1985 Gambler Questions?

[Formula51]

I am looking to buy a bass boat/play boat and recently came across a 1985 16 foot Gambler. Now, the fiance told me I only have $1500 to spend on a boat, but I can squeek some more repair money out of her! That being said, I need to find a boat for cheap and I could use yall's opinion on this boat I found.

A little more about the boat. It is 16 feet and has a 150hp Mercury engine that does run bet needs a tune-up as the boat has been used very sparingly for the past year and a half. The owner is in the military and just got back from Iraq, god bless him. The owner said it would cost about $400 for a good tune-up from the marine shop that he takes the boat to. Does this sound about right?

The boat also has two hummingbird depth finders, a 40lb Johnson foot controlled trolling motor, and one swivel fishing seat for the front. The trailer is in good condition with a spare tire.

Other than the engine tune-up, the boat needs batteries (trolling and crank), the carpet replaced (seats are in good condition), and he said something about the top sanded and clear coated, which I do not fully inderstand, maybe sun damage? I believe he also said it does not have the windshield. Is this a big deal, expensive, hard to find, etc? Also, is a 1985 a singel or dual cockpit?

I am a mechanical engineer and relatively handy (can absolutely do the carpet myself and the clear coat with a little help), but I am brand new to boats and needs yall's opinions on how much all of this will cost as I am on a budget and have no idea.

He is asking $1700 for the boat, but said he would move a little. He seems like a real nice and honest guy. Is this a resonable price?

Well folks, let me know if am in over my head. Also, any info you can tell me about this boat or direct me to where I can find some would be great. Thanks in advance.

Eddie

[Formula51]

Wanted to mention that I have not seen the boat yet and will probably go look at it next weekend.

I can't seem to fin anything Gambler that is pre 1987 or shorter than 18'3". Weird.

[kp crane]

at $1500 your probably not going to get any better chance, who knows it might be the very first gambler made, as long as it floats and the trolling motor works you can allways go fishing you just might not be able to go far! like i allways say any boat is better than nuttin.. ........keep us informed.............kp

[racerkvn]

Just as trashy said, try and take it to a shop to get the motor looked at, leak down test. If it leaks down or the cylinders aren't within spec. you could be looking at some expensive work. I'd also take you a big flat head screwdriver and check the lower unit for water in it. Have you ever done that before? If there is water in it, the lower unit seals are wore out and need to be replaced before you run it, as it will burn the lower unit up, and that gets to be pretty expensive too.

As far as the top being "cleared", here is what I did to mine (it's an 88 black 18 footer, that had turned white on the top cap from sun fading), I used this stuff from Wal-Mart, can't think of the name of it right off, but it's a fiberglass restorer/rubbing compound, and Maguier's 3 stage wax system (cleaner, polish, and wax), and a whole lot of elbow grease. I rubbed the compound in following the directions on the bottle, extremely hard I might add, the nwent to the 3 stage, cleaner, polish, and wax. I did the whole top cap, 4 times, and it could use another time, but the boat really looks like a brand new boat! I just have a couple of spots that have some fine scratches that could come out. It has turned out WAY better than anybody ever expected. I'll try and post some pictures once I can figure out my stupid camera, but I didn't take any before I started, so you really wouldn't know it was as bad as I said it was!

Stand on the front deck and look and see if it flexes, spongy feel to it, the front deck is wood and it could rot out, as well as the transom, but you won't be able to flex the transom, the deck is fairly thin with fiberglass, the transom is almost .500" thk. of fiberglass, you'll have to crawl up in the back of the boat and look behind the gas tank for any signs of rotten wood.

My opinion, is that is a pretty good deal on it, depending on it not being rotted out (wood).

Hope this helps out....good luck!!

Kevin

[Formula51]

You all have given me some good things to think about and or look for. Thank you.

As for checking the lower unit, can you explain how to do it or direct me to a place where I can learn?

Thanks again.

