Buying boat help

[Fizzerman]

There is a older guy that lives by me that is selling a old boat for 400.00. All i know it is a powercat don't know the year it is yet. He was in the hospital last year and his son clean his house. So he is looking for the title. The tag on the transom has been painted over. Is there away to remove the paint without messing up the tag. I'm thinking about buying it so i can restore it. It looks better in person. It has alot of alge on it. This will be my first boat if i get it. Is the boat worth it?

 

[nathan]

It looks like a cool boat. I would get in it and walk around and move the leaves to see the floor and how bad it maybe. Is it worth it? only you can answer that. how much do you like the boat and do you think that you will enjoy it. most boats are a labor of love not a money making adventure. the pride of what it can be when it is done can help make your decision. make sure that if you decide to get it make sure you are up to the job because a half completed boat is harder to sell. good luck.

 

[Fizzerman]

Thanks for the info. I don't plan on selling it. I plan on fixing it up and using it for fishing. I'm pretty sure the floor will need to be replace. The boat has not ran since 2000 thats when he parked it.

 

[nathan]

I just noticed that like me your are from texas. so i would make sure you can find the title or talk the owner of record into getting a new one. you do not want to deal with texas parks and wildlife if you do not have a title. I walked away from a 100 dollar deal on a decent boat because they had no title. if you have the tx number off the side of the boat or HIN you can go on texas parks and wildlife's website and see who is the owner of record on the boat. If you do that it will tell you the year length and other info on the boat. good luck

 

[Fizzerman]

Thanks for your help I looked it up and it says it's a 1973 powercat 18f. Im new at buying a boat. What things do you look for when buying one? What things do you check on?

 

[nathan]

since you are buying it knowing that it needs a restoration I would focus on the motor. Make sure it is not locked up. take a battery or use cables to see if it turns over. if you can test the conpression in the motor. then just walk around the boat looking for major damage. pull the motor up and see if there is any movement in the transom. walk around the interior to see if there are soft spots. I alway think the worst after looking at a project so I am happy if it needs less work. good luck looks like a fun project.