First purchase question

[EdgarRoniFigaro]

Hi,

Currently looking into my first boat. Put in a contingency offer for the this one https://www.marinemax.com/boats-for...0-sundeck/2007/marinemax-somers-point/8265407.

I got a survey scheduled for a week or so from now. I went to the marina itself and looked at it, but I know absolutely nothing about boats. It took me 10 minutes just to register since I didn't know the answer to the anti-bot question.

Anyway, only thing that caught my eye is there seem to be weird white marks on the bottom. It was more noticeable in person, but noticed it can be seen in the pictures as well. I'm sure the surveyor will know, but are weird calcium looking deposits normal?

Thanks!

 

[JayhawkCurtis]

I can’t see marks on my phone, but 42 grand for a 07 240??
Pricey!

 

[Creekwood]

The boat is bottom painted with antifouling paint. Its possible that what you are seeing is scraped off paint. Without better pictures its impossible to tell. But if you are having it surveyed, spend the time with the surveyor and ask lots of questions.

 

[Creekwood]

Price don’t seem out of line, that style is the most popular now, brings top dollar.
Jersey boat, check salt water usage.
What’s an anti-bot?

Anti-bot is when you sign up for CSR. They ask a boating question to prove you are a human. @EdgarRoniFigaro , what was the trick question?

 

[Hoplite808]

@EdgarRoniFigaro From the photo it looks like the “white marks” you’re referring to are scratches to the bottom. They are about level with the trailer rollers so maybe it’s just wear to the bottom paint from going on and off the trailer. Definitely should look closer just in case it’s damage from grounding.

 

[EdgarRoniFigaro]

Wow, thanks for all the replies so far first off.

@Pirate Lady I'll put salt water usage on the list to ask the broker. Although I plan to mainly use it on the Manahawkin Bay which I believe is kind of a mix of both fresh and salt water as it is fed from both the ocean and a lake or something. I have heard salt water is much rougher on the boat than fresh, but being right next to the bay and keeping it at the Marina, I kind of have to. A salesman said it's not much of a concern since I plan to keep it docked with them on a lift type thing (not sure the actual name). Then again he was a salesman, so I wouldn't see him saying not to get it.

@Creekwood "What is the 4 letter word for the thing that spins on the back of a powerboat?" Don't think it was meant to be tricky, but I had to Google it. I might have gotten it if it asked for the 9 letter word.

@Hoplite808 Thanks, I may have been imagining it, but it looked like the white was some kind of growth rather than scratch which is why I originally referred ti it as a calcium deposit. Seeing how multiple others agreed with your opinion it likely is though.

 

[EdgarRoniFigaro]

Thanks again Pirate Lady for all your help. I'll add the manifolds and risers to the question list. One last question, what do you mean by "Hit something cheap."?

Also, have my boat safety course May 1st. I think in Jersey it's actually mandatory, but I could be making that up.

 

[EdgarRoniFigaro]

When I bought my first boat and the sales guy was taking me out for first boat lesson, it was the line he used.
I use it on new boaters. At some point it the boat gets away from you, hit something cheap. Don’t run into that multi million dollar yacht, hit the piling.

That's great!

 

[Golfman25]

4 letter word - prop
9 letter word- propeller
Take a boat safety course, hire a teacher on boat handling.
Wear a PFD.
Hit something cheap.
You will do fine, we were all newbies at one time, ask questions, only way to learn.

You forgot -- DON'T FORGET THE DRAIN PLUG.

 

[JayhawkCurtis]

Price don’t seem out of line, that style is the most popular now, brings top dollar.
Jersey boat, check salt water usage.
What’s an anti-bot?

I guess I am out of touch with boat pricing after covids, 4 years ago I bought my immaculate fresh water 04 240 with 230 hrs for 23k, as nice as it is, no way I’d pay 42, no way.

 

[EdgarRoniFigaro]

I guess I am out of touch with boat pricing after covids, 4 years ago I bought my immaculate fresh water 04 240 with 230 hrs for 23k, as nice as it is, no way I’d pay 42, no way.

Yeah, it seems a bit pricy to me. The offer I gave was a bit less than that and was accepted, but not much less. I imagine shopping late April near the shore probably isn't the ideal time either.

Still the reasonable part of my brain has been very quiet since I moved to the shore seeing all the nice boats. I just kind of accepted I'll likely overpay, make a bunch of mistakes for my first boat. Hopefully I remember to hit something cheap.