[dry3]

I agree with everyone else's opinion, but boating is expensive anyway you look at it. If you can get a gambler or boat of the like with all electronics and tm and outboard 150 and everything works and the motor runs "providing it doesnot need a total overhaul" and the fiberglass is solid, by all means i would go for it. If the wood is bad in the decks or transom as long as you have mechanical knowledge and mechanical ability it can be rebuilt over several months, especially if on a limited budget, do alittle at a time. Shoot my 1st boat was a very early model powercat bathtub style bass boat that i had to bring back from the DEAD " IT CAME OUT OF A FIELD WITH SMALL TREES GROWING UP THRU THE TRAILER" which i semi rebuilt and fished from it for a couple years and then traded up. If floats and runs and fishes in my opinion its worth 1500.00 no matter how old it is."floats means doesn't leak".
Just my 02 worth!

[dcourser]

I agree with the rest. first of all check the engine for compression( leak down test) and the lower unit has a screw on the bottom and one on the side drain the fluid and see if there is water or excessive metal shavings in there. If any of the above I would pass for lower units and motor repair are expensive. As far as the boat goes I have had 5 new ones and the last 2 boats I boat were 88 models that I fished out of just as good as the new ones. Having an old boat that works is a lot better than having payments in my mind. I just brought back to life a 88 Skeeter which isn't the boat my 88 gambler was but I fishes fine

Dick Courser

[Formula51]

Is the lower unit essentially the transmission? Are we talking gear fluid?

I was looking around and it seems like Optima Blue Tops are the way to go on batteries. About $150-200 for the deep cycle for the trolling motor and about the same for the cranking battery. Does this sound right? Anyone know of a place that has good deals on them?

I am really tired of shore fishing and really want a boat! Just want to make sure I don't get in over my head. I definitely think I will have a compression test done.

Does $400 sound right to yall for a tune up on a 150hp Merc?

[racerkvn]

The lower unit is the painted rounded peice that the prop bolts to. It has a screw on the bottom left side as you are standing behind the boat looking at the motor. It takes a big flat head screwdriver, the one you need to back out is all the way under the prop housing. Back that screw out, just as soon as the screw comes loose, look closely and if there is any water in the lower unit it will come out first, then the gear fluid will follow, let some of the fluid run on your fingers and put the screw back in quickly. If it has any metal shavings in it, you'll feel them between your fingers.

The Optima batteries are nice batteries, they will be my next set of batteries. I have Wal-Mart specials in mine now, and they work just fine for now.

I don't believe you can go wrong buying a Gambler for $1500, especially if it has everything on it. I beleive you could turn around and sell it for a profit, or at least get your money back out of it, if you get it and decide you didn't want it. But I bet,..once you take it out....you'll be hooked!

I don't know about the tune up cost of $400 bucks. May be a good deal....

[Formula51]

Well guys, the fiance is starting to hedge.

~$1500 for the boat, plus $100 for compression test, plus $400+ for tune-up, plus $3-400 for batteries, plus the cost to redo the carpet and refinish the top and all of a sudden I am getting up there. And that is if nothing goes wrong.

Might have to get that rinky-dink 14' aluminum boat with a baby motor afterall. I am still looking around though.

What do the Walmart batteries cost? I can't seem to find them and was wondering if they are much cheaper.

Thanks for all the help and I will let you know if anything changes. I still may go see the boat this weekend, although that will probably make me want it even more.

[Formula51]

Damnit, I'm not giving up on this boat yet! Those Walmart batteries are cheap and many seem to think they are fine.

So the lower unit is like the rearend in a car (I know cars mostly). Are the seals easy to change or are they pressed in?

I am definitely going to go look at the boat this weekend and take pictures. How do I post them?

[racerkvn]

The lower unit is kind of like the rearend of a car, it has a ring and pinion that turns the gear shaft 90 degrees for the prop shaft. It uses a gear lube, like a car. You can buy the lower unit gear lube at Wal-Mart. As far as changing the seals, it's not too bad, just buy you a repair manual for the motor, it will walk you through it.

We have run the Wal-Mart batteries for years, seem to work just fine.

I would go look at it, if your interrested in buying a boat. It will be hard to find another "glass" boat fully rigged for 1500 smackers. If it was me, I'd buy some plugs, wires and carb cleaner, lower unit gear lube, compression gauge, repair manual, rubbing compound, and wax system, and go to town "tuning" it up myself. Might save the 500 bucks for the leak down test and tune up. But that's just me.....

[Formula51]

I like your idea of tunning it up myself. I have done numerous automotive engine swaps, tune-ups, header installes, rear-end swaps, cam installs, etc. with my dad building hotrods growing up.

