Advice on small boat

Lots of helpful information guys really appreciate it! My budget right now would be about 3k I looked into this one but might be too good to be true   http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/boa/5070770399.html

If I were to check it out I would have to ice pick it up like crazy that's for sure lol 
Dang that project Dory looks perfect I'm tempted  looks like it'll take some nice swells. What keywords do you guys use to search on Craigslist?

I just go to Boats > By Owner & search like heck.  Do this the next day except isolate by 'Newly Posted in last Day' this way you aren't re-searching the same ones again.  I'm generally "cautious" of ones that appear to be too good of a deal & ones that are older than a week or two depending on time of the year.  Boats are generally "seasonal" so winter time they may be listed for months at a time waiting for a buyer.

check out http://www.searchtempest.com/ You can search multiple craigslists at once. It will make it a lot easier to find what you're after.

If you don't mind driving 
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/5038988179.html



And if you do wind up looking at used boats....and you follow Bill's advise of ice picking.....let the owner know what you're doing before poking around at it.  That'll give him an opportunity to tell you to beat it before you start making holes in  the boat he's trying to sell 

It's amazing what an owner will tell you once you start poking at the boat. 

Lol, I'd tell you to take a hike unless you put down a considerable amount to professionally repair whatever you and your ice pick damage.  I've seen all kinds of crazy advice to check stringers and transoms, common suggestion is to drill a test hole to check for moisture......who the hell is gonna let you drill a hole in their boat to "see" if it's wet.  There's as many kook buyers out there as there are sellers, I'm not letting anyone with damaging tools pokin holes in my boat unless they put money in my hand.  I'd also disclose anything that was wrong with it though. 

I'd need to see a bunch more pics of that Gregor before I went down to check it out.  There's some suspect coloration on that transom I'd like a closer look at, lots of galvanic corrosion potential on al boats from people that install stuff using fasteners of dissimilar metal. 

Realistically though.....in your budget, it's hard to expect a boat in perfect condition my man.  Anything you get is gonna need something.  You just wanna find the one that needs the least amount of work but will still hold some kind of value for when you decide to move up to a 18'. Then a 20' then a 25

An ice pick will not damage a boat.  It's pretty standard practice for pro's checking the integrity of wood.  Not like you're taking core samples.  Just poke lightly.  If it sticks into the wood, it most likely has rot.  I'd be more suspicions of someone who WOULDN'T allow you to look for rot in a boat   

As for fiberglass boats, they will generally have a wooden transom, floor & stringers.  Those are the areas to check for rot.  In terms of the fiberglass, look for stress cracking around the hull to deck seam & around the transom.  Signs of stress & possible improper support/trailering.  Look for thinned/worn areas along the bottom & keel; beaching, trailer wear, etc...  If the hull/stringers/transom & motor are in good shape, the rest is easy to repair.  Even a floor repair is relatively easy.

The worst one I ever did was a total restore on a 1960's boat that was nothing but a deck & a bare hull (2 pieces).  No transom, no stringers, no deck ... bare fiberglass like it came out of the mold.  That one required me to build a complete jig the shape of the hull to get it totally aligned before I put in the keel, stringers, deck & fiberglass the deck back on it.  Was rock solid when done but a bunch of work!

http://monterey.craigslist.org/boa/5068153380.html


http://monterey.craigslist.org/boa/5085396568.html

Another thing I look at is the tag on the boat to see when the last time it was registered.  I've bought some gem's over the years that, though tey required work, were WELL worth the small investment.  My 18' Pontoon was bought that way.  Hadn't been used in many years, upholstery totaled, no keys to start the motor, tires rotted off ...  Minimal invested had me a better than new pontoon boat!  Turns out the motor only had ~10 hours on it!

An ice pick will not damage a boat.  It's pretty standard practice for pro's checking the integrity of wood.  Not like you're taking core samples.  Just poke lightly.  If it sticks into the wood, it most likely has rot.  I'd be more suspicions of someone who WOULDN'T allow you to look for rot in a boat 

You can look for rot all you want, pay for a professional inspection, have a mechanic look it over......I'm just not letting internet joe with a pick stabbing around at my rig.  As a seller, I don't know what your experience is.  You might be a pro boat builder but you could also be andyboy92 who just got some info off the net and showed up with a new pick from harbor freight   

Buying a wood boat breaks rule one of buying boats anyway.......never ever buy a wood boat. Rule two is never buy anything with carpeting so that eliminates the potential of having something covered up 

Never buy a wooden boat?  Really?  If you know what you are looking for, wooden boats CAN have a lot to offer but do require more upfront knowledge, research, maintenance unless you just want a "beater boat".  Fiberglass tends to be easier to maintain/repair.  I think wooden boats ride smoother, though.