 

[JayhawkCurtis]

Yeah, it seems a bit pricy to me. The offer I gave was a bit less than that and was accepted, but not much less. I imagine shopping late April near the shore probably isn't the ideal time either.

Still the reasonable part of my brain has been very quiet since I moved to the shore seeing all the nice boats. I just kind of accepted I'll likely overpay, make a bunch of mistakes for my first boat. Hopefully I remember to hit something cheap.

I hope you have many enjoyable hours on her my man, the 240 is a great boat for sure.

read through the 240 owners thread on the sport boat section of this website, a lot of great information in that thread.

 

[tc410]

Also, have my boat safety course May 1st. I think in Jersey it's actually mandatory, but I could be making that up.

You’ll fit right in here. We got a few guys that make shit up. Just wait till @El Capitan rears his captard head!

 

[EdgarRoniFigaro]

Ok, so boating safety course is passed. I ended up rejecting that boat though. Surveyor said since they refused to release any type of service records he couldn’t say with certainty. He did say he thought that a decent amount of work seems to be overdue. I basically said I wanted at the very least the date the manifolds were last serviced. They said it should have a few more years on them.

I asked again when they were last serviced specifically and they told me 7 years ago. With salt water usage that seemed quite overdue. With some of the other stuff the surveyor said I should ask about and how hard it was to actually get that info I decided to reject it.

Anyway, now looking at a Sundeck 260. Seems to be in pristine condition, but something like 700 hours on the engine. Also looking at an SLX 270. Looks to be in average cosmetic condition, but a lot lower engine hours. About 250ish.

Other than that they seem very similar. Almost same exact price as well. Going to see them both tomorrow.

 

[Golfman25]

Ok, so boating safety course is passed. I ended up rejecting that boat though. Surveyor said since they refused to release any type of service records he couldn’t say with certainty. He did say he thought that a decent amount of work seems to be overdue. I basically said I wanted at the very least the date the manifolds were last serviced. They said it should have a few more years on them.

I asked again when they were last serviced specifically and they told me 7 years ago. With salt water usage that seemed quite overdue. With some of the other stuff the surveyor said I should ask about and how hard it was to actually get that info I decided to reject it.

Anyway, now looking at a Sundeck 260. Seems to be in pristine condition, but something like 700 hours on the engine. Also looking at an SLX 270. Looks to be in average cosmetic condition, but a lot lower engine hours. About 250ish.

Other than that they seem very similar. Almost same exact price as well. Going to see them both tomorrow.

Just remember, maintenance is more important than engine hours.

 

[Bill Curtis]

Think you made a wise move passing on an overpriced boat that has no maint records and a seller that doesn't seem to be concerned with your questions.

"The well maintained boat sometimes is better than low hours" is a solid statement. My last boat was a '92 w/ a
Mercruiser 7.4 and Bravo 1. Had a little over 1400 hours on it and showed like a boat 15 years newer. Guy that bought it is still running the heck out of it and loving it. Seen poorly maintained boats with 150 hours on them and were 1 step above junk.

I don't know, but don't think a 26 or 27 footer would be my 1st choice of a boat with zero experience. That's a lot of boat (and expensive) to learn the do's and don'ts on. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Stee6043]

Ok, so boating safety course is passed. I ended up rejecting that boat though. Surveyor said since they refused to release any type of service records he couldn’t say with certainty. He did say he thought that a decent amount of work seems to be overdue. I basically said I wanted at the very least the date the manifolds were last serviced. They said it should have a few more years on them.

I asked again when they were last serviced specifically and they told me 7 years ago. With salt water usage that seemed quite overdue. With some of the other stuff the surveyor said I should ask about and how hard it was to actually get that info I decided to reject it.

Anyway, now looking at a Sundeck 260. Seems to be in pristine condition, but something like 700 hours on the engine. Also looking at an SLX 270. Looks to be in average cosmetic condition, but a lot lower engine hours. About 250ish.

Other than that they seem very similar. Almost same exact price as well. Going to see them both tomorrow.

I'm curious why a licensed surveyor would insist on records that passionately. Is he not being paid to determine the condition of the boat independent of the record keeping capability of prior owners? A good survey (hull and mechanical) should substantially eliminate the need for copious service records, in my opinion.