1989 Cafe Racer inspection tips?!
 

Put a deposit on a Cafe Racer today, going to pick it up next week.. i know every boat has their weak spots and from the research ive found there were a few Cafe's with transom issues where the k-planes mount up.. Should i be concerned about this? should i remove a lower tab bolt on each side and check? should i buy a moisture meter? honestly im still kind of new to the boat thing, i got lucky with my Baja but want to make sure this boat is right. im open to any tricks, tips, etc when it comes to inspecting this thing.. post articles or whatever youve got, any help is appreciated..

PS.. SO ****ING EXCITED TO BECOME A CIGARETTE OWNER! :)

Justin

Check the transom, but its not a k plane position issue as much as if whatever they were sealed with is still holding up.

one word... SURVEY !

good luck!

big +1

Any references on the survey? Boat is on Long Island..

I have no refs for you but I would get a survey... Is this boat in Freeport by chance

Yes it is.. Know anything about it? Haven't been able to find any history on it, supposedly it came from Michigan..

This one?

http://longisland.craigslist.org/bod/4231458496.html

Just tap around on the inside of the transom you'll know pretty quick if it's bad or not. Usually the problems are around the taps or transom assemblies.

I have three for you.

1) Pat Dender (Accredited Marine Technologies); (732) 988-5483: He is located in south Jersey but will travel (He went to Rhode Island for me). He is extremely knowledgeable and can/will do compression / leak down / balance tests on the engines which you absolutely should do. I have used him on my two Fountain pre-purchase surveys; he is very thorough; you will pay him a few extra bucks to go to Long Island, but absolutely worth it. I also call him pretty frequently to pick his brain on stuff and he is always helpful and responsive. Great guy' I cannot say enough good things about him. If you call him, you can tell him Neil H. referred you.

2) Mike Kurnides (516) 637-5854: Haven't used him personally, but a close friend has on two of his boats and swears by him.

3) Greg Michael: (631) 806-2628: Haven't used him personally, but recommended highly from the guys at my marina.

Have it surveyed, worth every penny spent. You can ask to have the surveyor to walk you thru the boat, I did mine over Skype. Be excited about the purchase but be ready for whatever the survey reveals. Hope it all goes well and you end up with the boat.

Yes, that is the boat.. I have a good size no refundable deposit on it so it would be hard to walk away at this point, it was a very impulsive move on my part and I'm aware that a survey would be worth it.. Don't care about mechanics or upholstery, just for that hull to check out ok!

That is a great deal if the transom is solid

If you have a good size, non refundable deposit down ask them to remove the add, at least till you get your survey. You gotta think they are getting a lot of calls on that deal. It would not be cool to lose the boat, and the $$. Good luck,

Good point.. He said they are getting lots of calls, but I have all the evidence of payments and whatnot, I suppose until it's paid in full it's still their boat..

You'll most likely need a survey to insure it either way.

Welcome Aboard....!!

When my father put a boat lift in last year I had him install one that could hold my boat with the thought in the back of my mind that if I ever moved on I'd just keep the Cafe. Well that price has confirmed that I will keep it forever.

CONGRATS on the purchase - youll love the boat, lines, useablilty...........

Keep the thread updated on your purchase. I agree as stated above it's a great deal as long as transom is good. If not and your already committed, financially and mentally, so be it and figure out the best solution. Sounds like you want to be hands on and breath some life into the boat anyway.

Yeah I'm a mechanic by trade, just not overly knowledgable on the wood/glass side of things, or sewing up new upholstery, but upholstery I'm not too worried about, that's a winter project. I'm hoping I can get a survey for around 500, I'll make some phone calls tomorrow and see if I can make a deal. The marina said they never had one done because it wasn't necessary because its a Cigarette. That makes me want to get one done even more, although Aqua Marina Worldwide seems fairly reputable from what I've found. I'll keep you all posted as the process continues, thanks for the help and advice!

Justin

Yikes!! that comment from them is ridiculous... doesn't matter who makes the boat.. if it's been in the water.. have it surveyed.. good luck!

I agree completely with the survey thing but if he already has a 'good size no refundable deposit' on the boat and it's selling for 20K... just buy it and save the survey cost. Worst case - A new transom is how much in Maine? 4 - 6K??

I say this assuming the buyer has at least inspected the boat himself and heard the motors start and run on a hose at least.

