Looking to purchase an older Skeeter

[fiddelm3742]

Hi all. I'm a new member here and decided to sign up after reading through some of the info in this forum.
Just recently I started looking at getting an older smaller Bass Baot. I just kind of stumbled upon the 15 foot line of skeeter boats from the 80's and fell in love with them. The modern look, and smaller size is exactly what I'm looking for. So i started looking around for boats like these. I found a 84 Skeeter (15ft) not sure of the exact model yet, for sale and I'm curious what are some common problems that I should look for on a boat this age. I've never owned a fiberglass boat before, so any information will be useful. I know thing like check to see if the transom is soft, but I dont necessarily know how to do that. So any tips you can provide would be welcome.
Thanks
Matt

[Skeet'r89]

Go to the Super Tips ( located on the left side of the main page- in green )Read the Buying a used boat tip under the Boat heading.

[fiddelm3742]

Thanks, didn't even know it was there

[dirtmonkey]

I had an 80 model SS-1 Fisherman (tri-hull type) that probably fished better than my SX-180... that was a sweet boat. Had to replace the transom in it though, which cost me about 600 bucks but well worth it...

[biothree]

Matt,
Last May I bought a 1984 Starfire 90 which is a 15' 10" boat. I am restoring the boat and I have already finished the custom trailer. I recently bought a 85 HP Evinrude for it.
My regular boat is a 1981 Starfire which is a 16' 10' boat. It has a "tuned" 150 hp Evinrude, jackplate and a 4 blade 27 pitch SS prop. I think it is hard to beat the Starfire hull in a 15 or 16 foot boat.


Modified by biothree at 1:15 PM 9/17/2007

[Neilslure]

Buddy of mine had a 17 or 18 ft Starfire, wanna say it was an 84-86. Still looked to be in fair decent condition when he sold it. He had too many motor problems, so he sold it. I know he had some rot in the cockpit floor, other than that I think it was pretty good.

[reelman]

Some wood problems...less fiberglass used back then... I had an 84 Skeeter HP120 for 13 years after buying it in 1987 used... the only 15 foot boat legally taking a 120hp... that 84 Yammy 115 was a screamer. One powerpack was only major thing in 13 years...what a rig!

[fiddelm3742]

Well, the skeeter I had my eye on kinda fell through, it's was the SS-1 which people like but I didn't want a tri-hull, just seemed dated to me. I deally I'd like one of the SF-80's or other 15.5 (or so) boats. Not too big, but big enough.

[Skeeter Jay]

basically whats been said already, but watch the floors and transom for rot.

[dirtmonkey]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dirtmonkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had an 80 model SS-1 Fisherman (tri-hull type) that probably fished better than my SX-180... that was a sweet boat. Had to replace the transom in it though, which cost me about 600 bucks but well worth it...</TD></TR></TABLE>


I forgot to mention I had a stacked 6 115 merc on the back (hull rated for 85 hp)

Sorry the deal fell thru... you may have wanted a "newer style" boat, but that baby fished like a dream...

[biothree]

Here is the 84 Skeeter Starfire 90 as it looked when I purchased it:
[IMG][http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...YtWbNq2Y6/IMG]
The transom is very solid. The floor around the front drain and rear drain has to be replaced. The remainder of the restoration is cosmetics and a lot of them.

I have finished the trailer:

The trailer got a new hitch, some weklding, new rear brace, jack, LED lights, wiring, rollers, bunk boards, tires, wheels, diamond plate, primer and paint, etc. I am going to add side bunk boards after I finish the boat.


Modified by biothree at 1:12 PM 9/17/2007

[fiddelm3742]

Wow, people pay for stuff in that condition? Actually, I wish I had the skills, money, and time required to restore something like that. So, have any "after" boat pics now that I've seen the "before"?

[biothree]

I just got started on the boat, fiberglassed the new floor last night. FYI I paid $150 for the boat and trailer. The boat was structurely sound; good hull and transom. The floor was the main problem. The top cap will have to be re-clear coated but wet sanding, buffing and waxing is making the boat below the cap look great. The previous owner hardly used the boat but he stored it outside with no cover.