Boat purchase question, need some input

The guy down the road from me is selling his boat, 1984 Champion bass boat with trailer and 150 mercury. He only wants 1000.00 for everything. He said the lower unit on the motor went bad and needs fixed. Everything else on the boat is in great shape including the trailer, trolling motor and 2 fish finders. Nothing mechnically wrong besides the motor. Would it still be worth it to purchase the boat even with the lower unit being bad?

As with everything boat related .... it depends.

You are looking at a 30 year old boat with a bad motor. Old technology, old wiring, old hull, old carpet, old flooring, etc etc etc .... old isn't always bad, but the boat will most likely be a pretty big project.

If you want a project, $1000 isn't bad .... but be prepared to put a couple more thousand into it.

Got any pics?

Those 80's Champions were great hull designs. If all that is wrong is the lower unit, it is worth it. Is that motor a XR6 or a Tower of Power?

The inside of the boat is almost spotless, good carpet and flooring, few dirt stains from normal use but nothing major. Im pretty sure its the XR6, motor also has a brand new prop that was only used once when the engine went out.

Im trying to find a used lower end or just another motor all together that wont break the bank.

MrSimon said:

As with everything boat related .... it depends.

You are looking at a 30 year old boat with a bad motor. Old technology, old wiring, old hull, old carpet, old flooring, etc etc etc .... old isn't always bad, but the boat will most likely be a pretty big project.

If you want a project, $1000 isn't bad .... but be prepared to put a couple more thousand into it.

Got any pics?

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X2 I would also add it’s not always what you can see, it’s what you can’t that will get you,

Is it possible you buy it, get a lower unit for it, do nothing else and have many trouble free boating days with it? Yes it’s possible but it’s not probable.

Anyway you look at it you’re going to be making a minimal initial investment of $1500. $1000 for the boat and at least $500 for a lower unit to have it fixed or get a used one if you can find it. It pretty much comes down to how much it’s really going to need, and it’s going to need something, and how much you can do yourself. It’s a roll of the dice.

You need to check the transom and stringers for rot and the hull being waterlogged before you start throwing money at it.

2sac said:

You need to check the transom and stringers for rot and the hull being waterlogged before you start throwing money at it.

Click to expand...

Agreed!

I would think that with the interior of the boat being in good condition that it was either under cover or stored inside. If so there should be no rot. How does the finish look on it? How many people have owned it? Post some pics of it if you can.

Not sure on your location but here is a motor. https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/bod/3745440013.html