Formula purchase process
 

New to the forum, new to boating, in the process of purchasing my first boat, a 99 252 SS.
Though still wrapped and winterized....visually it presents like a one owner boat should.......very minimal visible wear. I was able to get inside and look around.
If it passes a surveyor and mechanical inspection....would you forego a sea trial?
Here in the Midwest that won't be able to happen for sometime.
I welcome your comments

I would not, Id want to test it on the water performing as it should, we on here over the years have read all to often about purchases like this and some don't turn out well, may cost you thousands in the end

Dress warm and go for a ride. If you choose not to buy for any reason other than it failed sea trial you pay to rewinterize and wrap it.
31* here today and I just went out for 30 min.

21 year old boat . . . I'd do the sea trial with the surveyor.

Depends on what you're willing to lose. is this a $10k boat or $100k boat? The higher you slide up, the more you want to know what you're getting into. I made the mistake of not getting a survey done and regret it today! So.. FWIW, you're price point may vary, but had I known what I know now... I'd have most likely skipped it. saved myself a lot of hassle.

When i bought my 242 boat was in good shape ran it in the driveway, i knew it needed a tuneup, did all that got it on the water and it just didn't have that much power. Well long story short two weeks later we installed a remanned engine and ran great. Get a Survey and go for a ride it is worth the wait. Good luck

Thanks for the reply.

$20k boat

The owners say that they will prep the boat for inspection....(unwrap and make sure batteries are charged etc) If inspection survey and mechanical are good, I waive sea trial and move to close. If inspection fails, deposit returned, I walk away.

I have asked for a maintenance history, and to date have nothing.

NO history and no sea trial?

I agree....but the real problem appears to be ICE.....:)
I ain't skeeeeeered!

No sea trial, no purchase!!!

Most likely, if you can't sea-trial, what's the risk? Cracked Blocks? I just dumped 2 5.7s in mine. spent about $10k doing all the work myself. if they compression test the engine, that would be good enough for me I'd think in this price range. I assume they can run the boat on the trailer? start it up?

Is this boat still worth it if that's the case? Is the cost low enough to justify not water testing it, and discovering issues later?

Can you offer a deposit and they hold it until spring?

Anything 20 years old will have issues. What is your appetite for repairs? I do all my own work. Its free, I get to learn a lot, and I do it right...

Ideally sea-trial it, but if not possible, it's all risk/reward. I'd hate to get a new to me anything and have it not work. But I know buying in winter is double edge... cheaper prices... less water time.

I bought a jet ski one time and the warranty expired in march. I took it out with snow still on the ground to make sure it worked before the warranty was up! and fell in! that was a COLD ass day!

I found a local (to the boat location) surveyor through this forum and he did an inspection AND sea trial.
I think the money was well worth it!

There are a million things that won’t show up on a compression gauge or a maintenance record. Unless you know this boat, you might want to make the seller prove its worth your cash. In my opinion 20K is top value for that boat and it will likely still be there when the temps come up. Good luck either way.

Thanks to all of you for the advise.
At this moment I have elected to back away until I see 5 years of history of maintenance and participated in a sea trial...after I've had it properly surveyed and Mechanically inspected.
My belief is that the boat is probably just fine, but that no one in their right mind would buy it with the economy of info that i have.
The weather will break soon, and if it is meant to be the boat will still be there, and I'll go thru it in the correct steps to be comfortable.

MEANWHILE....Maybe I should start looking at a similar era 272 SR-1? or maybe a 292 SR-1 Who says my first boat shouldn't be FAST and have twins?

I actually HAD TWINS one before in my life, in college, it was a first (and last)..... and they were FAST too...:)......

Hummmmm......