Need help fast please ! Fever 27 purchase
 

I have been lurking here for 2 years. contemplating a purchase .
I have come across a 1997 fever 27, with single black block 502,
My dilemma is this,
1.the boat has been sitting for a year outside undercover .
2.Went out only once last year.
3.Motor supposedly rebuilt two years ago ( i can confirm this on Monday).
4.Windshield cracked needs replacing.
5.Side windows spiderwebbed pretty bad,need replacing.
6.Rear engine hatch cover needs replacing
7.Rear bench seat needs recovering.
8.Compass doesnt work.
9.Trailer is in terrible shape needs at least 1500 worth of work
and thats if i do it myself, or i can get a good used one for around 3000
10.Needs quite a bit of cleaning , but i think with the right stuff it will come out ok.
11.Salt water boat, i am on the coast.
12.Gauges may be ok , But the panel definately needs replacment .
13. Controls on steering wheel do not seem to work . and the steering wheel has a lot of mildew stains , will replace .
14.Boat has 222 hours on it.

I have no problem with doing all this to have a nice boat , pending i get a pretty good deal.
I like the graphics and color package of this one a lot.
He says make an offer on it and he is going to do some research to find out value. I know if he just looks around a little ,there are enough outrageously priced ones out there that he is probaly going ot come back with a high price.
Realistically What is this boat worth in this economic downfall?
I am going to pay him in cash , and have already left a 10k deposit.
But i have looked pretty hard , and have turned up a few super clean , almost new looking 27s in the same year <(one from a dealer ) for as low as 27k and that one was immaculate. But a long haul for me to go get. I also spoke with a guy that had a nice one with a blue block motor in it , fairly close to me that had his for sale for almost a year for 32k . I just wasnt ready to buy at the time.
Im ready to make a move but like i mentioned I do not want to overpay when i have quite a bit of work to do to it.
I actually brought the boat home yesterday, and had to struggle to get the hatch open, replaced the batterys ,and put a new ignition in it because he had lost the keys. I went through the trouble because I wanted to hear it runand check out the functions of the accessories.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Leads on a good deal gladly accepted as well.
THanks, Terry

Its a buyers market.

Put together a cost list to put it back to front line ready specs and subtract that number from the current market value.

Tom

Sounds like alot of work. If interested I have a 93 27 for $20,500.

You two haven't agreed on a sales price but you left him a $10,000 depost? I don't think Ive ever heard of such a thing.

Sounds like alot of work and that isn't including the unseen stuff. Sounds to me like he owes you some cash back

you have paid 10k, owe more and have passed offers from a little over 20k for a decent one?? thre was a thread a little while back.. a new fountain windshield was 8 grand.. interior etc over 2k, trailor 1500, your labor..$$$$ either he owes you money or you made a bad deal

Dookie,

Go pick up the boat or get your 10K back. Do not pay more than 10K you are embarking on a chit load more expensive vemture than i think you realize. 10K its ok, not any more, your going to drop another 10K to get this boat in good condition, another 3K on a trailer, BTW a 222 hours and motor was rebuilt, someone must have ran teh chit out of it, racing motors last that long. Take a look at this one. Where the hell were you a couple weeks ago, a guy in SC let a 27 go in perfect condition with 700hp for in the 20's

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...=labmarineinc&

yea I got the 27 in sc. got a GREAT deal super clean boat 2 small rips on the sun pad and lower rear seat.keep looking and one that you realy want will show up.(took me a year)

....
 

THank you guys for the honest feedback. I expected some harsh comments. Go easy on me ......

Anyways , I do like the colors on the boat alot as well as the options. Like i mentioned i dont mind doing the work, but I do want to know what an honest fair price for this one will be . If it isnt a fair deal for me , knowing i have to put some time it , i will walk away. Honestly I would think it is worth more than 10k. But that is why i came here , because i dont know the market as well as i would like to .
I dont know what the engine cover will cost from fountain but i would definately go that route on that particular piece. the back seat i can do local . The last engine cover i had done locally was totally rebuilt due to rotten plywood , and it cost me 400 , Although it was from a wellcraft and not as big , and 8 years ago.
Like i mentioned i am going to talk to the guy that has serviced the boat over the last few years , and is responsible for the engine rebuild , turns out he is a good friend of friend of mine.

I did give the guy 10k , in order to take the boat with me and do some checking out of my own, and to give him the security of knowing i wasnt just blowing smoke. He wanted to work on it sometime this week when he got the chance , and i knew that it wouldnt have happened very quickly.
Yes i Saw the ad for the 27 that just sold for the mid 20's, and was on the edge of my seat when i saw the Sold post. I would have snatched it up in a heartbeat.
Thank you again for any and all advice good or bad.

Dont do it!! It WILL be a nightmare.

Run man. Just get your money back and run. Why are you so focused on the "color"?

The money is in the azz end of that boat. From your story, you've made a hasty decision or something...

I will say this in writing and call me out later if I'm wrong - -

If you've found everything wrong (you have not) don't even plan on riding in the boat this summer. Listen to BajaWill.

If you don't want to deal with a dealer, that's one opinion. Forget buying a "giant problem" in this market. There's way too much out there to justify what you're doing unless you are a glutton for punishment and feel like pizzing away a ton of money only to have a below average boat for the money spent especially now. Sorry. You said take it easy but sorry again; I can't help it.

Buy another boat even if you hate the color. You'll live to regret this decision I'm afraid.

