Not exactly what you're looking for, but a helluva boat for the money it seems
... http://joplin.craigslist.org/boa/5087054441.html

Double your $$ and get this...http://fayar.craigslist.org/bod/5043404419.html
When I see new engines in boats, is it safe to believe that the transom and the rest of the boat is structurally sound?
Surely somebody wouldn't do fresh engine rebuilds/installs on a rotten boat?

RYes, if the structure has high moisture or rot the meter should find it. Wood is a sponge, so it will keep the moisture for a long time.

Always liked formulas, the lines are timeless. Good luck with the purchase and sleeping. Always love purchasing a new boat.

At $10,000 its tough to find a turn key boat. I looked for months. I looked at probably a dozen boats. They were all junk. Anybody with a truly turn key boat was asking $14-17k. I gave $9500 for my 242. It was by far the nicest $10,000 boat I looked at. I did a transom over winter, replaced the transom assembly, new intake manifold, installed all new gaskets on the motor, new oil pan, new batteries, new exhaust risers (old ones were not high enough), and new GPS. I am now in the boat a total of $12,500. It is 100% turn key. I would say if you got a 242 for $10,000 and it is ready to go you are doing good!

Thanks, I don't expect turn key I know it has a lot of little things and I'm good with boats but I don't want a bad hull/engine right from the start. Surveyor is checking it out tomorrow!

Actually doing my transom wasn't that bad. It cost me $450 to fix. If I knew about it before the purchase, and the boats price reflected it, I would buy a bad transom boat again.

I have about 15K in mine and it has yet to see the water since 2012! Still a work in progress, and to be perfect would need another 5-7. Those 272's are starting to look might tempting! J/K!!

Transom/stringers/main bulkhead. The back-half of my boat had to be redone. Big job! But I bought her knowing I'd probably need to get into some big things (and when I bought her, you couldn't find a 242 Bravo boat for under $18K).

If there is any moisture in the back end of the boat, walk away. There are lots of good boats out there for sale!

I like the colors! But may be partial to them.....

Well the survey didn't go so well but glad I had one done. The transome checked out okay, the port stringer showed in the moist range and the starboard showed wet. Found a crack in the fiberglass and was able to stick a screwdriver down in and pull out wet wood. I told the broker who claims he had no idea, I told him not to call me back unless they would do 4k

Sucks dude. You really wanted that boat.

I'm new to boat ownership (not boating per se), and I followed the advice of the forum last year to have a survey done on an '89 Baja 280 Sport....$600 later and it too ended being a no sale....especially when an oil alarm went off on one engine when they were coming back from the sea trial. doh...

That boat is still for sale on ebay,

Have you no interest in twins? Can your budget increase any? Could be some good deals to be had. I've been looking relentlessly everyday.