Something about boat motors just rubs me the wrong way. I think its the fact that if it dies out on the lake you are really screwed. I guess you try to flag somebody down?

I think I just may go the do-it-yourself route. Where can repair manuals for outboards be bought?

One more thing, how do I post pictures when I get them?

[racerkvn]

Well,....you can do like I do, if the big motor dies, just drop the trolling motor grab a pole and say, "might as well fish"! Troll and fish on to the ramp!

I am a do it yourself'er myself. I'd rather take aliitle time and figure it out myself. You'll get more comfortable the more you tinker with it. Do a search on the web for repair manuals, you'll find something i'm sure.

I have built several drag cars, and street rods myself, and work as the motor/ clutch set-up man on a Blown Alcohol Outlaw Pro Modified car, when time permits. I haven't worked on many boat motors, except with my Dad, and that was 15 years ago.

As far as posting pictures, check out the forum main page, I think there is a topic for posting pictures.

Kevin

[Formula51]

That is way cool. My first car was a 1985 Monte SS that I put a 350 crate motor in and later added a Comp Xtreme Energy cam. The car went 13.80's @100mph on P255 all season radials (1.9 short times) and full weight. That was my bracket race car and I made it to the semi finals a few times at 75/80 Dragway in Maryland. Best run ever was a 13.843 on a 13.84 dial in!

I have since owned a 1995 Firebird Formula and now own a 2002 Camaro Z28, both 6-speeds.

Last season I worked on a Late Model stock car through a club that we started at Clemson. We ran at Greenville Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. I was the rear suspension setup man (panhard bar, gears, springs, etc.)

Well anyways, that's enough blabering. It has been a long day at work, can't you tell.

[racerkvn]

Are you going to look at the boat this weekend? Where is it at? Post some pictures of it, if you decide not to buy it, I may be interested in it myself. Do a little clean up and tune up, and make some money... Hopefully you'll buy it, because my wife will file for divorce if I come home with another "project", if you know what I mean.

Hahaha, I have a shop full of crap, that all started with that little phrase, following her noticing something else in the yard and she says "What in the hell is that", and I say " Well, I found this deal"!!!!

[Formula51]

Sounds just like my dad and mom! Haha.

We had the shell of a 1933 Plymouth hanging from the cross-bar of the backyard swing-set for about a year. You can imagine what kind of conversations that triggers in a nice neighborhood in Columbia, Maryland.

I am planning on going to look at the boat this weekend. It is somewhere near Greenwood I believe. I will give you all the info I can if I decide not to get it.

Eddie

[Formula51]

Just talked to the guy again and got some more info to share.

The boat was in the water about 3 or 4 months ago and was running pretty good.

The motor is an XR2 Black Max V6, which is the motor that came on the baot. Anyone know much about these?

The reason for the sun damage on the top of the boat is that the guy left it in his sisters care while he was in Iraq and she did not keep it covered. Seats were stored inside though. He did say however, that there is no wood that he knows of except for maybe in the transom, which I will look at for rot.

Oh and the trailer lights don't work because the sisters dog chewed threw them. He is going to try and fix this, but if not, I will be splicing wires before I take it home (assuming it checks out).

The boat is black with a metallic red stripe. And I still cannot find any info about a 1985 Gambler or a 16' Gambler in general. This might be super unique so I will definitely share pics.

Who knows, I might be a member of the Gambler family come Sunday. I am going with cash in hand.

Eddie

[racerkvn]

I bet that thing is almost identical to mine, mine is Black with silver metalic, and red metalic stripes, with red carpet. I would like to post some pictures, but I can't seem to find the cable to hook the camera to the computer.

I would say the top cap could be cut and buffed. Usually black boats will turn a white ish color when sun faded, that is how mine was, and like I said before, it came out exceptionally good. Mine sat out with no cover for almost 2 years in a boat slip, so the back and front of the boat was the worst spots.

I still think it's an 18' footer, but I'm no Gambler guru.

[Formula51]

Do you have any idea what an 80's Gambler weighs with trailer, boat and motor?

I am trying to figure out if my fiance's SUV can safely tow it, it does have a towing package, but I think it is only rated at 2000lbs. so I will probably be pushing it. Then again, thats why we got the 100,000 mile warranty!

Damn I should have never sold my truck for the Camaro....wait a second, that's retarded, of course I should have