Looking at an older 14ft aluminum, need advice.

Hi.. forst time posting. have been looking to get a 14ft aluminum boat for fishing smaller lakes close to home with my two rug-rats and my wife when she wants to venture out. I have been shopping the internet and local classiied ads. it seems that people want big money for sloppy messes and why do they not take care of thier stuff. any way on to my question.

I located a 69' smokercraft with trailer, newer minn kota, depth finder, vests, battery.. basically all set up for the water. It seems like a solid well built boat, and best of all it has been modified already to include a full carpeted platform. Seems to be in decent shape and kept well.

I need to decide quick on it, becasue i have a feeling it won't last. It is $1,200.00 with the trailer and all. it needs some tlc, maybe some undercoating or paint and a good detailing.

How are these older "Semi tri-deep aluminum" designs? How do they float? will it be topsy? Seems wide and stable on the trailer and the floor seems to be solid.

What do you think I should do? Snatch it up or let it pass?

:WELCOME:

Thanks for joining!

Looks like a nice boat. Open floor too for the little ones. I say go for it, but offer no more than 1K (times are tough right now :LOL2

Let us know what you decide!

Thanks.. he was asking 1500.00 and he said 1,200 is his bottom cash price. I would feel bad asking him to reduce 1/3 of his original asking., besides the Minn Kota 55, long shaft and new battery are worth at least 300.00

$1200????

Holy cow. :shock:

I may be out of touch on old boat prices but I bought my 1448 jon with carpeted floor plus an outboard for $800.

Quackrstackr said:

$1200????

Holy cow. :shock:

I may be out of touch on old boat prices but I bought my 1448 jon with carpeted floor plus an outboard for $800.

Click to expand...

well I have looked at a quite a few and it seems they hold their price once you get to a certain style. Take a look at an example of a 90's lund with an outboard. https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1993-Lund-14-Deep-V-9-9-Merc-Trailer_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem130296793064QQitemZ130296793064QQptZFishingQ5fBoats

I can always pass and find a virgin Deep V, but i feel I would put about 1k into it with deck material, trolling, battery, trailer. I can't find a deep v that is decently wide for under 1k in NorthEast PA.

for 1200 and possibly another 900 in material and an outboard motor, this boat could be a gem.

Seems a bit high to me. I'm going this weekend to look at a 1988 Tracker Guide V-16 Tiller with a 9.9 and he's only asking $1200. The boat/trailer/motor books for $990.

Average retail on a 16', 1971 Smokercraft is $590 (14' would obviously be less).
Average retail on the trailer is $100~$115

I understand the paper value of the boats, but I have not been able to find one set-up like this for under 1500.00. If anyone has a lead.. please let me know, I have cash and I am ready to buy now.

Thanks for the tips.

it's a buyers market right now. I'd offer him less and see what happens.. I gave $100 for my boat, built the trailer for another $100, maybe got another $500 into it, but no one right now would give me $1500 for it . (besides the fact I wouldn't sell it .....lol ) also keep in mind about NADA prices. they say my 74' 25 HP johnson is only worth $50 .. lmao .. come on man , wouldn't sell it for less than $300 either... A good deal is relative, if you think you got a good deal, then you got a good deal, if you think you got screwed , well then you got screwed. I'd say if it's what you want then go for it .

Money can feel like it's burning a hole in your pockts sometimes,can't it.
If your happy with that price and think that boat is right for you and your family,by all means get it.Heres a few I seen on craigslist(I hope this is where your from?)
https://altoona.craigslist.org/boa/1083360575.html
https://erie.craigslist.org/boa/1101579834.html
https://erie.craigslist.org/boa/1096952994.html
https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/boa/1099956699.html
https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/boa/1091737654.html
https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/boa/1065618069.html
https://lancaster.craigslist.org/boa/1093310996.html
https://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/1102772030.html
https://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/1098462712.html
https://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/1075180871.html
https://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/1063425710.html
https://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/1088144885.html
https://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/1057968990.html
https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/1092353862.html
https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/1083315015.html
https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/1084401823.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/1101981604.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/1101943049.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/1096768551.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/1093659390.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/1100461269.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/1088514589.html
https://scranton.craigslist.org/boa/1069072594.html
https://pennstate.craigslist.org/boa/1092230601.html
https://williamsport.craigslist.org/boa/1089077914.html
https://york.craigslist.org/boa/1092469171.html

Sorry if these are far from you,there where tons more in your price range.
Good luck.

its the start of the season everyone wants top dollar rigt now but up here that would be a fair buy for that boat in another month you could buy it for a grand

I agree with others on the price being a little high. I'm sure you can find a better deal with outboard included.

