CAN YOU BUY AND RESTORE AN OLD PRODUCTION POWER BOAT

CAN YOU BUY AND RESTORE AN OLD PRODUCTION POWER BOAT

Restoring an old production boat such as a Bayliner or a Sea Ray has been a question that Boat Nut Magazine has been asked many times by Email in the last month.(There is no magic formula) Boat Nut has received requests to assist and inform potential boat buyers on the possibilities of buying and fixing or restoring early 1990s and late 1980s power boats.

So how do you decide if a boat is worth the money and effort to restore?

First of you must understand the environment that the boat was operated in and the environment the boat has been stored in. If you don't understand or take these two details into account don't buy the boat!

Unlike the automotive market the boat market does not seem to have a market for these boats at all. Production boats that have been without attention for some years are basically worthless. If you take the time to restore these boats they will get to and only hold the value that the market evaluators place on them. Possibly at some point soon we will see a restoration market appear, this will be due to the dramatic increases in new boat values. But not yet, you can always try to restore one of these boats for the love of the boat or to see what you can muscle out of the buyers market.(such as storm damaged boats) One of the two main problems that exist with these boats is the over all cost to repair and the fact that new boat technology has most boat buyers looking for bells and whistles. Many new boaters are looking for joy stick control, they have been sold on the idea that older technology boats are difficult to operate. " NO Thanks To All The Companies Who Push This Idea Onto The Market". (I personally like the idea that there is a mechanical tie between the shifters and the motor and the steering and the drive , rudders or motor.)

New Power Boat technology does not make for a better boat!

There are three core issues that rear their heads when it comes to older production boats and they are:

1- The mechanical systems. This is the motors, drives and other mechanical items that make the boat move and react in the water

2- The structure of the boat. This is all the stringers bulkheads transom, any of the structure that gives the boat strength and allows all the items and systems in the boat to be mounted.

3-Upholstery and canvas. This portion of a repair or restoration can set you back a spectacular amount of cash. It is not unusual for a replacement bimin top and curtains to cost more than the used operational boat does.

You need to understand the condition of and the possibility of repairing what you are looking at buying. There are outdrives for example that you flat out do not want to even own due to parts availability, failed engineering or flat out lack of production replacement parts available at all. What you must do is a complete self survey Boat Nut Media supplies this as a package to you based on the year model and make of boat. There is only a very small amount of information from the boat that Boat Nut needs to provide you with a system to educate yourself as to what the hell the boat you are looking at has left to give you. 

Every boat that has been denied service and maintenance for an extended period of time presents a different series of issues that you must be aware of. This also applies to different models and model years. No matter what decision you make be sure that you know you know do not think you know! Thinking you know will end up costing you too much money and ruin your boating dreams!

 

Contact Boat Nut Magazine @ boatnutmedia@gmail.com to find out how to order your custom self survey program so you don't get burned!

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