The perils of a “very nice” used boat

Posted by Greybeard on Sep 20th, 2009 in Fishing | Comments Off

   I’m writing this as a minor lesson in the possible consequences of buying a “very nice” used boat.   This boat,  my 1996 SportCraft Fishmaster,  was purchased by me in the fall of 2008,  from it’s original owner, (through a broker).   It came “highly recommended” by the broker,  (a trusted source).  It had never been stored in the water,  always on a boat lift,  and was stored indoors in the winter.   It looks nearly new.

Now for the breakdown:   After taking the boat out the first time, fall 2008, I noticed that the Lowrance GPS system had multiple buttons that didn’t work,  making it very hard to use, usefully.  1. GPS system replaced with a new color GPS system.   Next trip out,  I started noticing that the Fish Finder didn’t seem to be showing a lot of fish,  and couldn’t hold it’s lock on the bottom very well.  2.  Replaced Fishfinder with new color Fishfinder.  When the boat was pulled in the fall of 2008,  while washing it,  I noticed a hairline crack on one of the blades of the prop.   3.  New prop installed   I also noticed the anchor pulpit was a bit loose.  4.  Anchor pulpit bolts replaced with new larger stainless steel bolts.   When I launched the boat in spring of 2009,  I noticed that multiple snaps on the cabin enclosure,  wouldn’t stay snapped in a breeze.  5.  Replaced multiple snaps.  And that my Washdown pumps pressure switch didn’t seem to work.  6. Replaced washdown pump pressure switch.   About mid-summer,  the Washdown pump itself,  froze up.  7.  Replaced Washdown pump.

Right now,  near “out of water time” fall 2009,  it’s running like a top,  and nothing seems to be broken or near worn out.  But,  back to 2008 and early 2009 for a moment,  there were also the 8. two PROOS downriggers,  (out of four) that were broken,  and the 9. FishHawk downrigger sensing transceiver,  that didn’t work.   I didn’t replace the 2 broken downriggers, or the FishHawk,  so that wasn’t an immediate expense.

Now understand,  I’m very happy with the boat,  I’d more than likely purchase it again, if I had it to do over,   but I might bargain a bit harder in the do over.   My purpose for writing this is just to try to help out some of the many people out there looking for a used boat.   Be in the right frame of mind when shopping.  Don’t be fooled by the boats history,  or how good it looks,   a ten year old boat,  truck, plane, etc., is still a ten year old boat, truck plane, etc.!  Hopefully,  the rest of my boat,  will be up to the way it looks,  slightly used.  And hopefully your used boat,  will be a good one,  and save you’ll a lot of cash over the cost of a new boat, like I did. (a new SportCraft 25.5 Fishmaster,  costs over twice what I paid for mine,  and doesn’t include -any- electronics)

Shop well!



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