Just a few questions about purchasing a boat

I recently bought a used Sea Ray 176. I learned through Mercury that the original owner was from the eastern side of Ithica and the next owner was south of Binghamton NY. I am happy to get a fresh water boat.
for what it's worth, I told a friend who was in boat related industries for 50 years and hand build Raveau boats in retirement until recently. When I told him I was buying a used boat his eyebrows went up until I said I was searching for a Sea Ray he immediately said" SEA RAY is fine"
He explained that the quality of the material Sea Ray put into the boat (and cost) initially is what makes them desirable compared to other brands of the same age today. Also, at industry conventions, he said the Sea Ray engineers were always the BEST in the business. At the safety conferences, the Coast Guard was not exactly teaching the manufacturers safety related stuff, it was the other way around. Sea Ray was teaching the Coast Guard ! Their engineer's were improving the Coast Guard's line of thinking about fuel storage, floatation, and many things.
Lesser quality built boats become more fragile with age since the fiberglass never stops getting harder. All I needed to hear was him say that that older Sea Ray is OK with respect to hulls. I advise asking to see service records on a boat fresh or salt.

Phasma said:

My boat spent the first 3 years of its life in North Carolina. A salt boat. After that it became a freshwater boat. I’ve owned her for 5 years. Rebuilt starboard engine, pressure tested manifolds, rebuilt steering ram, new water pumps, replaced all switches on dash panel, replaced AC unit, new canvas, new RayMarine electronics package, cleaned electric panel and replaced several breakers, scrubbed the bilge within an inch of its life and had the generator rebuilt. I bought the gal for “a good price”. With a stripped and sanded bottom and new bottom paint along with a buff and wax and new battery bank, I think I have her right where I want her. Don’t be afraid of salt boats. A quality survey, a lot of DIY and a ton of love you will have a great boat. It’s been frustrating at times but she has also been a labor of love. Enjoy the gal and she will take care of you.

One other thought....so many boat owners will have a survey done when they first buy the boat and never again. I found that getting a survey completed after a few years of owning her and repairing her helped clarify my to-do list. It also gave me piece of mind.

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This is what i worry about. while i dont mind doing maintenance and fixing issues i dont want to have to rebuild and replace everything.

Once again, a great survey will help. Just make sure to find your own surveyor and pay for it yourself. Do not buy an existing survey. Buy the boat right to begin with and remember it’s not an investment. I happen to like puttering with mechanical and technical issues. That doesn’t mean you do. Verify you have a good Hull and good engines. Have a compression test done and have the hull surveyed for moisture and delaminates new. Hull, engines and transmissions are the pricey chit...you will be fine.