First time bass boat buyer....HELP

[basskid87]

Hey guys! I'm looking into getting my first fiberglass bass boat. I can't spend much, so I have to get the most for my money... I have found a boat I really like, but I just can't decide if its a good deal or if i should wait for another one to come my way like it...

I have found a 94' Stratos 284 with a 150. The price is $6,500.

I have looked the boat over very close! All that I have found is the prop has a few dings in it, and the skeg is missing about a 1x1 inch chunck out of it. The boat has very few scratches and the hull is in very good shape. All I know that has been done to it is a new starter this spring. I am taking the boat for a test drive later this week to see how it starts and such.

Please let me know what all of you guys thing, Your all experts and I'm just a kid that does not have the years of experience yet.

Thank you very much!
Brennan

[Jason Phillips]

Brennan,

Welcome to the boards. I'd take that boat to the water and check it out like you're doing. The 284 was a good running boat. I'm guessing the 150 is either a FastStrike or Intruder. Those were solid motors. Check out all of the pumps, lights, electronics, trolling motor, etc. If everything checks out ok, buy it and enjoy.

The piece out of the skeg isn't a huge deal. My question to that would be if they hit something hard enough to damage the skeg that bad, did it hit hard enough to hurt something in the lower unit. Same with the prop. Have the shaft checked to make sure it is still straight and true. If it's been knocked off even a little, it will spell trouble down the road.

[F150owner]

Brennan,

To add to Jason's comments, the engine is something critical. I don't know if the boat is at a dealer or with a private party, but I'd ask if the owner would allow you to have the engine checked out by your mechanic prior to purchasing and you'll pay for the inspection. If the boat is at a dealer already, then ask them to check out the motor for you (which they may have done already). That doesn't guarantee the engine won't fail, but something obvious and costly could be identified before you hand over the cash. This is a small price to pay for knowing a little more about the boat motor.

Also, check out the transom area to be sure its in good shape. If a skeg got hit pretty hard, it may have put some stress on the transom. Make sure the prop spins without wobbling! Your mechanic will look at this too.

A 94 model isn't going to be perfect as its been used over time. I took a 94 201 to the lake two weeks ago and it was in awesome condition. Good luck!!

[basskid87]

Thanks for the great info! I did talk to him about the skeg, and he said that he did not hit anything. What had happened is his driveway is a fairly steep hill and is blacktop, he left the motor up without the transom saver bar on it and the motor dropped over a few days and pushed the skeg against the blacktop. Which made me wonder is that bad if the motor can not hold itself up for more than a day or two?

thanks

[lkhartwl]

need to have the trim worked on as it is leaking down. probably needs new seals which at a decent wrench will cost a hunderd or so bucks, at a dealer up to 500 since you pay shop time and such. also I would be hesitent on his explaination a skeg just dropping will not break off by laying on the ground it has to be either hit or dragged which will add stress to the transom/lower unit and such. if it were me I would offer a grand less for the boat that way any repairs you may have to make you will have the money if not borrowing from the bank.

[netweid]

with the motor leaking down you will probably end up having to replace/ work on the trim as others have noted and it will cost a few dollars, not a major worry item but something you will need fixed, the skeg chip if you choose to fix it will cost you another 100 bucks to have it welded back up. I would also get me a compression gauge and check the compression on the motor. The compression and transom are the two biggest things I would look for on a used boat.

[basskid87]

Thanks again for the great info guys! I am going to do a compression check on it tomorrow. What is the pressure I want? Its a 94 Evenrude Intruder.

Thanks for everything!
Brennan

[netweid]

The cylinders should be within 10% +/- a few # of each other. Do a search in the John/Evin motor forum on compression. I think my '96 john was around 90 lbs. Different guages will read differently. The bottom two cylinders will probably be the lowest.