Are you up to speed on what happens to boats sitting around for 2 years etc?? Do you know how it was prepped before left to store? Have you priced an engine hatch from Fountain? I can tell you two years ago they wanted $1,038 plus shipping JUST FOR THE SKIN. Now if you're looking for a serious job and a very serious, lengthy project that keeps on going, go back and buy it.

The numbers look real obvious to me. I'd stay away.

The panel will be at least $300 and steering wheel will be $250-$450 for a nice one. How many hours just to do that panel. Then you'll want nicer bezels, guages. Ones that work. Think about all the possible corrosion that you haven't mentioned. Is it there or am I wrong? What do the trim pumps look like? Do they work? All the cables? Indicators?

That boat will need more than some storm windows and a paint job.

Please don't anyone take me for being a "know it all". But I, like a lot of other guys, have lived through a lot of modifications and constant effort to get it right this story sounds like all those other threads...

27 Fever are terrible handling boats . 24 Baja outlaw rides much better .I ran next to both of them and been on both of them.

Dookie...My advice is that there are a lot of different boats in that size range..its summer..the economy stinks and isnt getting better soon..save your money, thru in some gas money and try and get rides on a few different brands over the summer..there are deals out there, but they will be better deals after the season, when people are looking at paying winter storage and the price drops when they need to sell it and they are shivering in the cold showing it to you in the winter..

Well the guy's asking a serious question that involves a whole lot of doo doo. This thread was about him not us.

I think even a row boat would serve him better all things considered. I felt so sorry for Fountain that I just went and bought one. The season is so short in Southern California I figured I'd never run it enough to long for a Baja.

We're only talking maybe 300 plus hours a year. Now if I lived significantly closer to the Artic Circle then I would for sure need a Baja.

:evilb:

Stay away from that boat !!! Get your money back !!! I purchased a 2000 fountian 27 fever with 80 hrs this spring that is in showroom condition with trailer for 30K. You have been looking for 2 years ? You havent been looking hard ! There are Fountains out there, and it is a buyers market. The guy I bought my boat from was asking 49k. He said he wanted to sell it bad so I made him a offer and he took it. I thought about buying a project boat, but once I started shopping I found out real quick that I could buy a turn key boat and ride now and not have to do all the work on a project. Even if you get that boat for 10k, you will have more $ in it than it is worth. Thats my 2ct

I think you should by it, educations cost money and this one will cost you plenty.

Thanks for the positive reinforcement.

SDFEVER ,
Thank you for the sincere reply , and no your not offending me , at all. I totally understand where you are coming from .
Luckily for me i Run a rotating mechanical repair facility , with complete machine shop , Cnc capabilities , CNC waterjets , One standard , and One five axis.
Full sandblasting, and coating .
Luckily this kind of stuff and background lends a pretty good hand to Mechanical repairs.
I did confirm engine rebuild. Every mechanical thing seems to work pretty good .
I have crawled all over it and everything seems to be in place.
with little or no corrosion , which is all to common here .
Motor seems to run strong.
You guys definately have me thinking to take it back ,and wait .
THe only thing that slowed me down is the fact , that i have kinda watched the 27s for some time and didnt really turn up a lot of great deals. I wasnt officially shopping but more so scanning. It wasnt until recently that i got serious about looking for one.
Like i mentioned i almost closed a deal on one in Tennessee , a 94 model , in great shape and a 150 hours , without a trailer , but it was kind of dated in the style . So i backed off. I think i could have gotten it for 19 or 20k.
Anyway sorry for the long post . And i do appreciate all of the posts, and comments.
Terry

Wow wow wow frenchy my 27 handles pretty good in my eyes. 24 baja come on now really????????? Not trying to start Chit but the 27 is an awesome boat to learn on and a **** ton better than any baja under 30" To the o.p. just do alot of research on that boat and the 27 all together you wount be disappointed!Happy hunting!

^^^^^^^^^^^^ What He Said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I WANT WHAT THIS GUY IS SMOKIN OR DRINKIN!!
That is ridiculous to say!!

Dookie, where are you located?

lol wildman was looking at that thread just recently bajahahaha.

run from that never ending pile of work its like a iceburg all the real work is unknown

hello,ive got a ultra clean,low hour 1997 27 ft mint interior,mint hull/gel coat,new 2006 trailer,gauge bezels,well maintained 502 mag engine about 240 hrs,always serviced.recent all hoses,belts,plugs,wires,exhaust mainfolds (new stainless marine),2008 new starter,alternator, fuel pump,drive serviced (bellows,hoses,cables etc) asking 28000 630-747-8179 always garaged,new side glass tinted,windsheild perfect shape.I always change raw water pump and plugs for the season!

Ricric's fountain
 

Ricric,

Im interested. Send me the info on your boat and pictures. [email protected]

Ricric

Im interested in your 27 as well. i am looking at two local here in houston texas. send more info and pics if possible.

[email protected]

:Score-101010: WORDS OF WISDOM

Run,Run,Run !....Buy a nice one...You can always paint it later and stil be money ahead

There is a guy in my area of NC that has a late 90's Fountain 27 for sale for quite a long time. I test drove the boat before i bought mine and everything worked as it should.. The boat also has a good aluminum trailer.. This boat also has a freshly rebuilt Griffin 500HP 540HP and brand new drive. (over 14k and he has receipts) I know this boat could be bought for around 25K. It is a clean boat. PM me if you want a phone number...Jeff Wurl

jwurl, sent you a pm,don't know if it worked .
thanks Chris.

you must be hammed

run forest run buy a boat for fun not work my did a rebuild gig boat was never right he got ticked off and sunk it

Damn! 80hrs and only 30k! Nice buy from what I have seen! Let me know if you will sell it for that. :)