Keith FDNY":3b8bqdft said:
When i go see this boat being new to this what do i need to ask in general?
How many hours are on it?
Who did the service? Owner or dealer?
If the dealer, are there any receipts?
Would the owner be willing to let you have the boat surveyed by a licensed surveyor?
If yes, would the owner be comfortable having the sale made contingent on a favorable survey?
Beyond that, I'd look her over well to get a sense on how well the boat was cared for.
Look under the washboards. Is the area reasonably clean and free of mold? That will tell something about how well she was stored.
Look in the bilge. How is the condition of the wiring, and is the area reasonably clean?
If it's a CC model, look inside the console for the same tell-tale signs of care or neglect.
If it's a SC model, look inside the storage bins and under the cushions as well as in the anchor rode locker for the same...
Having said all that, you need to look at
the boat, and not necessarily how she presents...
When I went to see the boat I own now, she was a filthy mess. She had an oil and water mess in the bilge (due to a leaking trim tab HPU), the cockpit deck was horribly stained by leave tannin, and the gelcoat was a dull lifeless mess.
However, except for some relatively minor repairs (and some not-so-minor upgrades), the filth was easily mitigated with industrial strength cleaners, gelcoat restorers, and sweat equity. Sometimes you
can find a diamond in the rough if you can see past the stuff that is easily fix-able. :wink:
Good luck!