So the boat I just bought was sold to me as a solid boat with no rotted stringers. I was cleaning the bilge and noticed a booger of silicone on the starboard side mount. I pulled it off and found a crack. I left it open incase and water got in there and had a small box fan blowing on it for a few days. I came back and the crack spread.

I think the motor mount base is shot. I can spin the lower pedestal lag by hand. Looks like I will have to take out the 350 and cut it open to see what's going on in there. I'm NOT happy and neither is my wife.

Is there anything I can do to the seller or am I stuck? I already recovered some seats, made a new engine cover, re-padded it and re-upholstered it. I also installed a new radio, speakers, dual blue tops and new 2ga battery cables.

This boat was bought at a local dry dock and they ( the owner and his son) stated the boat was solid.

I'm about to puke over this!!

Please advise

Have you approached the seller?
How old is the boat?
How long have you had it?
Did you pay fair market value for said boat or was it priced low?
Do you have anything in writing stating the condition?
Was the boat surveyed prior to purchase?

The seller is not returning my calls.
The boat is an 88.
I bought it below market value.
I bought it in May and only took it out once and had to get towed in.
I have nothing in writing.
I did not have it surveyed.

Buyer beware I guess.

I have the means and ability to fix it, but was hoping I had a structurally sound boat first and foremost.

If you have nothing in writing your pretty limited I'm what your able to do.. Most I can tell you is enjoy it the rest of the season.. At the end of the season, pull the motors and assess the damage.. If your lucky you can section off and change the rear section of the stringers .. Worse case full stringers, floor etc.. Like I said enjoy it now, sometimes a little crack can be a can of worms..2cents

Well, sorry to say, you're probably stuck with whatever issues it has.

I agree with new banana. I'd ride it out till fall time and really assess it then.
Repairing bad stringers is not all that bad. It's just messy and a bit time consuming.

Good luck man.

I filled the crack with West System's two part epoxy. I also drilled into the area just behind the crack in two small holes and pumped it full of epoxy also. I think this will hold for the rest of the season. I just won't romp on it and take it easy.

Thanks for all the help guys.

No reason to back down without a face to face meeting.

Did they post the condition of the boat as solid in an advertisement? If the boats condition was represented as solid, and you can still access the ad for the boat, you may have some grounds to work with.

Safe to say the seller was aware if they put a blob of silicone over the crack?

I had my good friend with me and he heard the guy state the boat was a solid with solid stringers. I just don't know how to get an old Craigslist post.

The boat was bought from drydock marine, a local drydock. This whole venture has me sick to my stomach. I think I'm gonna have to talk to my lawyer to see what can be done.