In the $3000 budget, I doubt taking a boat to an inspector & a mechanic will yield you anything but headache.  You cannot expect a LOT from a $3k pricetag, in most cases.  Yes, you can find a gem now & then.  Most are fix-er-up in the 16'+, $3k range.  I paid less than $3k for my 18' Pontoon boat with a (basically) brand new motor.

Aluminum is good too but inspect the wooden transom.  Looking at how people store the boat will give you some indication of problems.  Is the bow stored lower than the stern.  Did it have a cover on it?  Is it full of leaves & junk?  There are a lot of tell-tales that will help a buyer in the long run.  If you were looking for a large boat (cabin cruiser, etc) then I'd say yes ... get a pro. inspection done.  Not a lot to inspect on a small 16' boat.

Totally with you on carpeting that seems out of place or an afterthought!  Cheap carpet covers everything

  Here I come with my ice pick   

wow Bill......those are some classics!  I will also say, beware the trailer......even if the boat runs you may wind up spending more fixing or replacing the trailer beneath it.

I'd sway more toward these....

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/5079131827.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5080612527.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5080664441.html

The 17 Whaler would be my first pick.  The 13'; not in big blue with 3 adults.  14', not really either.

I fish an 18' whaler quote often in big blue & 3 adults on it is a full house.  We've run Moss to Big Sur a number of times last season on it.  2 is ideal, 3 is full house & requires some weight distribution to ride just right.  That 17' looks like an ok deal.

I do like classics though!  Great lines.  Ride good.  Motors suck gas but are easy to fix & don't require a Masters in Electrical Engineering to troubleshoot.  Old Whalers are great & hold good value.

Yeah... trailer.  Didn't get into that topic.  Look for rust ... bad rust.  Surface rust on a painted trailer is sort of normal.  Poke at it for cancer rust.  Again, ice pick time.  Look at the tires; wear, cracking, dry out.  Find out how old they are & plan on replacing if older than a couple years.  Before you tow it bring a grease gun & grease the bearings!  Tow a short distance (few miles) & pull over & feel the spinals by hand.  If they are hot to the touch, head to a parking lot & replace the bearings!

Check the safety chains, lights, etc...  A new lite kit will cost you ~$80 - replace the whole thing with LED.  Pays of HUGE in the long run IMHO

Support the motor tilted

Make sure there are no bolts/screws protruding that would rub on the hull of the boat.

One thing that is well worth the $ is the West Marine Trailer Towing (roadside assistance)  I have it along with the fresh or saltwater (on the water) towing.  Roadside is like $15 last I remember.

Never buy a wooden boat?  Really?  If you know what you are looking for, wooden boats CAN have a lot to offer but do require more upfront knowledge, research, maintenance unless you just want a "beater boat".  Fiberglass tends to be easier to maintain/repair.  I think wooden boats ride smoother, though.

Yup....I'd entertain glass over ply but it'd have to be perfect and very few would get a second look from me (unless I hit the lotto, in that case I'll be all Carolina wood with a budget to maintain it). Nothing home built unless it was a dirt cheap beater (like ridiculously cheap) or a nicely built rowing craft.  Growing up there was a lot of old chris crafts at the marina our houseboat was docked at.....seem like endless labor. 

 

Never buy a wooden boat?  Really?  If you know what you are looking for, wooden boats CAN have a lot to offer but do require more upfront knowledge, research, maintenance unless you just want a "beater boat".  Fiberglass tends to be easier to maintain/repair.  I think wooden boats ride smoother, though.

Yup....I'd entertain glass over ply but it'd have to be perfect and very few would get a second look from me (unless I hit the lotto, in that case I'll be all Carolina wood with a budget to maintain it). Nothing home built unless it was a dirt cheap beater (like ridiculously cheap) or a nicely built rowing craft.  Growing up there was a lot of old chris crafts at the marina our houseboat was docked at.....seem like endless labor. 

 

Yes, wooden boat owners are a breed all to themselves.    VERY few, commercial, manufacturers of all wooden boats these days.  Dying art form.  I was trying to find pictures of the last boat I scratch built.....  Guess they are on my home pc.

Want to rebuild my Brendella ski boat stringers Bill?

Want to rebuild my Brendella ski boat stringers Bill?

Uh, lemme think about it...

   No!   

   I'm so stinking booked with personal projects, otherwise it would/could have been a fun project.