The problem with JD Power, NADA, or any other boat valuation, is that for a nice boat, you can double that price, especially this time of year. Condition is everything for something from the 90's/early 2000's.
They are terrific boats, if you decide to proceed and can get it running. You can see why service records have limited value, because they don't tell you what wasn't done.
I have always had one of each battery. Running them on the both position defeats the purpose of having two. When you unintentionally run one down, you have a brand new charged one waiting to save the day.
Two part solution. Tie a knot in a line and put it under the door, the knot holds the door, and put the other side of the line tied to a floor cleat in the front.
Then, install a nylon strap with a screw into the engine hatch, and put a snap underneath it to keep it from flying up. I do this on...
If you stick an air compressor blower nozzle into the drain plug hole, you can hear air circulating all throughout the engine, and verify that none of the draining functions are plugged.
Winterizing and freeze proofing are versions of each other.
If you stick an air compressor blower nozzle into the drain hole where the blue plug comes out, you can hear air circulating throughout the entire cooling system, and know if anything is plugged.
That stinks, and I'm glad that you didn't sustain the worst kind of damage, with people and injuries involved.
My friends were drifting with the motor off last year in their '97 210 signature, and floating over a rock doing zero mph. It punched a 14 inch crack in the hull below water line, and...
I have unscrewed both ends of the sprayer hose at the pump and far handle end and blown air through them. The pump has a 1/4 turn connection on one end with a mesh screen, and you can usually find a chunk of something there, but the same screen seems to be providing good pressure to other places.
I have airbags on my 2012 F350 diesel longbed. I leave 15 lbs in them when unloaded, just to help take away the continuous jitter bumps from a concrete interstate. 30-35 psi keeps it level with my 1100 lb tongue weight.
That year, the hitch tube was 2.5 inches. Rather than use the sleeve...
I use a $29 Shopvac from Walmart. Way more suction than a hand pump. Put the nozzle over the threaded tube, and wrap duct tape around the connection point as a reducer.
A battery switch, like the Perko brand, is really cheap and easy to install. You may need to make a trip or two to Walmart for short battery cables. I've seen people set a second battery in the boat, when the primary cables are long enough to reach both battieries, and unbolt the wing nuts from...
I have inquired on at least 6 boats in the last 2 weeks, with no response. I know that when a boat sells, the listing agency leaves it on to generate more sales traffic.
Three things make the alarm go off. Low gear lube bottle (unplug either of the two leads going to it to silence and troubleshoot that as the cause) high engine temp, insufficient lake water pressure feeding the engine driven water pump.