Boat knowledge needed

[Ringer]

Coach-go to www.westernbass.com and look in the classified section for a 2001 Champion 190SX. It has low hours and a 200 Merc Optimax engine. That is the best hull ever made and the boat looks brand new. He is asking $12000 but you can probably talk him down. Fish & Ski models don't bring the used prices a bass boat will but the hulls are very good. I owned a Champion 206 bass boat and it was the best I ever owned. Good luck.

[Coues Kid]

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy a family fishing/ski boat and almost pulled the trigger today. Luckily, the boat had a major failure in the steering linkage within minutes of starting our test-drive (the owner was driving, thank goodness).

 

I'm a research fanatic, so I have a pretty good idea of the type/brand of boat I think would be a good fit for our family. I've been looking at the Nitro 188/288, Ranger Realta (out of my price range), Procraft 181, Triton 188, etc.

 

So today I was close to buying 1996 Skeeter 200 SL, and met the seller at Roosevelt for a test drive. My first impressions were:

 

The bad:

Obviously, the entire steering system disintegrated. The cables that turn the motor were gummed up and frozen, so the steering box (adjustable tilt) had to take the pressure and basically turned to metal dust. An honest mechanic on Roosevelt has this fix at right around $1K for a non-tilt replacement. A new, fixed steering column and new cables at 16' to the motor. This adds a thousand dollars right off the bat, plus around $800 for a good, new trolling motor.

 

 

It's been sitting in the sun some, gelcoat is faded, carpet on the decks has been recently restored.

The seller, nice honest guy, has not really been proactive with maintenance. For sure, the impeller/water pump needs replacing, just a a 2-4 year upkeep (around $150). I haven't yet had the chance to do a compression test on the 6 plugs. This is a *massive* motor. and even something as simple as a new control unit is $1500. just for the part.

 

 

The carpet in the lower areas is pulling away badly and probably needs replacing and the fiber-glass floor is showing signs of cracking.

The cosmetic areas where hand-holds attach to the body show cracking in the white fiberglass.

 

The good:

It's 20' long and for a 15 year old boat doesn't show signs of abuse or neglect. It's got a Mercury 200 EFI motor that seems to run really strong (65+mph). He's got 2 stainless props - one, 4 blade and one 5 blade for skiing ang getting out of the hole.

 

The hull is in good shape, but has some smaller dings. Nothing major.

Cosmetically, it's OK, needs some work. Mechanichally, I'm not sure about the motor. If the motor is sound, the motor and trailer are worth more than the boat. If the motor has *any* issues, immediately we're looking at another 3+ grand.

 

So the good doesn't look that good, the bad is mostly cosmetic, but a comparable boat, a 1996 procraft Merc 200 EFi in Houston is listed at $10K. This one is around half that.

 

I want to get a nice boat to fish and play with my family, but I don't want to be dumping cash every year into a boat in it's last years.

 

Anyone out there with a good perspective on this?

 

 

 

 

Let it pass i have 96 proraft 375 bass boat great boats it has its scratches but it gets the job done and i wouldnt trade it for nothin. it has a 120 on it hit 56 mph at roosevelt.