A small part of the hull cleaned up very easily with nothing more than a rag and some soapy water I had in the truck. So I have no concerns that I can clean it up nicely. All of the vinyl upholstery though it looks horrible, is still quite soft and comfortable, it should clean up very nicely as well. The interior of the berth needs the carpet cleaned but otherwise is in good shape as well. The bolsters are very comfortable I see why you guys like them so much. I would certainly be upgrading the gauges. Might go efi on the engine just depends what parts he has and what I'll have to come up with. The silent thunder had been disconnected and 4" pipes exit under it in a rather inconspicuous location.

I think we need to know what year, and what mods were done to the motor. Is it external hydraulic steering?

Is the filthy carpet at the same level up. the sides, almost like the cabin was flooded. I learned that the bilge and cabin are connected and if the drain plug was left in, the cabin fills up with water from the bilge.

There is no engine . Just boxes of parts that I haven't looked through yet. The carpet is just dirty where you step on it. The sides are decently clean. The hydraulic steering looks to be external as it is mounted to the transom on the outside. The engine parts I'm expecting to be risers, intake, carb, heads starter, alternator, stuff like that since it dropped 4 rods.

I would prepare yourself for a transom and stringers in that boat. The Silent Thunder where it attaches to the transom leaks unless it's kept maintained and sealed. That's where the transom in mine got wet.... bolt holes for the platform and the starboard exhaust tip.

I bought mine, an '89, in similar condition back in 2011 for $2900 on a very nice Owen and Sons trailer (I'm sure the trailer was worth more than the price I paid for the whole thing!). No outdrive but a good 454 Mag. I whacked that transom repeatedly looking for inconsistent/hollow sounds, and never heard anything out of the ordinary. I discovered the shot transom while trying to remedy an overheating condition (pinched water hose in the transom assembly... Bravo-itis). I went to install a thru-transom pickup, and my hole saw punched through like it was hollow.... because it was!

My advice... if you can get the boat for a song, and you're comfortable doing the work, go for it. If not, walk. There are lots of good deals to be had especially at this time of year.

True. I offered him 4 for it as it sits with the outdrive and prop. I can come up with engine and engine parts. I'll see what he says. The down fall to finding them for me seems to be the 900 mile trip to get them.

I hear you on traveling to get a boat. The travel expense often eats up any savings you get on the sale price.

$4k is generous on your part for that boat...but then again, you've seen it and feel comfortable with it.

Let us know what you do.

It feel it is solid. I gave the transom about the best inspection I could less drilling into it. The engine bay is spotless. Dry as a popcorn fart. Also I wanted to be fair to mark as well. He had over 70k in this thing over the years.

I would be extremely surprised if that boat has no rot. It seems every boat older than 2000 has some. The little stuff adds up quick. I am 25k into a boat that would be tough to get high teens out of. Tread carefully.

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/a...07138298_n.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/a...55522934_o.jpg

I understand what your saying sir. I have a 77 vector ultra lite and an 82 glastron ssv167 that I got a few years out of solid before I had to do structural work. These old formulas stick out to me for some reason. I know they were very well built in their time and even now are still tough. Of I end up with this one I definitely don't expect it to be trouble free by any means.