Well I live in Maine so getting down ahead of time without losing my chance was out of the question so I took the risk of putting a deposit on it.. I've received a short video of the boat running in the water and it will be put on a hose when I get down there for me to check over completely..

It appears that it doesn't have external steering which is fine, but does it cause any stress on any components that I should be looking at?

I know it would be nice to do a survey and know exactly what I have but it's also gonna cost me that much to go get the boat.. I'm gonna be in it enough that it'll be hard to turn around and walk away.. That being said, any Cigarette lovers near Freeport that might care to lend another set of eyes at something I might miss? ;)

Justin

If you want I can look at it if you want me to pm me you number...glad to help out a fellow cig owner...or anyone for that matter

http://www.namsglobal.org/

or

http://www.marinesurvey.org/

Park35, you have a PM sir..

i think im gonna give it the weekend to think about the survey.. ideally, yes, i should do it, but either way im pretty committed at this point. i might have it done up here in maine in the spring and set an agenda then in what direction to go in.. i think at this price, i cant really get too hurt on it either way, even if it needs transom work (according to the marina, its solid as a rock.)

i will say that if its garbage and i cant turn back on it, i will make it my civic duty that no one on OSO will ever buy from them in the future.. im putting some faith in the dealer, which is hard to do this day and age, but im honest and expect it in return.. we'll see what happens!

Justin

Most Cigs are solid until someone messes with them drilling holes and not sealing right, I think for 20,000 I would care less about a survey, I do my own with a small hammer that tells what you need to know, and even if you buy that boat and sink 10,000 or so into it (and you will) over a period of time, whats wrong with that??? still a Cafe around 30,000 or so, not a bad deal at all and one hell of a good riding boat!!!!

I put lots of money into my Cig, dont care because I see no plan to sell anytime soon, I LOVE my boat, only thing I want lore right now would be a 41 Apache, that isnt happening, so I have no issue putting money into mine...

good luck get us more pics!!

:ernaehrung004:Welcome to the family

Will call u in a little while

This forum is only as good as the people on it are, and I'm finding out they are pretty damned good.. Thanks to everyone for their help!

Forward stringer starboard side brake..if you see stress cracks on the bottom just forward of the steering wheel then the stringer is about ready to come through..i have see 2 that we fixed and they were lake michigan boats..they were one of the first ones built,,since cig made the stringers stronger..wisk my pc did not crash,,lost all my old pic's fron back in the day of fixing broken stringers..

Newbie question of the day, but when you say bottom you mean the bottom outside of the hull just forward of the steering wheel area correct? tap around there and check for cracks? this is the first im hearing of this spot, good to know!

Justin

If it's a salt water boat (it has a Jersey reg. and it's being sold in Freeport, L.I) it could have very well been affected by Sandy .........alot of boats in my area (N.J. & L.I.)
have come up for sale after Sandy so just beware...........I would definately get it surveyed!............If they find something really negative and you still want to go foward
with the sale you'll have a major bargaining chip.......I would not commit on final price until after a survey is done. Also, don't show them that your "Very Excited" about
the boat ........they love that!

It came from Michigan over the summer is what I've been told, I'll be asking for proof of that transaction, don't you worry! Already thought the Sandy thing through.. Thanks!

Justin

That's what they told me when I called them about it.

Glad the story remains the same.. I tentatively have another cafe owner and member on here that is going to look at the boat for me next week, it'll be good to have an unbiased third party opinion, And hopefully it's all good news to report..

Justin

Good luck with purchase! Spring is right around the corner...or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Although it was -7 here last night it's supposed to rain and warm to the 40's for the next 5 days.. But I know as soon as I get it we'll get a giant snowstorm.. It is January and this is Maine after all! Hopefully next Friday is the day, it's gonna be a long week!

Justin

Damn you. Almost stole that boat from you tomorrow morning. Seller started to play games with me and was real rude. Hopefully you have a better experience than I had... Was looking forward to putting that boat back together

Haha, he has been good with me so far, it's more a thing of how truthful he is about the boat now, which I'm hoping to hear more about on Monday..

Ya he was very professional and then all of a sudden he was like acting like a teenager. Hopefully it works out. It's hard to believe people can let some boats get so bad...

I agree, but then there's this giant group of us that can't wait to bring them back and make them better than when they left the factory..