I bought a 14' flat bottom Jon (70s something Smokercraft) with 9.9 Gamefisher (1996 runs good) outboard and trailer for $1200. Essentially I paid $600 for the boat and trailer, and $600 for the motor. This was in June 2007. Without an outboard I don't think this is a good deal.

I didnt see an outboard listed.

and no the trolling motor and battery dont equal $300. I picked up a 40lb minnkota last summer for $50. I got my 14' Alumacraft with trailer and 6HP johnson for $750.

a cheap fish finder is $100 new, used life jackets arent worth much.

BTW a guy standing in your driveway with a handfull of 100 dollar bills does have the upper hand. I personally have never let someone walk away from me when I knew that had cash in hand. cash is cash and I was hoping for steak dinner, but Ill take hamburger over going hungry anyday.

Okay, the owner called back and offered it to me for 1100.00

That comes with the trailer, boat (already decked and carpeted), three swivel seats, 55lb Minnkota 36” shaft, battery, oars, cheap life vests, depth/fish finder.

I am seeing packages like this (maybe newer boats in the 80’s) go for around 1300 to 2k. Some with outboards in the upper 2k range.

I need to ask myself if I were to buy the package piece-by-piece would the cost range be in the same range?

Trailer 200 to 400
Boat 500 to 800 (from what I have seen for the wider models)
Trolling motor 200
Battery 50
Depth finder 100
Decking cost and carpet 150 to 300

Does this break down sound about right?

I am looking at a 10 year old SmokerCraft tonight, one owner with a trailer… nothing else but boat and trailer he is asking 1400.00.

The kind of boat I want is not your average row boat, which seems to be the norm for sale around where I live. This is the style boat I want and that will take care of my fishing needs for a long time. https://www.smokercraft.com/showroom/ShowModel.aspx?ModelID=752&SeriesID=122

Here is another example. the guy is asking 1100.00 boat and trailer, base model depth finder.

You can not figure purchasing components piece by piece new and get an apples to apples comparison on a used boat with used components.

That is akin to saying you can't buy a used car for $5k because buying it a piece at a time from the auto parts store would cost $40k.

However, it is your money and you should certainly do with it as you like. If you feel that one of these boats is a good deal for your area... you are the only one that has to be happy with the decision. :wink:

This is the kind of stuff we get around my area for the mid/upper $2k range: https://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=365&cat=2

What we get for $1.5k or less: https://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=282&cat=2
https://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=355&cat=2

Those are pretty standard prices around my neck of the woods and why I was somewhat shocked at the prices in your area.

That would not last long in North Mississippi. Infact it might sell for that not running. We are desperate for half way decent boats. We currently have 2 craigslist to look at, North MS and Memphis. That same boat might go for $2500 here. I would give 1200 for it.

Trust me.. It is amazing to me too that the prices are up there. When I first started looking I spotted a couple ads in the local paper and thought, okay.. I can get a decent rig to fish from for around 600 or so… Not the case.

I looked at 14ft shallow row boats at $450.00 that needed to be totally stripped. I asked the bottom price cash “That’s all I can go”. I started to research and watch video, look at photos online of boats and how they draft and sit.. and I decided that I can’t take my two kids out (3 ½ and 7) and also the wife once in awhile and feel safe in a row boat. So I started my Deep V search. I looked at all kinds of brands and all kinds of slight design variations.

There are some that are “Called” deep v, but still have a less than 5’ beam.. they seem that with a deck and gear and more than one person, it would be rocky and not as stable that extra 10” on the beam can give you.

So here I am shopping wider “Canada” style boats and finding that for a full rig, motors, electronics, trailer.. I am hitting 2k or in most cases better and those that are under 2k, are a mess and need tlc.

I am not looking to blow money, but at the same time I am not afraid to wait, save a bit more and get what I want. I don’t expect to buy a brand new lund all rigged out with a new merc for 2k. But I would at least like to find a boat that does not need so much work that I am going to spend ½ the cost on paint, carpet, wiring.. so on.

For me, it is more important to find a good clean boat and trailer that I can add the gas motor and trolling to.

Search craigslist under boats for any of the PA or NY and use “aluminum” to the price of 1500.00 and see what you find. I have been for the last two weeks.

Sounds like you've done your research, and you are in a tougher market than a lot of other forum members. Go with what your instinct tells you and you'll be fine. If you get a really nice boat that will give you years of pleasure then it is money well spent.