Originally Posted by ICDEDPPL

38k FIRM. That means 38k, nothing less. No negotiating, no BS. You want a survey, get one. Turn key and good looking boat! Additional pictures available. Trades considered for newer diesels or boats. Boats must come with 50% cash. Trucks I am open to 100% trade. Trade value is 45k.
Super tall freeboard as it’s a 38 cut down 5 feet. Twin big steps. 540’s N/A making 650HP. Boat runs low 80’s. Bravo 1’s with nose cones (changing to standard lowers) 30P bravos. Hydraulic steering. Carbon fiber interior (Years old, has wear) Hull has 200 hours, 170 scanned hours when 502 MPI’s were removed. Hull and interior show their wear as expected. Cabin has fridge, pump out head, AC (no genny) and more. It rides great.
Boat is turn key. Engines have around 25-30 hours. Some blemishes to be expected for a 1998. Clear peel on deck and sides in spots. Outside of typical wear and tear, boat is in good shape. Would consider it a strong 7.5/10. Triple axle trailer ready to haul. Hatch and back seat have stains and cracking but shows well. Structure overall seems solid. Stringers are bulky. Transom shows 9% all across the board with no hollow spots. Boat is dirty in pics, has since been detailed.
-540ci
•Eagle 4.250 crank
• Eagle 6.385 H beam rods
•SP 10cc dome pistons
•Total Seal file fit rings (.028/0.32 for sustained 5000RPM in poker runs)
•Clevite HXN Rod bearings
•ARP L19 rod bolts
•Melling M77HV oil pumps
•Edlebrock Performer marine heads
•New springs, locks, keepers, valve seals, and titanium retainers
•Inconel exhaust valves
•Fresh valve jobs
Comp 1620 roller rockers
•Isky 3799hyrt hydrualic roller lifters
•Isky custom ground camshafts (246/252
.632/632 114LSA) installed at 113.
•Comp dual roller adjustable timing sets
•Holley warrior intake manifolds, port matched to heads
•Proform 950cfm carbs with a 2in spacer
•Hp500 wiring harness converted to HEl
Ignition with MSD distributors
•EMI thunder exhaust
A personal friend built the boat. Paperwork available for the engines. All good parts and flawless mechanically. Book value with stock 502’s is 48k. Comparables on the market are 55-60k plus. One of the cheapest Zx’s out there. Can sell privately or through my business. No inside financing however. Water test with deposit.
Located in 48023. Fair Haven, MI. Any other questions not answered, ask.
If not sold before being stored, it will be getting the back seat and hatch redone, sea deck, deck recleared over winter and price adjusted accordingly come spring to 50k.
****** Currently winterized ******

Originally Posted by SeaNile31

Once I figure out the logistics if this can work at all then I can adjust my budget. Currently I don't have access to a high and dry and trailer in and out is not an option. That's why as bad as a bottom painted boat is, it would actually work for me. If I can find a floating dock/hydro hoist then I am good to go. As far as budget, I highly doubt 20-25k will do it and it will all depend on the boat. Single is the way to go for simplicity and "economy" which is why I keep coming back to the 27 or possibly 29 Fountain.

Also having serious doubts about that 29 with a carb and procharger....and bottom paint. I just may never be able to sell that thing. Asking 39k and has 280 hrs since top end so it should have the lifters and such done.

Might be time for a deep breath and reevalute everything. It's mid November, boating season is a solid 5+ months away and i have no dock. A sane man would say just forget it and have fun on my current boat.

Originally Posted by SeaNile31

Since it is widely accepted that the bottom paint is a killer for resale, and the carb/procharger thing AND it looks a bit dirty in the bilge to me I can't help but wonder what this thing will go for. "If your first offer wasn't insulting then it wasn't low enough." Always loved that line.

It's not like we are taking a 10/10 cream puff here. This boat has some serious negative things going for it but if the price is right. Just need to see what that price is.

How do you even begin to formulate an offer for this boat? Asking $39,900 but it's at the hours where it needs lifters, etc., then comes the whole issue of the bottom being painted and a few other things. I'm sure to the owner it's provided 4 years of reliable and trouble free use. It's kept in the water hence the reasoning for bottom paint. Hopefully the single version doesn't sit so low that the transom or stringers are wet. That can be determined with a $500 survey.

I never go by the NADA or JD Powers value but when I looked up the info on a 1997 29 Fever, single engine, highest HP offering it comes up with a low of 18900 and average retail of 20,475.

Originally Posted by Interceptor

In your first post you said this "Looking for a fun, 70mph+, reliable and affordable boat for next summer." Considering the age and model of boat you're fixed on you could probably get two of those wants but not three.