Hopefully Scott has really thick skin, because when you come on here and state you just bought a boat with a HOLE in it, then ask "Why is it sinking?", you are in for a ride......

The Prince promised me first. My first call will be to Dan at OL for a nice little SV of some type, then I'll start to worry about which Viking model I'm going to order.

Man you guys are being hard on him, He doesn't seem like an idiot that just wants to go boating, he knows what he bought, knows what work its going to need and bought it at the "right price".

Atleast he's keeping an eye on it, how many boats are out there and people have no clue about there soft transom, yet load it full of people? How many of these boats go out in a lot bigger water then what's in MN with these soft transom?

All these negative comments are what are killing this sport and driving people away from it.

Agree with the above ^^^^ The op has himself a bit of a project and he new it when he handed over the cash.

Scott, take the advice and get this thing looked at. You might be sitting on a couple of minor repairs or it could be a potential disaster. If it's the latter, you'd better find out quickly.

BTW, I kinda like the cynical comments, they keep me from going insane. Hope Scooter doesn't take them too seriously.

RR

If you read my opening question in this thread it has nothing to do with the transom, it asks about starting engines and the possibility of there being a breaker that was keeping both from starting (first step to getting this out of the water is being able to move it).

On topic of a soft transom, haven't we beat this one to death? In some of my other threads I have stated the problem is known and will be getting fixed off season. Before even putting this in water I did my best to jump up and down on the drives looking for movement, when none was detected I decided to put it in the water. We also learned in those threads that a very high % of boats 15-20+ years also have bad transoms that people just are not aware of. I do not believe this is a highly unusual situation...have you checked your transom today?

I'm starting to understand the tone of this forum/site and I do have thick skin when appropriate. It does however get to be a bit difficult to respond when comments tend to drift off topic.

Deleting the evidence of these questions cracks me up, that is a guilty and negligent move if I ever heard of one. First, you cannot delete from the internet, you may be able to fool yourself into thinking you can, and good luck with that. Secondly, all of these questions are being asked in order to learn how best to deal with a given situation, the intent is to reach out for expert advise and act on it where applicable. You can also see in one of my other threads that yes, the boat is insured.

Let's face it, any boat 15-20 yrs old is, was or probably should be a "project" boat....there are exceptions so you don't have to call these out for me.

The vision I have is that by this time next year, the transom/stringers are replaced and this is of no concern....but i know there will be a "next thing" shortly thereafter that will need to be addressed.

I do understand I tend to approach things in a manner often different from others, however I would like to believe there is a method to my madness.

Well, it's time to walk out to the dock and see what's in store for today. I'm kinda bummed out the local west marine doesn't even carry sea pump rebuild kits because I was looking to rebuild my first today, thankfully I can get one faster from amazon.

So keep it coming, please try hard to be a bit more positive, but if it isn't possible, so be it, I still want to hear your feedback.

$135,000 25' Colbalts, an aging demographic, and weak middle class are killing the sport.

His boat almost sank, that's a pretty big deal. He said he was going to drive around a boat with known structural issues...that has the potential of not ending well.

I don't wish ill of the guy, it just seems a strange way to go about your first boat with issues. We need people like him in the sport, project boats are a way of life now with all these aging boats, but be safe about it. In the end it's all about leaving and returning to the dock safely.

Maybe I'd have gone about it a bit different but you're in it now Scott...best of luck and check that bellows.

I gotta believe it's a given that he is thick skinned . Being he is Thickheaded not listening to people telling him to not buy the boat to begin with.

To each his own.

I Have done my fair share of stupid purchases in my lifetime also, many of them being boats.

We don't know the purchase price of the AT.
That said, just because the boat needs some rot repair, doesn't make it a fools buy. If any boat with a soft transom and/or stringers was non viable, there would be very few boats around.

I bet there is a very large number of boats in service with soft transoms and bad stringers and the owners think they are solid.
The OP's boat looks to be a good start and, if he doesn't get run off, he may just keep at it and bring it back to "like new" condition.

Or its people buying 15-20yr old boats that need work coming on here asking for help and getting blasted that is killing our sport.

If you have read any of his other threads he knew what he was getting himself into, I would hardly say engine up to the bottom of the crank pulley is almost sinking. Standing in a foot of water is almost sinking, I have done!!!!

I have looked at plenty of boats that need transom repairs, I have bought a few of them, and have turned into good investments, Yes I said boat and investment in the same word, just don't tell the water gods!!

Cummon, give this guy a break. He is one of the most entertaining posters this summer. Including his Avatar, Attitude and Acquisitions.
Scott keep up the good work!