Hi all!

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.

Thoughts?

A boat turns to crap every 10 years, give or take. If that one has been redone twice, it's due again. Depends on where in the cycle it is.

Get it surveyed. Don't be afraid to walk away. It would be easy to dump 60K or more into an old Excalibur. Cool boats though.

Hell for 8 K ,,,i take it !!!!

The glasswork if needet maybe 10 for mat. engines another 10 for good power and TRS well if they are ok leave them if not an other 10 K for bravos.

So even in the worst case 38 K for a real good running all new 32 footer ,,thats cheap !!!

And these boats are great !!!

Hull is exactky the same then the old 10 meter fountain and my 32 Aero - Tek !!!!

Your kidding! You would have to be crazy to do something like that!

Let's not talk about crazy. I thought I was being conservative!

I'd never do nothing like that.

I would never put that kind of money in that old of a boat . but if it runs good and the interior is nice buy it and use it .

This one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-...3A1|240%3A1318

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.

What do others think? Am I off base?

You are right unless the boat has some particular significance to you or it's a labor of love. Otherwise, go buy a nice 32' Active Thunder.