Making a trip this weekend to look at a 79 Excailbur with 454's and TRS stern-drives. I got the first dibs on the boat. (Friend of a friend). Is there anything I should look for?
One engine has been rebuild along with standard maintenance. It has new batteries, impellers, 3 blade Mirage propellers and a trailer.
He wants $8000 for it. Good price? I am worried about rot. Motor/glass work isn't a problem for me, I've done. I just don't know the market for a boat like this.
No, but I don't think it is even worth going to look at. It is only a hour or so from my location.
Most boat that I have found in this vintage are to the point where they need a lot of $$$ to fix them back up. This also includes new stringers and transom work. It is also my understanding that parts for the TRS stern drivers are getting harder to find.
In my mind 8-15K for a early 80's boat isn't worth the time, energy, or the cash. I would be much better off buying something a little newer. After I put the time and green into fixing up a old boat, I might as well go for something newer.
The only way I might consider a early 80 or late 70's boat is if I could get the whole ball of wax for under 5k. Then maybe, just maybe, it might be worth it.
Sorry for bringing up an old thread. I have the same boat that is in question. I have about $15,00 into it give or take. I paid $9500 for it in 2007, it came with a trailer. The boat just had the engines resealed and one new transmission in it when I bought it. In 2008 I had to have the other transmission resealed as the pump seal went out and I had it rebuilt at the same time. I would have done the job myself, I just didn't have a way to lift the engine/trans out. I also rebuilt one of the TRS drives. I was easy to get parts for, just spendy. The hard part is finding someone capable to work on one. Mine came with a trailer as well. The only thing I put into that was 6 wheel cylinders, a master cylinder and 6 new tires.
For what I have invested it is a fun boat.
But like all have said it is easy to spend money on these things. My transom had some leaks, those are all sealed and it has about 3 gallons of Git-Rot in it now. I know it isn't the right fix, but according to moisture meater, and small hammer transom is good for now.
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