Help with used Javelin purchase

First time poster but i've read this forum for a while.


I'm in the market for a used boat and found a Javelin 400B with a 200hp Evinrude vindicator. Boat and motor is a 1998 and has been a tournament boat most of it's life. It has been beached plenty and has the scratches/hull to prove it!


My main two concerns are stress cracks around the transom and fuel/oil leaking around the top passenger side spark plug.


The transom has a hairline crack in it the length of the mounts and spider cracks on the sides of the transom. The owner stated he doesn't use a motor toter, just the latch on the motor.


The passenger side top spark plug is slightly leaking something or it's possible that all three is leaking. I haven't asked for a compression check or a test ride yet as the stress cracks have scared me a bit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, including your opinion on the value of this boat. Thanks again

I cant address the leaking for you, I'll reserve that for someone who actually knows what their talking about. As far as the hairline cracks go, you would probably be hard pressed to find an older boat that doesn't have a few somewhere. My Javelin has quite a few. Most of the time its due to crazing and not stress cracks. Fiberglass flexes, and over many years of use, these little cracks tend to appear around flex points. If you don't know the difference, it would be in your best interest to let someone check it out along with the transom (although I believe 98 was all composite). Crazing is strictly cosmetic, and as long as the cracks are indeed crazing, you wouldn't have anything to worry about there.

1. have a mechanic (your) check the motor out
2. take a ride in the boat and put to the test
3. make your choice now.

http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

sounds like its been road hard and put away wet .There are to many deals to be had out there . It better be Cheeep

Run.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by smalljaw1976 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
The passenger side top spark plug is slightly leaking something or it's possible that all three is leaking. I haven't asked for a compression check or a test ride yet as the stress cracks have scared me a bit.</td></tr></table>

There's your answer. Too many other boats for sale.