Advice you can give from these pics? 1985 Sundancer 250

[Gombajuice]

Hi!

Buying from a family friend (car) mechanic who ensures this boat will be seaworthy and will also take me on the water with it before I buy for $5k including trailer. He bought to fix up and re-sell, but is very close with a family member who he does business with and willing to cut me a deal if he doesn't have to make it pretty cosmetically. Him and his partner have owned and sold many boats, but I am still a little nervous as this is my first big "luxury" purchase.

He sold me my first car over a decade ago so I trust him, BUT upon doing research I know there is a possibility of rotted stringers and transom which may not be discovered from visible signs that could lead to repairs in excess of what I paid for this thing. I may only own this for 2-3 years and depending on market at that time I would hope to possibly get my money back if I don't fall through the floor of this thing.

Heres a dump of all the photos I have

https://imgur.com/a/4LrBALk

Thank you in advance for the help!!

 

[bobeast]

It's a gamble for sure. At the very least I'd do a hammer-test on the stringers. If you get back a dull thud, then run Forest run.

 

[Chip S]

A 37 year old stern drive would make me worry. Hammer test the transom thoroughly. Water intrusion around the stern drive is more likely than not.

 

[hughespat57]

I'm a mechanic too, "mechanically sound" that phrase means nothing.

Did he pull and fully rebuild the engine?
Did he do a compression test and provide the results?
Did he at least pull and change the bellows and water pump impeller in the drive?

Do not assume anything just because he is a friend.
Better to find everything now and decide to buy or walk.
If you find out after, you will be out money and a friend...

 

[Pirate Lady]

Hull ‘looks’ nice, cabin is a mess, any canvas? To put canvas on it - $4 - $6k. I just dropped 1 boat buck fixing an overheating issue. That buy price just scratches the surface.

 

[Gombajuice]

I'm a mechanic too, "mechanically sound" that phrase means nothing.

Did he pull and fully rebuild the engine?
Did he do a compression test and provide the results?
Did he at least pull and change the bellows and water pump impeller in the drive?

Do not assume anything just because he is a friend.
Better to find everything now and decide to buy or walk.
If you find out after, you will be out money and a friend...

I will be sure to get a list of the work he did before handing over my cash money. Thank you for the advice!

So far I haven't gotten one good response or feeling about this one I started asking and doing my research... ugh

 

[Gombajuice]

Its always about the money. Are you paying $5, $500, $5000+ ?
Hull ‘looks’ nice, cabin is a mess, any canvas? To put canvas on it - $4 - $6k.

Canvas as in a bimini? There is one in the cabin already. Need to make sure its in decent condition of course.

 

[hughespat57]

No one is going to tell you to jump on it from a few pictures.
What we're pointing out is the things you should check if you were buying a used boat from anyone.
Wouldn't matter much if it were a 1995, still want to check and know these same things.

Just approach it as you would buying from a total stranger, a dealer.
If it were higher priced we would be telling you to get a survey done by a professional, but that's an expense.
Check what you can first.
Add up what you know it needs,
what you think it needs,
and what you would like to add to it.
If those things are not in your price range then ok, your done walk away.

If those are all still in your price range then consider digging deeper.
Ask for a compression check.
Is it saltwater or freshwater boat?
Ask the things we mentioned above...

 

[Pirate Lady]

Canvas as in a bimini? There is one in the cabin already. Need to make sure its in decent condition of course.

Bimini is nice for keeping the mid summer sun off you. You may see a lot of 7yo boats for sale that all the cockpit seats are shot. Thats what happens without full canvas. Ever hear “pay me now” (buy full canvas) or pay me later (buy new cockpit upholstery)”.
I got original 30yo cockpit upholstery looks like new cause it has always been covered.

 

[boatman37]

I see Ohio registration. A shop in western PA close to the Ohio line did our 1986 250DA for about $2000 using Sunbrella and they re-did the front to have isinglass above the windshield. Got 2 other quotes for about $4000. Did s great job and we had them do our Crownline too. This one was closer to $3000 but we had a cockpit cover made too and got a few upgrades like the lined material so we don't need to treat it every year.

As far as the boat itself....likely has moisture but how bad? Check the stringers and the 'shelfs' or 'ledges' under the batteries and water tank. Poke around with a screwdriver to see if there are any soft spots. Check the motor mounts where the bolts go into the stringers. Make sure the bolts are tight and don't wiggle. Tap around the transom with a plastic handle screwdriver or something similar. Check for soft spots on the deck around all fittings are hatches.

No doubt you will find some moisture in a boat that age but determining how bad it is and whether or not it us a danger is what you need to figure out.

We sold ours in the summer of 2018 for $10,000. It had some moisture but was clean and ran great.

 

[Gombajuice]

It's a gamble for sure. At the very least I'd do a hammer-test on the stringers. If you get back a dull thud, then run Forest run.

Thank you!

No one is going to tell you to jump on it from a few pictures.
What we're pointing out is the things you should check if you were buying a used boat from anyone.
Wouldn't matter much if it were a 1995, still want to check and know these same things.

