Found some motors I'd like to buy being sold by Thunder Boats and Design out of Fort Myers. I've never done business with them before, add was on craigslist, etc. I'm a bit hesitant to send money sight unseen and just wait for delivery hoping for the best. I'd like to use a cash on pickup service, kind of the opposite of cash on delivery if your not familiar with it. Do any of you know of a company that provides the service or do you have any other ideas or words of wisdom to secure this transaction? Anybody local willing to look at them for me? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A Plane ticket and hotel for the night is cheap insurance

I'm in Fort Myers if you would like somebody to put eyes on them. I've never heard of that company before though. PM me if you would like me to take a look.
Edit, I just looked up the name, it's currently an inactive business in the state of Florida. One guy, looks like the address is his home. Offer still stands if you would like.

I have zero knowledge about the company you reference, but I do have a ton of knowledge about performance boating..There are too many horror stories about blind purchases that have been posted on this site. More than once, I've flown up and back to Miami in one day to inspect a boat I was buying. Spend the money for the plane ticket and check on it personally, it will very much be 'cheap insurance'!

Plane Ticket. Do not buy without your personal inspection. Leak Down, Compression and setup on Dyno, Big Purchase, you don't want to be scammed or a statistic

I can take a look at them if need be. Not sure what you are looking at, but i can do a compression and leakdown on them if needed

Thanks so much guys. Smashm is going to help me out. The builder is Robert Oetringer, they are zero hour rebuilt Mercury Racing 500HPs, now bored to 509's. Might of seen them for sale. Looks like they were listed on facebook for over a year.

He restored the Michelob Light Scarab for George Bochis. He's been around for a long time. Someone on this site definitely knows him. Put his name or the company name in the title.

I agree the trip is important when I bought my current boat is was 6 hours away I had it surveyed and all was fine in the report, but a little voice said hey your spending a lot of money take a ride. So I called a buddy we drove 6 hours test drove the boat I felt so relieved, bought it. PS we were in Maryland so what the hell we had a great crab dinner and drinks afterwards.

Long day but worth it

We just made a 10-hour run to test drive this. And towed it home the next day. AND when I hooked it up I found out my New brake controller didn't work for EOH!! I knew I knew shoulda drove da 6Fiddy lol. And for the record it is a 3500 Dmax anyway. 23K on Cat scales.
Talk about white knuckle for the 11 hours home. Always helps having your Good Friend along for the ride.