I am hopefully going to be a first time boat buyer real soon and I had a few questions: How do I judge if what I am getting is a fair deal or not. I am looking at mid 80's tyee 5.3 with a 115 on the back. How do I judge the value of this boat.
The price is less than $4k, am I looking at a shot engine, ruined floor, what? How can I visually inspect a motor or tell when I am test driving it if I can test run it? I have a GPS so judging speed would be easy to do, it is an 18 footer, so my guess with a 115 and two people in I should be able to get 30-35 mph out of it if there are no engine issues.
I remember seeing something once about looking at the engine and seeing if there is any discoloration on the heads, is that correct? coloration being bad that is.......
If this is the only owner of the boat, I don't think I should be too worried about it, but if it is a multiple owner boat, I will be cautious....
I know I am asking for a lot, but can some of you help me????
I just figured that it is easy enough to just get a 3 bank so when the boat is not in use I can keep all 3 batteries charged. I have not bough a charger yet, maybe I will give it some more thought.
Edit: After thinking this over, with the size, weight, and heat output of the charger (as well as the cost) I think it makes sense to just
buy a 2 bank charger, I have a smaller charger i can use on the starting battery when the boat is sitting at home. Forgive me, for i am a retired engineer and I have to obsess over everything...
Congrats on the motor! I think you’ll like it.
I can’t say much on the charger location but I’ve seen them under the lid in back compartments and under center rod lockers. 160 degrees is more than I expected to hear.
Curious why you’re opting for a 3 bank charger with a 24V trolling motor. Unless you don’t feel you be running you big motor enough to keep that battery up as well?
I did buy an Minnkota Ulterra, thanks for the recommendations. I had a bunch of Cabela"s bucks saved up, which helped. Now i need to
get an onboard battery charger. Where do you guys mount these things in your boat? The manufacturer I am looking at {Noco genius)
says tht their 3-bank charger will run at 160 degrees, seems like a lot of heat in an enclosed compartment? Thanks for any input on this.
Wasn't terrible at a state park beach. Antelope island maybe. I wouldn't recommend it as a beach destination tho. Figured I was there, I'm getting in it.
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picksbigwagon
I am hopefully going to be a first time boat buyer real soon and I had a few questions: How do I judge if what I am getting is a fair deal or not. I am looking at mid 80's tyee 5.3 with a 115 on the back. How do I judge the value of this boat.
The price is less than $4k, am I looking at a shot engine, ruined floor, what? How can I visually inspect a motor or tell when I am test driving it if I can test run it? I have a GPS so judging speed would be easy to do, it is an 18 footer, so my guess with a 115 and two people in I should be able to get 30-35 mph out of it if there are no engine issues.
I remember seeing something once about looking at the engine and seeing if there is any discoloration on the heads, is that correct? coloration being bad that is.......
If this is the only owner of the boat, I don't think I should be too worried about it, but if it is a multiple owner boat, I will be cautious....
I know I am asking for a lot, but can some of you help me????
Thanks
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