Just approach it as you would buying from a total stranger, a dealer.
If it were higher priced we would be telling you to get a survey done by a professional, but that's an expense.
Check what you can first.
Add up what you know it needs,
what you think it needs,
and what you would like to add to it.
If those things are not in your price range then ok, your done walk away.

If those are all still in your price range then consider digging deeper.
Ask for a compression check.
Is it saltwater or freshwater boat?
Ask the things we mentioned above...

You got it. Thank you sir!

 

[Gombajuice]

View attachment 108618
Bimini is nice for keeping the mid summer sun off you. You may see a lot of 7yo boats for sale that all the cockpit seats are shot. Thats what happens without full canvas. Ever hear “pay me now” (buy full canvas) or pay me later (buy new cockpit upholstery)”.
I got original 30yo cockpit upholstery looks like new cause it has always been covered.

Gotcha! Yours looks great!! Looking back through the pics it looks like there is a bimini. Hoping its in good shape.

 

[Gombajuice]

I see Ohio registration. A shop in western PA close to the Ohio line did our 1986 250DA for about $2000 using Sunbrella and they re-did the front to have isinglass above the windshield. Got 2 other quotes for about $4000. Did s great job and we had them do our Crownline too. This one was closer to $3000 but we had a cockpit cover made too and got a few upgrades like the lined material so we don't need to treat it every year.

As far as the boat itself....likely has moisture but how bad? Check the stringers and the 'shelfs' or 'ledges' under the batteries and water tank. Poke around with a screwdriver to see if there are any soft spots. Check the motor mounts where the bolts go into the stringers. Make sure the bolts are tight and don't wiggle. Tap around the transom with a plastic handle screwdriver or something similar. Check for soft spots on the deck around all fittings are hatches.

No doubt you will find some moisture in a boat that age but determining how bad it is and whether or not it us a danger is what you need to figure out.

We sold ours in the summer of 2018 for $10,000. It had some moisture but was clean and ran great.

Nice to see someone local!! I am writing this advice down to ask about. Thank you!

 

[boatman37]

Nice to see someone local!! I am writing this advice down to ask about. Thank you!

If you want the info of the place that did our canvas let me know. They do great work and beat just about everyones prices. Here was ours the day we picked it up >

 

[Island Time Buffalo]

The level of "mess" tells me, more often than not, neglect at the very least... if not outright abuse. Granted I have not inspected it, but personally, I'd pass.

 

[paulswagelock]

The level of "mess" tells me, more often than not, neglect at the very least... if not outright abuse. Granted I have not inspected it, but personally, I'd pass.

^^^^ this.
If what you can see is this neglected, what you can't see is as bad or worse.
So if you are thinking you will make this into a nice boat for the family, figure $10,000 for cosmetics between wood work, upholstery, canvas, flooring, etc. Based on appearance, if the motor and drive are still functional, figure $500-1000 on tuneup etc. Add another $1000 for electronics and wiring issues.
So, if it is sound, you will have $10-15k to make this a nice boat on top of the purchase price. If it needs transom, stringers, etc - it is going to cost you to landfill this thing.
I suggest you go find the nicest boat you can afford, already done and sea worthy, for you first boat. You will be in over your head on this one.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Couple more things i see.
The vinyl on top of dash doesn’t look cracked or faded, so it was probably covered most its life.
The shore power panel and stereo looks like heavy corrosion. Then in 1 pic it says boat was registered in Ohio & Jersey. Jersey doesn’t have much fresh water boating so that could be salt air corrosion. No engine pics to confirm that.
I also see what appears to be AC vents. Ask if it has AC.

 

[Gombajuice]

If you want the info of the place that did our canvas let me know. They do great work and beat just about everyones prices. Here was ours the day we picked it up >

I will let you know thank you! I need to inspect the one that is in the cabin now

 

[Gombajuice]

The level of "mess" tells me, more often than not, neglect at the very least... if not outright abuse. Granted I have not inspected it, but personally, I'd pass.

Ya it definitely isn't a good start, but I just spoke with the mechanic and he said he bought it from auction to flip it. He doesn't know much about it so he is going to inspect this week and let me know if he is even comfortable selling to me. I let him know I am most concerned with rotted stringers/transom and made me aware he knows how to check them and will start things up and see what is working or not

 

[Gombajuice]

^^^^ this.
If what you can see is this neglected, what you can't see is as bad or worse.
So if you are thinking you will make this into a nice boat for the family, figure $10,000 for cosmetics between wood work, upholstery, canvas, flooring, etc. Based on appearance, if the motor and drive are still functional, figure $500-1000 on tuneup etc. Add another $1000 for electronics and wiring issues.
So, if it is sound, you will have $10-15k to make this a nice boat on top of the purchase price. If it needs transom, stringers, etc - it is going to cost you to landfill this thing.
I suggest you go find the nicest boat you can afford, already done and sea worthy, for you first boat. You will be in over your head on this one.

No family here lol. Single man that doesn't need anything fancy that just needs the ability to tell a woman "I own a boat" lmao. I am not concerned with cosmetics (I will be doing the work on myself on some things I have already seen like worn out woodwork and hoping the canvas is in good shape. That may be the dealbreaker