What to expect for $$$?

[rickwetherald]

I'm looking way down the road to a first boat purchase; I'm in a similar position to the OP in this thread: http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=90473
It'll be 1.5 years until I graduate and have an income, so I'm thinking 2-2.5 years at the earliest for purchase. With my degree (DPT), I can get a 60k job pretty much anywhere, but where I move is dictated by where my girlfriend lands rotations (she's in med school). My plan is save as much as possible while she's in rotations and buy cash; I'd really prefer not to finance. I've always bought cars cash, and don't like the thought of a boat payment on top of student loan repayments, insurance, house saving, etc. Based on that, I figure I'll be looking in the 10-15k range, with enough income available to do work/upgrade the boat over time. What I'm expecting is a mid-90s dd, that needs perhaps some interior work, maybe a tower, ballast, etc. I'm pretty handy with DIY, always fixed my own cars, etc, and really enjoy projects like that. So... a 10-15k base boat, then upgrade with tower/ballast/stereo as needed, right?

Then I come across this http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/2665245928.html and it kinda blows my mind. Am I missing something that is making this boat so cheap? With enough searching (and maybe a 6-10 month window) could I find a deal like this when purchase time comes around? It totally changes what I'd expect to be paying to get into a boat. I'm figuring interior + tower about 2k, and I've got a sub-500hr decent wakeboard boat for <$6k, with the ability to weight it down a ton as needed.

Really, there's no way I could afford this right now, nor do I need the added distraction while trying to focus on making it through a doctorate program. This is more of a philosophical question-type post... Can I expect to find deals like this with enough searching? Would it be a good idea to get into a boat like this and upgrade it over the course of a year or so, or would I be better off saving for longer and getting a $15k rig ready to go?

btw - this boat is about 12 miles from me and I'm willing to go check it out for anyone that's interested.

[Commodore]

Not this boat, because he is lying.

That is not a fiberglass floor boat. Do not believe him. That is a wooden stringer and floor, and the condition that the interior is in leads me to believe there is more to it than he is telling.

Based on the fact that he is blatantly lying, I'd be VERY careful about this boat. Notice there are no pictures of the interior?

While I know you said you wouldn't be doing anything soon, I'm making sure some other poor sap doesn't read this and think it's a gold mine. While it could be a great deal, I would go very carefully into this and REALLY CHECK IT OUT.

As for your situation, the last Saltare I saw sell for that price was the biggest POS I've seen in a while. To find an average one is aroung $6-8. So I would start there, not $3500.

There are fantastic options out there to keep you in that range. And you're on the right track. So yes, it's possible to do it. But you just have to know the bad from the good.

[Okie Boarder]

That boat is being sold for about what it is worth...there are definitely some issues with it the owner knows about and isn't disclosing in the ad. Most likely it will need interior work and the deck, stringers, etc to be redone. The 1991 is not all fiberglass construction. For that one as an example, if you want to figure total cost having all work done for you, you could end up about like this.

Boat: $3500
Stringer/Deck replacement: $5000
Full upholstery replacement: $3000
Tower / racks: $1600-3000

Total: $13,100-14,500

You would then need to put in whatever you want into stereo and ballast. This all assumes the engine and transmission needs no work whatsoever. You can knock off a lot of the rebuild and upholstery costs for anything you can do yourself.

That is a pretty realistic cost break down. There are some gems in the rough out there with the older boats that don't need the work, but they will be priced a little higher and a bit more difficult to find.

[LoudonTN]

Eh, I'm not one who likes to get into working on a boat when it needs serious, serious work. A boat like that is going to probably need the stringers redone, which if you go to supraboats.com/bbs and speak to the contingent there they can give you a good idea as to what's involved in that. I know it's a job. I'd say, if you're looking in two and a half years it is not unreasonable to think you could find an ok V-drive for 10 to 15k, I'd try to maximize your cash as much as possible and that's the only way to maximize a 10-15k boat purchase.

I had a 17' I/O that I bought for $2k about 6 years ago, had floor problems and "small" engine problems. I spent alot more time working on it than enjoying it. With that said, I had some of the best times of my life on that boat and I don't regret it for a minute. If you'd enjoy that boat, you'll have some extra cash for playing and working on it. Just don't get into it if you don't have the time to invest.

[rickwetherald]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for posting up everyone.

I'm somewhat new to this forum, and am really blown away by the amount of help/knowledge offered up. Forums in other sports that I keep up with (I'm a pro mountain bike racer) are about 95% people slinging BS at each other, and 5% real information. I'll definitely be using this place as a resource when boat purchase time comes.

[Nor*Cal]

Okie Boarder, didn't you do a stringer replacement thread?

[cadunkle]

Yep, he's a liar. I have an '89 Saltare so I know a bit about these boats. That boat has wood floor and stringers. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if it has sat outside uncovered for 3 years and the interior is crap... The stringers are likely rotted to all hell and the first time you do a straight arm launch that motor might break loose and rip a hole in the boat. You'd have $10k-$15k in it to restore it depending on how much you do yourself. Realistic prices for Saltares in decent condition seem to be $8k-13k. He did his research though, as my boat is the one for sale at $15k and $7900 was the cheapest one on CL last time I looked.

[flixmaster]

Keep looking.. I have seen some good deals on older Nautique 2001 series boats in the austin area. I sold mine in 2004 for $4000 and it was in decent shape.

[Okie Boarder]

Nor*Cal, yes I did a stringer replacement.