blue motors have nothing to do with it...that consideration has long since been taken out of a price like that. It's about a FW black motored boat @ 85-90K vs this salty one @ 65K.

without taking the engines apart you just don't know. If the heads manifolds pumps ect, ect. are junk or soon to be...you can spend 20K in a hurry, and then there's the bottom.

It is probably worth a look at 60K, but consider the worst case scenario with everything in regards to SW...period...

Awwwww, you're making me blush Rippem

I pretty much agree with the "no salt" thing for all the good reasons brought up by Rip and others. However,,,,,,,,, 64k (or maybe even 60K) for an '00 353 is pretty tempting. First off. it's worth the ride to see what this thing really looks like. Hell, Rippem and I were just talking last night,,,,, we've both traveled at least that far for fresh water boats that were absolute trash. But, you don't know 'till you actually view it yourself.

Why not just go see it and get the real scoop for yourself (oh wait, I know, because you're working the same long-ass hours as I am!!).

Anyway, it may be worth a few extra outta-pocket grand for manifolds and other stuff. Man, to tell ya the truth, I may just go down there first!

ThirdBird,
You've got a good point, go see it in person then make a decision. Bad part, no time until the end of the month.

Yeah, I figured as much. With these outages, our spring time is pretty much done for.

I used to really like spring snowmobiling up on the hill. Great snowpack in the woods, could get off the trails and ride right through the woods. Not anymore. Can't do chit in the spring now (except make extra $$$$$ for summertime)

Just for the heck of it I called the boys at Fast Forward in Brewerton, NY (Onieda Lake) to see how much to strip bottom paint... Matt said $100 to $300 a foot depending on what kind of bottom paint. He also said that if it was the teflon speed paint, the price would be closer to the $300 per foot. Traditional bottom paint, black or blue, closer to the $100 per foot. These guys do a great job with finishing and repair to boats, so I would put the faith in their opinion and estimate for the job. They also said it would take a while to complete. If they got too heavy with the sanding before the paint was put on, you may have to re-gel the bottom!

Hope this helps..and thaks Fast Forward! 315-676-3317

The Senetor has spoken!!!!!!!!!!

Where the heck have you been lately? Think you can just barge right in here start pontificating on bottom paint? Just like that?

New rule: If you lurk too long without posting, (like you do), you must first reintroduce yourself........................

"Hello, my name is Axapowell and I'm a lurker"

How ya doin' buddy

what he said...

Just went over those paint removal numbers in my head.

OMG

We're talking like 10,500 bucks to strip a 353!!!!!!! Might as well mold a new hull for Pete's sake.

I'd be doing a whole lot of personal hand sanding before I'd pay 10 grand to have my bottom stripped. Hmmmmmmmmm,
"bottom stripped", how apropriate.

Strip? Yea, that seems like a lot to me as well, but as Matt put it, you never know what that paint is hiding. Why is it bottom painted anyways? I've heard that a lot of performance people in salt paint the bottoms? WHY? To me it ruins the boat. We should start a new thread that surveys the performance boater and see how many do paint the bottom.

BTW, check around...I post...sometimes...sorta of...well maybe I do...a little?

I agree, it totally ruins the boat. Some boneheads even anti-foul the drives!!

If I were buying a used boat that was moored, I'd rather it be non-painted with sea-scum grown all over it. It's easier to get that chit off than it is to get paint off. If there are some areas of blistering, they can be fixed. Still easier than grinding a combination of bottom paint and sea-scum off.