtyeggroll]

Slept on it and had decided I was gonna buy it. Called the guy and he said it just went down the road with someone else. Guess it wasn't meant to be.