Help Buying Boat....

Hello everyone, I am really glad to have stumbled upon this forum, tons of information here.

The reason for the post is I was hoping to get a couple of opinions. I am considering buying a 1986 Ski Nautique however it has no reverse, the owner says forward works fine. It also needs a starter, which I think is not that big a deal. As far as the transmission goes anyone have a best and worse case here? Thanks for the help

Nelson

Well thank you for the information. I am in Maine but the boat is in Concord NH. The owner just sent me an email that someone has told him they want the boat but hasn't come up with any money yet. He was only asking $2500 for it and is going to let me know on Monday. Mabye I should have jumped a little sooner???? lol....

Again thank you for the information, this forum is fantastic....


Nelson

Thank you very very much for the offer. I will certainly let you know if that other person doesnt show with the money, but I have a feeling that he will.

I also just noticed that the boat is a 25th aniv silver edition. Does that really make any difference? I noticed one on the for sale list that says they rare and collectable and the price us up in the 7-8K rangle.

Thanks again for the offer

Nelson

Nelson-

You should consider that boat a $4500 boat from the start. You will spend 1K on the driveline. $500+ on the motor. Throw in another $500 for other stuff you find broken that needs fixed. And what about the stringers...etc?

Unless you really want a project boat don't buy this boat. For $5-7K you can find some great deals in november....possibly even a '93 without wood.

I know nothing about your mechanical ability or finances.... so you might consider sharing those.

Tim

Any news?

You don't know until you look. Does it start? If not, you have to wonder why someone wouldn't put a $400 starter in, a running boat ought to be worth a few grand more than a non-runner. But, the tranny doesn't work either - so maybe the owner says "what the hell, just get rid of it". Again, no way to know until you look. For me, if the boat wasn't abused looking, and stringers not gone, I'd turn the engine over with a breaker bar and at that price maybe take my chances. But, that's just me!

Ok, I think I got the pictures uploaded, let me know if this doesnt work.



1986 Ski Nautique Pictures

Well if the engine really does run I would give $2500 for it since it is a bit rare. Some wetsanding and cleanup on the gel would do it some good. Lots of cosmetic work that could be done to get it looking OK....but not new.

63 Skier wrote: Interesting! I'd be curious to hear from someone who knows more about these, I know very little, is that original upholstery or a re-do, the motor box looks a bit strange to me. The engine almost looks like it's been out in the elements, more like a car engine than an enclosed boat engine, not sure why. Lots of scuffs and scratches, maybe left uncovered a lot?

I've owned a Silver. For the Silver Nautiques, the interior is the same as other '86 Ski Nautiques but just in black and grey. Besides the obvious black and metal flake gel and graphic differences, the dash plate is the only other unique item to the Silver.

I can tell you from experience, keeping the gel looking showroom is difficult but really only elbow grease. The decals would be impossible to come by so you'd need to get those redone - which should be easy at any good sign shop.

The dash in another story. The dash was screened and when it starts to fade, it's gone. I had looked into getting some decals for the dash (wouldn't look the same but would be better than nothing) and may even have some files laying around for that.

I agree, the photos show that it will need a lot of sanding and buffing of the gel, but as long as those scratches aren't too deep, that should come back. The interior looks like it was redone. The black stripes look too thin and it's missing the dark grey stripe in between.

If you do a search in the Diaries for 'silver' you'll find 12 different boats listed. All of them have the interior shown here:



My guess is the engine looks like that because it had water in the bilge for long periods of time (multiple seasons at the dock with no cover?).

However, if the engine runs, I'd say easily worth the $2,500.

Nelson, good luck! I hope it works out for you. I would love to see another Silver Nautique in the neighborhood, on the site and at the Northeast Reunion.

-Keith

Will do, just saw your email.

That needs a full re-gel. Big time $ & time commitment. I'd keep looking.

This is a good example for the saltwater thread. It does not matter where it's used,if you don't take care of or have pride in what you own, this is how it turns out. Offer him 1000,run it until dies and part it out.
Mine was 4 years newer when I got it and I paid 150.00

Nelson wrote: Ok, so I need to get a couple more sets of eyeballs on this. Take a look at the underside of this boat. Wow what is up with that and how much would it cost to fix, or can it?? More Pictures of the 1986 Silver...Thanks to 63 Skier

WOW - Now that's one abused boat!

Nelson wrote: .. I am going to pass on this one. Thanks everyone Nelson

Good call Nelson. Boy, it is so painful to see a Nautique, never mind a Silver Nautique, looking like that. Very sad.

Best to move on.

-Keith

Man the outside of that silver has been beat all to hell, but interior looks good. She could be a buy, but would need some garage winter TLC to get her back sharp again.

So what do you guys think of boats with alot of hours and when I say alot I mean 2460 hours on a 1981 ski nautique. I have come across another boat however it has alot of hours. I owner says it's 100% but with that many hours I'm thinking not for long.....The interior has been redone but thats it. Engine and trans are all original. I will see if I cant get some photos up.

Nelson